Bardot’s ex-manager David Caplice weighs in on girl group’s split

In a candid new interview, Bardot’s ex-manager says “envy and infighting” plagued the girl group before one final backstage “death blow.”

There are two sides to every story – but when it comes to your average pop group, you can probably multiply that figure by a hundred.

Australian girl group Bardot burned briefly but brightly, forming in 2000 out of hit reality series Popstars and breaking up after a string of hit singles just two years later – a sudden split that left at least two members of the group heartbroken.

When I interviewed Bardot’s Katie Underwood in 2018 and her bandmate Belinda Chapple this week, both spoke of the group’s stability being rocked by unusual moves from a former manager they suspected had “ulterior motives.”

Underwood explained that her shock decision to leave Bardot after just one year to join the cast of the musical Hair had been at the suggestion of the group’s new manager.

“Several of us had a few conspiracy theories when we got together for the 10-year anniversary, thinking that maybe this new manager was trying to subvert the group and break us up, and bring Sophie (Monk) off to be a solo artist, which kind of happened about 12 months later,” she said.

Speaking to news.com.au this week, Chapple said she was also shocked by the “unusual” suggestion: “My biggest surprise was that our own manager wanted her to leave the band, more or less.”

Chapple said she was “heartbroken” by the group’s split in 2002, and regrets being “made to sign” an official statement declaring the break-up a mutual decision.

Six months after Bardot’s implosion, Sophie Monk released her first solo single, having retained the group’s manager.

Bardot, L-R: Sophie, Sally, Tiffani, Katie and Belinda.

That manager: David Caplice. Pre-Bardot, Caplice discovered Human Nature in 1995, turning the group members into household names and forming his own management company. Post-Bardot, he inked a management deal with Australian Idol, looking after reality TV success stories like Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, and another Aussie girl group that went through line-up changes and only lasted two albums, Young Divas (more on them later).

With Bardot in the midst of a media blitz celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut single Poison, Caplice spoke to news.com.au to share his side of a story that’s still intriguing pop fans two decades later.

When did you come on board with Bardot? Was it the case that their previous management from the TV show weren’t quite sure how to keep their career growing post-reality TV?

“I came on board to manage Bardot just after they hit No 1 with Poison. The show-appointed management had found the act difficult to work with so Chris Moss, head of Warner Music at the time and a judge on Popstars, gave me a call to set up a meeting with the girls. I think it was because I was managing Human Nature, who at that point of their career were in full boy-band mode, so Chris thought we may be a good fit. I remember the first meeting with the girls and thinking “Wow they are great, I can definitely work with them!”. In regards to why they didn’t gel with their previous management I really don’t know – Grant (Thomas) was a great manager, he broke Crowded House, but maybe didn’t feel passionate enough about a pop machine like Bardot – but I did!”

RELATED: Bardot star: ‘I haven’t spoken to Sophie in 18 years’

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When you see Katie Underwood weeing on a robot dog, you can’t un-see it.

Did different members of the group have different ideas of how long the band should continue and how it would end?

“I think everybody was just down for the ride. The band was very successful very quickly, so I don’t think anybody really thought at the time this wasn’t for them.”

Katie and Belinda have both said they were puzzled you encouraged Katie to audition for the musical Hair, which would mean her leaving the group. Can you tell me about that?

“After Kate Ceberano’s break out role in Jesus Christ Superstar it was common for pop singers to feature in big music theatre productions so when Katie brought this opportunity to the table everyone was enthusiastic for her – it was never conceived as a way to remove her from the group.”

When Hair was cancelled, was there any discussion about letting Katie back into the group? Do you think that would've been welcomed?

“Of course, but it was Katie that now had a different perspective of working with the girls – no one kept her out, she left.”

L-R: Sally, Sophie, Belinda and Tiffani continued on as a four-piece after Katie left.

Belinda said the band's final public performance on Channel V felt “bizarre”. What do you remember of that day?

“I remember the girls became very adversarial to each other towards the end, when envy and infighting was out of control. It wasn’t that particular performance that heralded the end for me – it was the blow-up backstage at the Mardi Gras prior to their 2am headline performance that really shocked everybody. That explosive encounter was the death blow for the band.”

Tiffani in tears during the group’s final performance, on Channel V in April 2002. Picture: Noel Kessel.

Sophie was seen as the driving force behind the split, pushing to go solo. Was that the case?

“Not at all. Sophie was ambitious, but all the girls were. She loved the band and understood that her skills as a singer and performer were being developed with time spent with the girls. Sophie just wasn’t that strategic about things back then – she was just going with the flow.”

All smiles, but the Bardot’s manager now claims ‘envy and infighting’ plagued the group.

What, to you, was the main issue that split Bardot up?

“They were five very talented, very beautiful young women who all could have been solo stars – and they knew that. Instead, they suddenly found themselves in a group that was the product of the most popular TV show in the country. It came fast and furious and after a while instead of bonding and becoming the incredible band they could have, they instead allowed insecurity and competitiveness to destroy their relationship. In the end it seemed like a race about who could get to the solo No 1 first because they were all frightened by each other’s talent and potential.”

Many fans have said they felt Bardot had more potential and more to give. How far did you see them going?

“Bardot could have been the biggest girl band in the world – they had the talent and image to go all the way. Also there was a lot more good music to come.”

David Caplice: ‘After 20 years I know how to handle such situations.’

You're 20 years further into your career now. Is there anything you would've done differently with Bardot?

“Yes, definitely – I could have been more patient, understanding of what they were experiencing as individuals within the group machine. I was young too but now after 20 years of talent management I know exactly how to handle such situations. I did find their classic hit I Need Somebody, so ultimately I feel that I contributed to their legacy in a positive way.”

Sophie and Sally have opted out of the current 20th anniversary celebration. Do you think they should rejoin for one last hurrah?

“I think deep down Sophie and Sally would love to record and perform again with the other girls, simply because it was fun, ground breaking and they had an amazing chemistry as a band. Sophie is a really talented singer whose voice worked extremely well within Bardot’s vocal blend. I think that Sophie knows that if she was to return to music one last time that it would be best and most successful with the girls.”

What would you have the group do to make the most of a reunion – and do you think they'd be able to recapture a bit of Popstars hysteria, 20 years later?

“I would love to get the girls get back into the recording studio with the hottest dance producers of today and release a new single. It would also be amazing to do a few “one-off” shows around the country to celebrate the wonderful band that Bardot was and the amazing connection they had with their fans. Seeing them all recently on social media, they seem to be in great form and if the Pussycat Dolls can release new music I know Bardot can and much, much better! I’ve got the biggest labels in the country lining up to do this, so I hope the girls consider how commercial and fun it could be.”

A Bardot / Young Divas 2021 tour? Ladies, we NEED this.

You managed Young Divas after Bardot. Another girl group that had line-up changes and split after two albums …

“After working with Bardot and Sophie I created the Young Divas and went on an even more insane ride than I had with Bardot. Ricki-Lee, Jessica Mauboy, Paulini, Kate DeAraugo and Emily Williams – what an incredible collection of singers! When the first single This Time I Know It’s For Real blew up, we had an amazing ride – but again jealousy and infighting destroyed the band. I love all those girls though, and think that the first Young Divas album features some of the best female group vocals ever come out of this country. I feel exactly the same about the Young Divas as I do Bardot – they were a great girl group, and if we could get them together again to record and perform the Australian pop scene would be all the better for it. That’s my dream double bill for 2021 – Bardot & Young Divas One Night Only!”

Bardot has today responded to Caplice’s comments to news.com.au, saying his claim they had an explosive blow-up backstage at Mardi Gras was “not true”.