'Can you hear alright at the back?' Spice Girls poke fun at previous technical problems at Manchester show... as birthday girl Mel B is serenaded by fans after revealing Geri Horner quit the band exactly 21-years ago

  • Mel B celebrated her 44th birthday at the Spice Girls' Manchester show on Wednesday night
  • The singer took time to remind the sold-out crowd at Etihad Stadium it was exactly 21 years to the day when Geri Horner left the band back in 1998
  • The girls also poked fun at the ongoing technical problems which have plagued their previous tour dates 
  • Geri joked with the audience: 'Can you hear all right at the back?' 
  • It comes after fans demanded a refund after another 'disappointing' performance at Cardiff
  • Posh Spice Victoria Beckham declined to take part in the string of performances, with the band continuing as a foursome 
  • The nationwide 13-date tour, which will see the band perform in Manchester, Coventry, Sunderland, Edinburgh, Bristol and London with supporting act Jess Glynne, will conclude on June 15

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Mel B celebrated her 44th birthday as she took to the stage on Wednesday night for the Manchester leg of the Spice Girls' reunion tour. 

The singer took time to remind the sold-out crowd at Etihad Stadium it was exactly 21 years to the day when Geri Horner left the band back in 1998, before scolding the 46-year-old, telling her: 'you better not leave tonight you f*****g b***h'. 

During the show, the girls poked fun at the ongoing technical problems which have plagued their previous tour dates, with Geri joking with the audience: 'Can you hear all right at the back?'   

Birthday treat: Mel B was treated to a Scary Spice-inspired cake as she celebrated her 44th birthday with her bandmates Emma Bunton, 43, Geri Horner, 46, and Mel C, 45, onstage on Wednesday night for the Manchester leg of the Spice Girls' reunion tour

Birthday treat: Mel B was treated to a Scary Spice-inspired cake as she celebrated her 44th birthday with her bandmates Emma Bunton, 43, Geri Horner, 46, and Mel C, 45, onstage on Wednesday night for the Manchester leg of the Spice Girls' reunion tour

Geri's joke comes after fans demanded a refund after another 'disappointing' performance at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in Wales on Monday evening due to the poor sound quality. 

However, fans said they could hear the Spice Girls sing their medley of greatest hits with 'crystal clear clarity' as many took to Twitter to praise the band members; Emma Bunton, 43, Geri, Mel, and Mel C, 45, on their impressive vocals. 

One wrote: 'Absolutely smashed it tonight no sound issues at all, they sounded incredible and it was an amazing show! Wish I could go again! Loved every second!' 

Funny: The singer took time to remind the sold-out crowd at Etihad Stadium it was exactly 21 years to the day when Geri Horner left the band back in 1998, before scolding the 46-year-old, telling her: 'you better not leave tonight you f*****g b***h'

Funny: The singer took time to remind the sold-out crowd at Etihad Stadium it was exactly 21 years to the day when Geri Horner left the band back in 1998, before scolding the 46-year-old, telling her: 'you better not leave tonight you f*****g b***h' 

Pleased: Attendees expressed their delight over their show-stopping performance, with some even brushing aside the raining conditions, claiming the weather 'didn't dampen anything'

Pleased: Attendees expressed their delight over their show-stopping performance, with some even brushing aside the raining conditions, claiming the weather 'didn't dampen anything' 

Another added: 'There have been reports of sound problems at previous shows but I can hear them crystal clear and they're singing and rapping live.'  

A third chimed: 'The girls harmonies are tight, we are LIVING'. 

The iconic group kicked off their reunion tour for their first performance in seven years at Dublin's Croke Park on Friday, which was met with mixed reviews.

Rave reviews: Fans said they could hear the Spice Girls sing their medley of greatest hits with 'crystal clear clarity' as many took to the microblogging site to praise the band members on their impressive vocals

Rave reviews: Fans said they could hear the Spice Girls sing their medley of greatest hits with 'crystal clear clarity' as many took to the microblogging site to praise the band members on their impressive vocals

Following their first performance, Scary Spice Mel was the only member to address the backlash on social media, where she pledged to improve the sound quality for the next shows. 

But when they hit Cardiff, fans took to Twitter to express their frustration over the reoccurring sound issues, demanding refunds. 

Trying to make light of the dire situation Geri joked if the audience 'could hear at the back' and after a 'resounding yes', the show soon got well under way. 

Storming the stadium in their iconic eye-catching ensembles, which saw the group change a whopping six times, the Spice Girls showcased their vocal prowess as they captivated the crowd with their chart-topping hit singles, including 2 Become 1, Wannabe and Say You'll Be There. 

Bombshell: Back in 1998, Halliwell announced she had left the Spice Girls due to depression and differences between the group

Bombshell: Back in 1998, Halliwell announced she had left the Spice Girls due to depression and differences between the group

During the 90s extravaganza, the Loose Women panellist was presented with a cake on stage to mark her birthday and couldn't resist the opportunity to remind Geri how she walked out on the band. 

One audience member took to Twitter, saying Mel told the crowd: 'She left on my birthday and it's my birthday today. You better not leave tonight you f*****g b***h', to which Geri pretended to wipe a tear from her face. 

The girls were then said to have had a play fight over the cake, with Mel later grumbling to the audience that Geri had broken her costume.  

Back in 1998, Halliwell announced she had left the Spice Girls due to depression and differences between the group.

Celebrations: During the 90s extravaganza, the Loose Women panellist was presented with a cake on stage to mark her birthday and couldn't resist the opportunity to remind Geri how she walked out on the band

Celebrations: During the 90s extravaganza, the Loose Women panellist was presented with a cake on stage to mark her birthday and couldn't resist the opportunity to remind Geri how she walked out on the band

The first official confirmation was an announcement to the media by her solicitor on 31 May.

Her action aroused controversy and heartbreak, throwing the group into chaos as they were due to embark on a North American tour, which they eventually completed without her. 

Now 21-years on, the girls have rebuilt their friendship and led Mel's birthday tributes on Instagram. 

The songstress took to Instagram to share a shot of the Leeds native performing on stage during their reunion tour, after endless reports that the pair had fallen out over Mel's claims that they had a lesbian romp years earlier. 

The flame-haired singer posted a shot of the Mel B dressed in a head-turning gold jumpsuit with sheer panelling and crystal embroidery mid performance with the words 'Happy Birthday Melanie' written across it. 

Captioning the shot, Geri wrote: 'Happy Birthday Melanie! Have an amazing day x' alongside two emojis.

Not the only band member to acknowledge her milestone, Mel C, shared a similar shot of the America's Got Talent judge rocking out on stage dressed in an edgy two-piece and gold thigh-high boots while proclaiming her 'love' for the star. 

The I Turn To You singer penned: 'Happy Birthday to this absolute power house @officialmelb Love you Scary. So happy to be sharing the stage with you on this special day #spicingupmanchester #birthdaygal #northerners'.

While Emma Bunton posted a picture of herself hand-in-hand with Mel B dressed in their ethereal-looking stage costumes.

The group are in the midst of their UK and Ireland reunion tour, they will also be taking Sunderland, Edinburgh and Bristol before arriving to London's Wembley Stadium.

Viva Forever! The group are in the midst of their UK and Ireland reunion tour, t hey will also be taking Sunderland, Edinburgh and Bristol before arriving to London's Wembley Stadium

Viva Forever! The group are in the midst of their UK and Ireland reunion tour, t hey will also be taking Sunderland, Edinburgh and Bristol before arriving to London's Wembley Stadium

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Spice Girls poke fun at previous technical problems during Manchester show

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