Most of the time, Terri laid around the house either spacing out or crying. She played with her kids, still went out with Erik just the two of them, did things around the house, but she was still very depressed over the loss of her babies. The funeral had been 5 weeks ago and Terri wondered if she was ever gonna feel better. 3 weeks ago, she stayed with her family in PA and had come back recently. The girls were coming back in 5 days from their grandparents house. Erik had come back recently from visiting his family, who were very sympathetic to what had happened as was everybody else who was related to the two of them.
Don't get me wrong, Terri was over-joyed when Chris was dead but it still didn't help her out much. ICE was on the last leg of their European farewell tour ( at least it was farewell to Mana and Terri who were planning on leaving the group after the American tour was over with ). Mana had started writing solo songs 9 months ago and had about 60% of her solo album written. Terri had 90% of hers done but wanted to do some charity work before she started recording again. Mana also wanted to do some charity things and solo interviews before she recorded a solo album.
Mana had secretly called Shirley and asked her about a possible duet. Shirley promised she would try to record with Mana if she did a solo album. Terri, meanwhile, had called Mandy and she also agreed to a duet. Mandy also said that she would Terri write their song and any other of her songs if she needed help and Terri promised vice-versa to Mandy ( the 2nd one ).
Both knew each other was planning to leave the group b/c they had talked about after the babies' funerals. They weren't angry with each other but were glad that one of them wasn't the only one leaving the group. Julie and Robyn didn't know anything as of yet and surprisingly hadn't picked any weird vibes or suspicions about it yet. The American tour for ICE was gonna start in Canada in Vancouver,BC ( playing 4 concerts up there)and after that it was off to San Diego, CA ; Salem Oregon, and finishing off in Conroe, Texas. A concert or two was gonna be played in each of the girls home states/ countries.
Breaking the news to the remaining members was gonna be tough to do. No doubt there was gonna be some angry feelings and outbursts before the night would be over. Mana and Terri regretted doing this but they had to do it before rumors started from the media. They called the other members into the room. Originally, they had planned to say something half-way thru or after the tour but their nerves and consciences wouldn't allow them to put it off any longer.
Mana - Guys we have some news. Please sit down.
Julie - What is it?.
Robyn - Are you guys alright?.
Terri - Yeah we're fine.
Julie - What bad news do you have to tell us?.
Robyn - It can't be that horrible.
Mana - Yes it can.
Terri - We're leaving the group and the both of us are going solo 'cause it just doesn't feel right anymore.
~~~~
Needless to say, it wasn't a pretty site to behold or to hear if you were in sight or hearing distance of the group. Even though Mana and Terri said they weren't joking and were gonna stay till the end of the american tour, Julie and Robyn still couldn't believe this was happening. They pinched them selves and Mana and Terri did too just to be sure they weren't dreaming. This was for real alright. Nothing could change the band members' minds. Punches would have been thrown if the bodyguards hadn't restrained which still didn't stop them from throwing curses at the 'deserters.'
During next the next 2 days, there was extreme tension between the members of ICE while the legal meetings were set up. Mana and Terri had to get a new lawyer to represent them since the old one wanted to stick with Julie and Robyn. ICE still held the legal power so it wasn't too much trouble to get everything set up without worrying about lawsuits for the time being.
~~~~
After the American Tour
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PR statements had to be made, contracts had to be looked over in secret, drivers and other people who wanted to stay with Mana and Terri had to be taken care of, appointments had to be made with record companies, each girl departing had to find a suitable manager, plane tickets had to be booked so each girl could go on a separate holiday ( Mana - Paris, she told everybody she was going to Denmark ; Terri - Ireland, she told everybody London, England )., and finally a press conference had to set up.
Mana was getting ready to make a phone call when Tori Strise, a person she had met 4 yrs. ago rung up and asked if Mana wanted to work with her. Mana agreed and Tori said she would start booking record companies to review.
Terri, meanwhile, had called up Mandi-Kaye, but she wasn't in. Mandi-Kaye called her back and both asked if they wanted to work with each other. Laughing, both agreed to do it. Again, laughing followed as Mandi asked Terri which record companies she was interested in. She wrote down what her new client had told her then said goodbye after talking some more so she could make some phone calls.
Mana got on with Jive records and Terri got on with Virgin records.
The press was having a field day with the rumors of ICE splitting up. Their obituaries(sp?) would written and published by the next morning.
~~~~51 days later ( after the american tour was finally over)~~~~
Mana and Terri's PR Person Erinn Sommers read their statement as the girls watched the TV news in their secret hideaways. They couldn't believe all of the halabaloo that was on the news about them leaving. It was like the whole world had dropped what they were doing and had tuned in to watch the death of ICE. Both laughed and called each other 1 time each and another time each during the broadcast and just made cracks about it. It was just like when Geri Halliwell had left the Spice Girls in May of 1998 only this time half of a major pop group teen singing sensation was walking away. Reporters had been sent to London and Denmark hoping to catch glimpses and interviews with the girls and they were gonna end up with a free holiday, pay included.
" Sadly, Amanda 'mana' Mansen and I Terri-Lynn Philips would like to confirm that we have left ICE. We are sorry to all of the fans but thank you all for supporting us throughout the years that ICE has been in the music business. We would like to wish Julie Tivers and Robyn Jensen the best of luck in their future careers.
We plan on spending a year doing charity work and possibly in the future each of us may record a solo album.
We WILL be back, as both Geri and the Terminator said.
Sincerely,
Terri-Lynn Philips " Heat." and Amanda " mana" Mansen.