The Spice Girls are expected to announce a reunion tour on Thursday, ending months of speculation about the five-member band that brought "girl power" to the British music scene.

The band sold around 55 million albums and topped charts around the world before Posh, Scary, Sporty, Baby and Ginger decided to go it alone -- with varying degrees of success.

Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell left the group in 1998 and the other four have pursued solo careers and jobs outside music since their last album "Forever" in November, 2000.

"The Spice Girls are set to make an official announcement to the world regarding future plans on Thursday 28th June," their management said in a statement last week.

"No further information can be given at this time but given the band's unique history, you can be sure to expect the unexpected," Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment said.

In a recent radio interview, Melanie Chisholm, known as "Sporty Spice", said she admired boy band Take That, who have enjoyed huge success since reforming, even without the help of former member Robbie Williams.

British media report that the Spice Girls stand to make millions of pounds each from the reunion tour, which is expected to be accompanied by a new album and a television documentary.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Victoria "Posh" Beckham has maintained the highest profile since the band split, helped by her superstar soccer-playing husband David and regular appearances at fashion shows and on tabloid front pages.

The couple are moving to Los Angeles where David has signed to play for L.A. Galaxy, and Victoria appears determined to carve out a career of her own in fashion and television.

Other bandmates have been less fortunate after pursuing singing careers that never matched the success of the group.

Melanie "Scary" Brown largely disappeared from the public eye until a high-profile paternity case involving Hollywood star Eddie Murphy.

Earlier this month a DNA test confirmed Murphy as the father of Brown's newborn baby girl after he declined to publicly acknowledge paternity.

Reaction to news of the reunion has been mixed.

While media interest in reviving the band that once epitomized female empowerment is high, it has also been met with considerable cynicism.

"So why have a reunion?" asked the Daily Mirror tabloid. "Maybe it really is for the fans. Or perhaps it's because Sporty, Scary, Posh, Ginger and Baby need each other more than we need them."