Pop band S Club 7 has rebranded as S Club for their upcoming tour, due to the death of one member and the absence of another.
Founding member Paul Cattermole was found dead at his home in Dorset last month aged 46, and Hannah Spearritt has pulled out of the band’s 25th anniversary tour, meaning the group is a five-piece.
On the band’s Instagram, member Jon Lee said: “You’ve probably noticed that there are only five of us here today and, although Hannah will always be part of S Club 7, she won’t be joining us on this tour.
“We wish her all the best for the future.”
The number seven has also been removed from the band’s social media and website.
In their Instagram video, the band members also spoke about the death of Cattermole, with Lee saying: “We have been in a bit of shock and it has taken a while for us to find the right words to describe how we feel about losing our brother Paul.”
Rachel Stevens added: “Just taking the time to process and get our heads around it all and also taking time to share time together so that we could remember Paul and all the memories we had together.”
Tina Barrett said: “It is just really sad, it is really really hard to process it right now.”
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The group pictured in 2002: Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Hannah Spearritt, Paul Cattermole, Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh and Jo O’Meara
Bradley McIntosh said the band members were “all still in so much disbelief”.
“Paul was a big brother to us, all of us and you guys out there,” he added.
“He truly was a unique specimen of human being.
“No one could replace our Paul, he lives on inside in each and every one of us.”
Jo O’Meara said: “Whenever Paul would walk into the room you definitely knew that he was there because he would just light it up with humour and love – just a really special person.”
The group’s tour has been renamed the Good Times tour in memory of Cattermole, with Barrett saying: “That was his song and all the fans knew it was his song, so it just feels right.”
