Inside Eternal's toxic split as Louise Redknapp cancels reunion amid row

26 September 2023 , 13:36

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Eternal was made up of four members - Kelle Bryan, Vernie Bennett, Easther Bennett and Louise Redknapp (Image: Getty Images)

At the peak of their success in the '90s, Eternal were the first all-female group to sell over a million copies of an album in the UK, but their chart-topping fame came with as many downs as ups. Originally made up of sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, Louise Redknapp and Kelle Bryan, the girl band was known for their debut album Always and Forever and hit single Stay.

Then in 1995, during the height of their career, Louise announced that she was unexpectedly leaving the group to pursue a solo career and her legion of loyal fans were heartbroken. The Naked star said at the time she felt "miserable and homesick" whilst on tour, and the trio admitted they were "gutted" by her decision to quit.

Louise said she felt 'miserable and homesick' on tour and decided to pursue a solo career (PA)

It was alleged they fell out over who got to perform lead vocals and there was rumours Louise was dumped from the band as its only white member, with some quarters suggesting Eternal's chances of breaking America would be improved as a trio with Easther, Vernie and Kelle. However, Eternal's management denied this was the case. It was also suggested Kelle leave to form a duo with Louise, which she stated she did not wish to do.

The band continued to succeed, though it soon became apparent that not all was well behind closed doors. At the time, Vernie said: "It was us coming from caterpillars to butterflies", but Kelle said: "It was devastating, no one could replace Louise. I did struggle, I knew Louise's reasons for leaving, but they weren't mine. For me to stay it would have to be a financial reason."

Then during the Big Reunion Show in 2014, she said: "Some of our most successful times were after Louise. It was pretty miserable, not even a hello or good morning. I don't think their [Easther and Vernie's] behaviour was kind and that was challenging. In our lives there was so much going on and we never communicated, I was aware something had to give along the way, but it just wasn't going to be me."

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Looking back, Eternal's former manager Jazz Summers, recalled the horror of working with the pop band who he described as "b**chy tyrants". In his autobiography Big Life, which was released in 2013, he described working with them as an "experience that f***ing haunts me", and said he reluctantly agreed to be their manager back in 1998. In an excerpt from his book, which was published on X, formerly known as Twitter, he recalled the sisters' ridiculous demands, including two separate Rolls Royce limos so they didn't travel with each other, and hair extensions flown in from America.

The band's drama is still ongoing today as Louise announced she was pulling out of the reunion tour (Getty Images)

Legendary hitmaker Jazz, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 71, felt he had to resign in 1999. He shared in his book: "The public had decided they didn't like them. It was simple. They'd been tyrants on TV and b**chy in the press." He then shared his resignation letter in his book, in which he heaped praise on lead singer Easther, but joked he would "pray for" her sister Vernie.

Then the drama started back up again last week when it was revealed Louise and Kelle pulled out of a potential Eternal reunion tour earlier this year following a disagreement with former bandmates Easther and Vernie regarding the LGBTQ+ community. The Mirror revealed on Saturday how Eternal had planned to reunite and tour next year - but trouble hit when the singing siblings reportedly refused to play the festivals, objecting to their allegiance with the trans community. Their objections led to Louise, alongside bandmate Kelle, abandoning the plans in June and leaving the sisters to tour as a duo. A source said: "Louise, Kelle, Easther and Vernie had all signed up to perform a huge nationwide tour next year, culminating with a huge show at pop festival Mighty Hoopla, which is loved by the gay community."

However, Esther and Vernie's reps have accused Louise of 'throwing the sisters under the bus' as the band's original manager, Denis Ingoldsby said: "Louise and her team have thrown them under the bus and everyone is totally appalled at their bullying behaviour by totally misrepresenting the situation to suit their own agenda." He claimed the sisters sent an email to Louise's camp saying they 'loved' playing Pride and the "ethos of the event". Denis added that the dispute is "nothing about gay rights," and that Vernie and Easther have played "numerous LGBTQ+ gigs." He said: "Vernie said she had some concerns about the Pride movement being hijacked - and she is not alone - but this has now been weaponised against her, with Louise's team trying to get her cancelled."

Nia Dalton