According to Channel 4, Steps Gold : Greatest Hits is still flying out the stores, last weeks sales figures were just under the 100,000 mark at 98,000 added to the 146,000 last week brings the total up to 244,000 in just two weeks. New releases this week from Michael Jackson, Mis-Teeq and the Backstreet Boys Greatest Hits album will probably hit sales this week and with Britney out next week, it will be interesting to see how Steps do fair against these releases and how the sales remain over the next fortnight.

Also according to Channel 4, Lee is in a “saucy” photo shoot for gay magazine Attitude.

From The Mirror:

In a suspension of pop hostilities, Geri Halliwell and chart-busters Steps joined forces to entertain our brave troops waiting for action in Oman.

It was all smiles for the camera and platitudes galore from the spin-doctors.

But what really happened in the Gulf can now be revealed – by 3am, naturally. And it’s not a pretty story.

Fuming kids’ band Steps have launched an extraordinary attack on Geri.

The squeaky-clean group expected the ex-Spice Girl to enter into the spirit of their “tonic for the troops” trip. But they ended up appalled by her prima-donna antics.

Steps’ H – real name Ian Watkins – stormed: “The soldiers out there are living in difficult conditions and I thought we owed them a bit more than acting like stupid, over-demanding pop stars. In my view, Geri Halliwell was out of order.

“I want you to put this in The Mirror because people should know the truth about her.”

Even as she arrived in Oman, The Mirror revealed how she issued a long list of outlandish demands, including an air-conditioned tent and a computer with full internet access.

She even demanded she stay in a different wing of the Hilton Salalah hotel so she didn’t have to bump into Steps.

“Geri insisted on being treated differently from us,” says H. “She wanted to be on a much more elevated level. Her behaviour was uncalled for.

More than 7,000 British personnel endured an eight-hour journey through the desert to watch the live pop show.

Steps also laid into Geri, 28, for frolicking on a beach while they were busy trying to boost the soldiers’ morale.

Steps beauty Claire Richards, 24, says: “She was lying on a beach being photographed in her bikini while we were in Chinooks meeting the most amazing military people. But then again, Geri is good at that sort of thing.”

From Ananova:

Steps have launched an attack on Geri Halliwell. The band say she acted like a prima donna during their trip to Oman to entertain British troops. H says Geri acted like an over-demanding pop star. “In my view, Geri Halliwell was out of order. Geri insisted on being treated differently from us,” he tells The Mirror. “She wanted to be on a much more elevated level. Her behaviour was uncalled for.”

From Dotmusic:

Steps have launched a scathing attack on Geri Halliwell following a performance with the singer for British troops in Oman. The pop group were said to be appalled at the former Spice Girl’s behaviour during the morale-boosting trip and have branded her, “a prima donna”. According to reports, whilst troops spent hours crossing the desert to watch the live performances, Halliwell was busy making a list of demands, including an air-conditioned tent and full internet access throughout her stay. H from Steps told a UK tabloid: “The soldiers out there are living in difficult conditions and I thought we owed them a bit more than acting like stupid, over-demanding pop stars. In my view, Geri Halliwell was out of order.” “Geri insisted on being treated differently from us,” he continued. “She wanted to be on a much more elevated level. Her behaviour was uncalled for. Steps singer, Claire Richards, also suggested that Geri spent too much time posing instead of joining in with the spirit of the trip: “She was lying on a beach being photographed in her bikini while we were in Chinooks meeting the most amazing military people. But then again, Geri is good at that sort of thing.” Steps’ latest release, ‘Gold – The Greatest Hits’ is currently holding the top spot in the UK album charts. Meanwhile, Geri camped it up during a performance at London’s G.A.Y nightclub this weekend. The singer performed a number of Spice Girls’ tracks and delighted the crowd when she was joined on stage by five drag queens baring an uncanny resemblance to Ginger’s former chart-topping band.

Leanne sent us in this news about Lisa’s brothers group 3SL:

3

SL have signed a major record deal with Sony Music. On Tuesday 6th November they’re flying off to South Africa to shoot the video for their debut single ‘Take it Easy’ due to be released around March 2002! Early November they’ll be doing a Schools Tour throughout the country. Towards the end of November they’re on the ‘Smash Hits Tour’ and – yet to be confirmed – hopefully they’ll be supporting on some of the STEPS Tour venues!