10 thngs you need to know about Sugababes

Apr 18 2008 Western Mail

1. They started young. Sugababes was formed when 13-year-old Mutya Buena was introduced to Siobhán Donaghy by their manager Ron Tom.

2. Keisha Buchanan, who had been friends with Buena since they were eight, was invited along to watch and asked if she could sing. She could. She appeared on Michael Barrymore's show My Kind of Music aged just six.

3. All the band members were aged just 14 when they were offered a record contract by London Records.

4. The name Sugababes originates from Buchanan's school nickname, ‘Sugar baby’ and while recording their debut album the band were known as The Sugababies, but it was modified because there was a band called Sugababies.

5. The girls released their debut single Overload in September 2000. It made the top ten and was nominated for a BRIT Award for Best Single.

6. They like a line-up change. After rumours of in-fighting, Siobhán Donaghy was the first to quit the band in 2001. She was replaced by former Atomic Kitten Heidi Range. Buena was next out the door in 2005, to be replaced by Amelle Berrabah.

7. They weren’t initially a big success. Sugababes debut album hit No 26 and they were dropped by London Records in 2001. They were picked up by Island Records who set them to work with producers and writers, including Richard X who helped them create Freak Like Me, the first of their six No 1 singles.

8. Many of the band’s hits have been created by Xenomania, but they have also written with Orson, All Saints svengali Cameron McVey and former Frou Frou man Guy Sigsworth.

9. Change is the first album that the current line-up of Sugababes have written together.

10. Rumour has it that superstar producer Timbaland has approached Sugababes to work on their sixth album.

Sugababes play Cardiff International Arena on April 23. The box office number is 029 2022 4488