Second Pussycat Doll quits group

[Perdita]

Ashley Roberts has confirmed that she has quit the Pussycat Dolls.

The singer joined the group as a dancer in 2001 and later became part of the recording lineup with Nicole Scherzinger, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt.

The 28-year-old announced her departure just days after Wyatt quit the 'Don't Cha' group.

"It's time to answer your question. Yes, I have left the Pussycat Dolls. I love you all sooo much!" she wrote on her official website.

"I am so grateful to have the love and support of all of you. It was an amazing ride and I learned so much!

"I currently have gotten the acting bug and am falling in love with it. I have a few projects in the works and when ready I will announce more details to all of you.

"I am also in the studio recording some of my own music. Let The Music Set You Free.

"You all mean the world to me and I'm excited to take you all on a new adventure. An adventure full of creativity, inspiration, learning, growing and lots of fun."

The Pussycat Dolls' creator Robin Antin recently confirmed that the group will return later this year with a revised lineup, but it will still be based around frontwoman Scherzinger.

[Perdita]

The slow, painful demise of the Pussycat Dolls was surely the worst kept secret in pop. Over what seemed liked a period of years, each member confessed they couldn't really stand each other and were planning on venturing to pastures new without delay. Which actually makes what happened next perhaps even more surprising than the split.

A new line-up of the five-piece has been unveiled at a private party in Los Angeles, with only one of the original members surviving the cull. Inevitably, US pop idol Nicole Scherzinger stands at the centre of the new band, which has been masterminded by Dolls founder and choreographer Robin Antin.

The four new additions are Kherington Payne from 'So You Think You Can Dance', former LA Lakers cheerleader Vanessa Curry, Rino Nakasone-Razalan from 'America's Best Dance Crew' runners-up Beat Freaks and ex-Girlicious member Jamie Lee Ruiz.

Antin remains confident that despite almost completely rebuilding the quintet from scratch, the group's future will be as glittering as their past. "Last Night was perfection! NicoleScherzy was so incredible, sang her heart out! & DOLLS, you KILLED IT! Congrats!!!!" she wrote on Twitter following their debut performance.

She has previously claimed that the five-piece is as much about "female empowerment" as anything else, explaining: "Inside every woman is a Pussycat Doll waiting to get out. There are millions of women out there who want to know what it feels like. I want to bring in new faces."

The world of music is littered with reinvented acts, as seen most recently with the Sugababes, who are staggering on after shuffling their line-up four times. Mick Hucknall was today unveiled as Rod Stewart's stand-in for upcoming Faces reunion gigs and he will be hoping for a better reception to the one received by INXS, The Doors and Queen, who have been widely panned by critics and fans for drafting in new singers after their original frontmen died.

What do you think of the new Pussycat Dolls? Can they go onto great things in the world of pop? Or is this line-up an insult to the original act? Have your say below...

http://new.uk.music.yahoo.com/blogs/behind_the_music/7464/whats-new-pussycat-dolls/

[Perdita]

Nicole Scherzinger has quit the Pussycat Dolls, it has been reported.

According to the News of the World, the 'Poison' star has decided to leave the band to concentrate on her solo career and acting projects.

Scherzinger follows the four other members - Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta and Ashley Roberts - in exiting the group.

She said: "We had our time. Some of the girls left the group. That was out of my hands. I wouldn't want to be in a group with other girls - we were like a tight family."

The singer is apparently hoping that her decision will also allow her to spend more time with boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.

[Chris_2k11]

I love Nicole's new song!

[Chloe O'brien]

I thought they'd split up last year. bad news about Nicole saying she wants to spend more time with Lewis. That means we have to suffer her at the F1 races

[tammyy2j]

Nicole Scherzinger has quit the Pussycat Dolls, it has been reported.

According to the News of the World, the 'Poison' star has decided to leave the band to concentrate on her solo career and acting projects.

Scherzinger follows the four other members - Kimberly Wyatt, Melody Thornton, Jessica Sutta and Ashley Roberts - in exiting the group.

She said: "We had our time. Some of the girls left the group. That was out of my hands. I wouldn't want to be in a group with other girls - we were like a tight family."

The singer is apparently hoping that her decision will also allow her to spend more time with boyfriend Lewis Hamilton.

Didnt the group spilt up last year