Emma Bunton has revealed Prince was a Spice Girls fan.
The ‘Purple Rain’ singer – who died from a fentanyl overdose in April aged just 57 – once went to see the girl group in concert and told them afterwards how "proud" he was of them for singing live, much to their astonishment.
Emma – better known as Baby Spice in the Spice Girls – admits she wishes she had kept a diary of all the memorable moments like which she and the other four members Geri Horner, Mel B, Mel C and Victoria Beckham experienced.
Speaking to the new issue of Grazia magazine, she said: "It never became normal, doing those kind of things, we always really appreciated it.
"There were so many moments, meeting Madonna, my mum going to get a tattoo with the Red Hot Chili Peppers – bizarre!
"Prince came to a show and then came backstage and said, ‘I’ve just watched your show, you sang live. I’m so proud of you.’
"I wish I’d kept a diary, it all went so fast but it was an incredible time."
The quintet shot to global fame with their debut single ‘Wannabe’ – which was released 20 years ago this week – but despite the track’s huge popularity and lasting impact, their record company initially didn’t think the group should release it as a single.
Emma – who posed on the famous hotel stairs featured in the ‘Wannabe’ video for Grazia – recalled: "Geri mentioned the other day that, right at the beginning, Virgin were saying they weren’t sure if ‘Wannabe’ should be the first single. And Geri and me were like, ‘It absolutely will.’ I’d forgotten that."
Emma has two sons, Beau, eight, and Tate, five, with fiancé Jade Jones and her youngest child is "obsessed" with her former band.
However, the youngster’s favourite Spice Girl isn’t his mother.
She said "Music isn’t my eldest’s thing but my youngest, Tate – who is five – is absolutely obsessed with the Spice Girls. I’m not his favourite though, he likes Geri."
Emma Bunton reveals Prince loved the Spice Girls
