Chilli is up for reigniting some 90’s girl power with another top girl group from their era – the Spice Girls!
Speaking with Billboard to celebrate Live Nation’s National Concert Week, the ‘C’ of TLC reveals that she would love for her group to tour with the British girl band one day.
“I really would love to go on tour with The Spice Girls. I think TLC and the Spice Girls would be super epic,” Chilli says. “We’ve spoken to a couple of the girls but hopefully in the future that tour can happen.”
Melanie C with TLC in 2018
The ladies of TLC met up with Spice Girl Melanie C in 2018, when they both performed exclusively at the Mighty Hoopla festival in London.
Melanie C has previously worked with a TLC member in the past. She hired the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes to join her on the #1 smash, “Never Be The Same Again“, in 2000.
Both girl groups are busy on separate tours this year. While the Spice Girls have reunited for a UK tour with support act Jess Glynne, TLC have teamed up with Nelly & Flo Rida for a US summer tour.
The North American amphitheater tour is included in the more than 2,800 Live Nation shows being offered for $20 during the promoter’s National Concert Week.
TLC has been touring on and off since their first major trek, the FanMail tour in 1999.
“When we had our Fanmail tour we had Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child. It is all about the packages in my opinion,” says Chilli. “It makes it more of a fun time for the fans because they love many artists. If you have the right group together, it makes it super exciting.”
For tickets to TLC’s latest trek and other participating shows for Live Nation’s National Concert Week, head here.
Every TLC fan knows that Ms Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins is known for her social media ‘drive-bys’, so when she’s feeling ready to talk, you better stop whatever you are doing!
When T-Boz goes live on her Instagram, she allows fans to have a real interactive and intimate moment with her, as she reads questions from her fans, offers them advice and just has a lot of fun with her die-hards.
The gorgeous Tionne went live on March 15, 2019, rocking a fresh new look and hairdo. She spoke her mind on various topics, including the Michael Jackson ‘Leaving Neverland’ drama, how she has adjusted to performing without Left Eye after so long, reality TV and more!
Favourite number
That’s an interesting question. I don’t know what my favourite number is. I know number one is cool, because I like to be that, okay? (Laughs) But I guess I’ll choose my birthday number, which is 26. I’m drawn to even numbers, and 70, because that’s the year I was born. So, numbers that have something to do with me personally, maybe.
Left Eye singing on Diggin’ On You?
No, she didn’t sing background on the songs. It was just in the video. It’s a three member group and it only made sense for her to be singing in the video because there’s no rap on there. You know, it’s video stuff, so she had to be involved, but on the album, no she didn’t sing on Diggin’ On You. Debra Killings did a lot of our backgrounds.
Dreams
The dreams I have are more like real life dreams. Like, I have strong feelings. I can daydream and picture something, then I’ll go for it. Usually if I have a dream like that then it usually comes true. Like, I’ma have a book or something like that.
‘Girls Crew’ with Chilli, Mýa & Lil’ Kim
No, I was offered [to be on the show] but I turned it down. I don’t wanna be swimming. I don’t like to be on yachts (laughs). I like to travel, but no, it has to make sense for me. With my sickle cell, it’s crazy. When I get in water now, if it’s too cold it will make me achy, if it’s too hot it will make me achy. So, it just wasn’t a good time either.
So, no I did not go on the show and no I will not be on the show whatsoever. But, that was by choice and I’m glad she did it, and I love Lil’ Kim to death, I always have and always will, so it had nothing to do with anything like that. It was just a personal choice, I’m just not into pretending to do stuff I really don’t do, for reality or a check or nothing. So, I just said no.
New TLC music
I’m sure we’re not done, like if there’s a soundtrack or something else, and I’m sure there will be original music for certain projects. Actually, we did do a song for a soundtrack for a movie, too, and I’ve done one solo aswell. So, I’m not done recording, and I have other solo music coming out, so, you will hear from us and me.
‘Leaving Neverland’
Don’t get me started on that, but a lot of people had the chance to say something while people were still living to defend themselves. It’s very tricky when people like to be in scandals. We’re down for somebody until they get mad or try to retract what they said. And the press never wanna say the good stuff, they only wanna say the bad.
Anymore music videos for the latest album?
To me, That album is ruined and it’s over. I doubt it if anything else is going to come out from that album. Should have, but it’s a little too late for that.
Touring Africa
I don’t know when I’m coming back to Africa, that was a long a*s trip! It took 27 hours to get back home! I loved it over there, but to get there and back? Or maybe I need to stay in the Johannesburg side and not go over to wherever I was, because chile, I thought I was gon’ pass out! All that daggone flying I had to do to get home.
Advice about holding grudges
Holding grudges only hurts you, it doesn’t hurt the other person. You ain’t gotta like somebody. When you forgive somebody, you’re not necessarily forgiving them for them, you’re forgiving them for you, your health, your heart. It’s not good to harbour bad feelings. Because if you notice, those people will be doing their own sh*t, living their life, while you’re over here f*cked up, sick, wasting time and energy on somebody who don’t give a damn about you. Let the anger go. You either suck it up and deal with it, or let it go. That’s for your benefit, your well-being.
Performing without Left Eye
It’s been like 16 years. Back in the day, yeah it used to be [hard], but now I more than know what it is and used to it. Its stuff you heal from, you never get over but you have to heal from it. You have to learn to move on. But sometimes it can be crazy and just hit you out of the blue. But it’s not hard for me to perform anymore because I love to perform.
TLC’s Prince & Michael Jackson love
Chilli liked Michael as her husband. I love Michael as everything. So, Michael Jackson is my number one, and Prince is my other one. She just wanted to date him, I just didn’t want to date him. But I was never a groupie for anybody! I will say that about her and Michael, the way she was acting that time, I’m just saying! I didn’t jump over no chairs or knock people out the way to get to nobody. I was always calm, cool and collected when I met Michael Jackson and Prince, FYI.
Left Eye biopic
How do I feel [about Lisa’s sister Reigndrop doing a Left Eye biopic]? I mean, it’s her sister, so she can do whatever she wants to do.
Sickle cell pain management
I do a lot of holistic stuff, like oxygen baths, infrared saunas, CBD oil, CBD gummy bears, CBD rubs, even regular oral drops, their nasty, your breath will be kicking, but it boosts your immune system, so when I know I’m gonna fly I take that.
I think the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards in the black and white outfits was cool. I think I will always think that was cool.
Exes
No, I am not getting back with anybody. If I’ve left somebody that means it’s permanent, honey.
Writing another book?
I don’t know. I’m thinking about writing a cookbook, that would be fun. Some good old recipes to share.
Artist management
Would I ever manage a group? Hell to the no! No, no, NO! I would not manage a artist, they get on my damn nerves. It’s a f*ckin headache, and I would never manage any artist. I hardly want to do another artist after those last crazy a*s ones we just dealt with.
People are just too much! People don’t have no work ethic, people don’t wanna work hard, people are lazy as f*ck! They’re unappreciative, feel entitled, spoilt, ain’t got no damn sense, make me wanna choke the sh*t outta them!
So, no. No management from me, unless you want me to end up in jail. So the best way for me to keep my black a*s outta jail is to not do it.
Andre Rison biopic
Yes I’ve heard about the Andre Rison biopic, and I heard some of the interview he did with that radio station. It was interesting, but one thing he was wrong about, TLC was never, ever, ever going to be signed to Death Row. I don’t know if they wanted us to be, or lied and told Lisa that, but Lisa was signed to them. But hell no I’d ever sign with Death Row, that’s a f*ckin’ lie.
Relationship with Pebbles
There will never be a relationship with Perri. Chile, you might as well never bring up her name again. She’s not worth talking about, but God bless her. But there will never be a relationship there ever again.
Returning to Tokyo, Japan
Will I be coming back to Tokyo? Yeah, I’ll be in Tokyo on April 2nd. How about that? Didn’t know that, did ya? Now you do.
Days Of Our Lives
They’re trying to see if they can keep me. Maybe people have to vote me on there, like how they had me back three times. But, they’re trying to see if they can keep me as a permanent role.
No alcohol
No, I do not drink. You do not want me to be drinking alcohol or do no damn drugs. Because, I am off the chain by nature, honey, so if you add chemicals to that situation, that’s just a bad combination. Alcohol intensifies, even with sickle cell, I don’t like to drink, but I can’t because it thins our blood and it would put me in the hospital.
Marriage
I was married once for four and a half years. Would I ever get married again? Maybe if Jesus pops me a man, damn, or we can do secret science where we build a perfect man or some sh*t like that. Jesus will have to be like, ‘here you go, Tionne’. I’m not opposed to it, but I’m not like looking for anybody either, but I am single on purpose. Don’t get it twisted, ok?
T’s hilarious weed experience
I don’t smoke or drink, but the tweeds keep you out of trouble? Well maybe I need to start. Weed smells like a*s, those tweeds smell like booty. I just don’t understand. I mean, the smell, people who smoke it with the morning breath and the f*ckin’ coffee? Weed breath and coffee, together? Hell to the no!
I got another story [besides the Mack 10 story with the weed brownies]. My brother got me a weed cookie! Everyone knows I don’t smoke or drink, I’ve never had a joint. So, if you give me an edible I don’t know how long it takes to work and all that. So, I had a traumatizing experience with a brownie my ex-husband gave me, then my brother f*cks around and gives me this damn cookie.
Now, people didn’t tell me they have potency, like 1x strong, 2x strong, 3x strong, and he was like ‘this will help you with your sickle cell, this is the kind that will help you relax’, but sh*t, I ate the cookie, and everything went f*ckin’ numb! I couldn’t feel my lips, my teeth, my booty, my coochie lips, nothing! I felt nothing, when I ate that tweed cookie!
TLC are going back on tour this summer along with hip-hop legend Nelly and special guest Flo Rida!
Tickets to the Live Nation produced tour will go on sale on Friday (March 15), with a presale available on Tuesday (March 12).
The 21-city tour kicks off on July 23 in Tuscaloosa, AL at Tuscaloosa Amphitheater. The tour also hits Atlanta, Toronto, Detroit, Austin and more, wrapping in Irvine, CA on August 31 at the FivePoint Amphitheater.
The official presale is being handled by Citi. Citi credit cardholders will have access to presale tickets from March 12-14th before the public sale on March 15th through Citi’s Private Pass program.
To access the Live Nation presale on Tuesday, use the password summer2019
TLC previously joined forces with Nelly in 2015 as part of New Kids On The Block’s The Main Event tour. This tour will be something different.
“We had the pleasure of working together before on a separate tour, but it wasn’t ours”, Nelly says. “So, we decided that we had so much fun on that one that we decided we would come together and do our own thing. So we’re looking forward to reaching out to everybody this summer and killing it”.
“We have so many surprises”, Chilli gushes. “It’s going to be a very different tour, and I think you guys are going to be very excited.”
“We’re gonna come together for something special that we feel like nobody else is doing on tour and give you a whole ‘nother vibe”, Nelly continues.
Check out the full tour dates below:
Tue Jul 23
Tuscaloosa, AL
Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
Wed Jul 24
Atlanta, GA
Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood
Fri Jul 26
Charlotte, NC
PNC Music Pavilion
Sat Jul 27
Raleigh, NC
Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
Tue Jul 30
Bristow, VA
Jiffy Lube Live
Wed Jul 31
Virginia Beach, VA
Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach
Thu Aug 01
Wantagh, NY
Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
Sat Aug 03
Gilford, NH
Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion
Wed Aug 07
Toronto, ON
Budweiser Stage
Thu Aug 08
Pittsburgh, PA
KeyBank Pavilion
Fri Aug 09
Bethel, NY
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Sun Aug 11
Boston, MA
The Xfinity Center
Thu Aug 15
Cleveland, OH
Blossom Music Center
Sat Aug 17
Detroit, MI
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Sun Aug 18
Chicago, IL
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (Nelly and TLC only)
Tue Aug 20
Rogers, AR
The Walmart AMP
Thu Aug 22
Austin, TX
Austin360 Amphitheater
Fri Aug 23
Houston, TX
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
Patch: It’s been a little over a year since you released your album, “TLC.” What was it like to work on and release new material after all these years? … And is it really your “final” album?
Chilli: It was like riding a bicycle really. Once you know how to do something that you love, even if you step away for a long time, to come back to it is to pick it up like you never stopped. It was really exciting. It’s the final album, yes, but I wouldn’t say it’s the last of TLC music that you’ll hear from us. We’re open to tons of opportunities. Album wise though, yes, it was definitely the final one.
T-Boz: It’s been an absolute blessing. The studio is my second home really; I’ve never stopped recording. The difference for this was just that it was for our next studio album. It’s always hard doing a new album because it’s so much pressure. The studio part is easy, but the pressure is the hard part. And yes, it’s the final album. It doesn’t mean it’s the end of TLC though, it’s just the final album. We’re still open to singles and soundtracks and Christmas songs. There will still be lots of TLC!
Patch: If you ever recorded another record, what are some artists/groups you’d like to collaborate with?
Chilli: Bruno Mars, definitely.
T-Boz: So many of the artists I’ve dreamed of collaborating with have died in the past few years, so I really need to think about this one. There’s so many great artists out there.
Patch: You’ve headlined or co-headlined several successful tours, including I Love the 90s: The Party Continues Tour in 2017. What do you enjoy most about touring?
Chilli: I just love being on stage. What we do on stage, looking out to the audience and how the music is affecting those fans, from people smil[ing], to people who are crying, to people singing along and dancing, that makes me feel good.
T-Boz: The fans and the energy are the absolute best. Just being able to tour and have sold out shows 26 years later is an absolute blessing.
Patch: What is your favorite song to perform live and why?
Chilli: I don’t have a favorite song to perform, but anything uptempo I really enjoy. I don’t like to slow it down.
T-Boz: I don’t have one to be honest. I love them all. The energy on stage is what I love performing most, more so than the individual songs themselves.
Patch: Would you ever consider a Las Vegas residency?
Chilli: Well, we’re currently working on that. Hoping to lock that down sooner than later!
T-Boz: Absolutely! This has been our dream for years now!
Patch: You were in San Diego not too long ago for the San Diego Pride Festival. What was that experience like, and why is the cause important to you?
Chilli: It was honestly such a great show. It was awesome. And important, because we want our fans to know we love them as much as they love us. Every time we get to perform, we want to make them feel that, and San Diego was just perfect for that.
T-Boz: For us, fans are fans, no matter their sexual orientation, but I love Pride because it allows people to be themselves and stand up for what they believe in. You’re supposed to have pride in who you are, and that’s what Pride is about. Anytime fans are being true to themselves, we want to support that!
Patch: Now you’re headed back to the San Diego area. Your performance at KAABOO in Del Mar is just weeks away. What can fans expect?
Chilli: They can expect a lot of energy. A lot of energy. There’s a lot of choreography. Even on the ballads, we bring the energy and the entertainment.
T-Boz: High energy concert, ton of excitement! Basically, we plan to have a big party together with tens of thousands of people, that’s what this is all about!
Patch: Will you get a chance to enjoy the festival? If so, who are you looking forward to seeing?
Chilli: We’re excited for everyone, but I’m really excited to see Katy Perry! She’s amazing, so it’ll be awesome to see her.
T-Boz: I wish! But my family are waiting for me. I’ve got a little one at home who’s waiting for me, so I’ll be in and out, to be with my family.
Patch: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Chilli: Just that I’m so excited to be a part of this and I hope they invite us again!
T-Boz: I just want to thank the fans for their support over all these years, still coming to see us and selling out all these shows! If it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be doing this anymore.
Leon@TLCArmy
