What REALLY Happened Inside The Pussycat Dolls?

0:00Welcome to We're Talking. As news breaks that the Pussycat Dolls are reforming, we go back to where it all began. Ashley Roberts takes us through the highs and lows of being a Pussycat Doll. From underground shows at the Viper Room to becoming one of the biggest girl groups in the world, this is the real story behind how the dolls were born.

0:33How in the world do you now join this iconic group, the Pussycat Dolls? Well, my friend told me that there was this group called the Pussycat Dolls and all the best sort of female dancers were a part of it. And I was like, well, I want to try and audition. I want to be a part of that. I auditioned for it and ended up having to dance, having to sing, and got the job. At that time, there was loads of us. You know, there was it was a God, I don't even know how many girls, but it was loads of us having fun, dressing up, having a good time, being feeling girly and playful and fun. It wasn't till later that it turned into the pop group that everybody, you know, would know it as.

1:15But so it like it started getting a buzz because Carmen Electra at the time started to come and do gigs with us. And, you know, Carmen was big at that time. And I mean, she's, you know, she's still doing her thing. and anyways it just created a buzz of like oh well why don't we go see the doll show before we like go out on a friday night and then it just sort of like bit by bit was like well britney spears wants to do something christina aguilera wants to come and do something charlise theron wants to come and do something um and when gwen stefani came that's when like that's when things shifted because gwen uh brought jimmy the head of interscope records and he was like this is cool.

1:58I might like take a few of you and make a pop group. Interesting. So that's the origin. Yeah. So I was reading that, was this all in the Viper Room? The Viper Room is where it pretty much started, yeah. Okay. Yeah. All right, so this is Johnny Depp is, that's his? That was his place, yeah. I don't know if he still owns it now, but yeah, back in the day it was his spot. Okay. Yeah. So he had this spot, Viper, because I would always hear about the Viper Room. Yeah. It was a staple on Sunset Boulevard. Oh, my gosh. Like, super, super exclusive. Yeah. What do you think it was at that time about the Pussycat Dolls in that iteration, right, that made everybody, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, like, that made them all want to do something with you all?

2:45I think it was just, like, something kind of fun and a bit sassy and girly thing to do. And because it was starting to get a buzz, it was like, well, that could be a fun thing to pop in and do. And it kind of took you out of maybe your regular routine or the songs that you've been doing. You come and do some different kind of songs. I don't know. It just had this buzz to it where everybody was coming to see the show before they'd be heading out on a Friday or Saturday night. Now, you mentioned when Gwen Stefani performed with you, he brought Jimmy Iovine. Yeah. So how did that then change the course of the group?

3:25Yeah, well, he just saw something and started having conversations with Rob and Anton, who started the Dolls, and was like, you know, you got something going on here. Like, maybe there's something we could do here. And then I remember different kind of conversations happening about, like, well, we might do a song, or, like, we might, you know, create, like, a pop group out of this. And I was like, what? And at that time, again, I was still doing other gigs and stuff. It was more like a side fun thing. So I was like, yeah, okay, cool. You know, if that happens, that would be awesome. You know, not thinking necessarily like what it would become.

4:00I mean, I definitely always sort of felt in my heart like that I loved being on stage. And that was like where I felt most at home. So that sort of like feeling was existing in me probably already. But yeah, it was when I remember sitting down. And I didn't know who Jimmy Iovine was at the time or Ron Farrell, these, you know, big wigs that were amongst the music industry. I just remember being like, yeah, if you're going to pay me to like have a good time and do what I love, like, sure, I'll get on board. It wasn't until they said, OK, we got this song, don't you? CeeLo Green has written it. I was like, OK.

4:40CeeLo Green wrote that. CeeLo Green wrote, don't you? Well, OK. For somebody else and then ended up being our song. And then they said Busta Rhymes is going to be on this track. And I was like.

4:54That's what I was like, wait a minute. This is real. I called my mom. I was like, OK, I've just had a meeting and they're saying Busta Rhymes is going to be on a track with us. Like, what is happening? Yes. Like, I just think I just was like, this is this is wild. This is wild. So, all right. I have to ask about the composition of the group. OK. Because you said at first it was, so would you say 10 or more? Oh, more, yeah. It was like 14? Yeah, yeah. It was like, gosh, it was probably like 14 to 20 of us. I mean, maybe even more depending on like what the gig was. But there was sort of like a six core group that were like the girls that sort of like started it.

5:32And then a few other girls that would come in and then interchange. You know, it was like a show. So we didn't necessarily know what was going on ahead. but I felt grateful to be and honored to be asked to join this. To be part of it. Yeah. So you go in, you record the song. Yeah. What happens next? It was, gosh, it was like, you know, it just all of a sudden was like zero to 100. I mean, we definitely were playing at like, you know, smaller gigs and stuff, but all of a sudden we're playing at a gig and I'm like, oh my God, they're singing the lyrics. They're singing back to us. Like, what's going on?

6:13Wait a minute. Whoa. Like, this is crazy. Yeah. I'm like, they know this song. And I remember, like, just being on stage and being like, okay, this is cool. This is interesting. And even just shooting a music video. You know, again, like, I shot music videos, but it was for somebody else, you know. So it just all, I remember Jimmy having, you know, quite a powerful presence with him and knowing that he was well connected. But I think also not being fully aware of like how his connections were also going to like help us get through some of these doors. Yes. And it was just like a rocket ship. It felt like then all of a sudden we were just all over the globe.

7:01It was like, where are we at today? Like, what's going on? Interesting. Yeah. You know what's so interesting to me about the Pussycat Dolls that I didn't realize until doing this research is roughly between 54, 55 million albums sold. There are a few groups like Spice Girls, Destiny's Child, Lil Mix. Yeah. These are groups that are above Pussycat Dolls. Okay. But Pussycat Dolls is top 10 of all time. Every now and then we pop up on TikTok and I'm like, oh, I don't like, I don't like, look, we're still going, still doing things. It's it's it's yeah, it's it seems like another life. Sometimes I have to, like, remind myself, all right, I was there because it was it was just such a we were such in a bubble and it was it was happening so fast that, you know, when we were sort of getting ready to possibly do the reunion.

7:58And I was like, oh, I want to soak up every moment of this. You know, I really want to be present because when you're young and things are happening, you're just like, whoa, OK. But like it was there was there was there was a lot going on. Oh, my gosh. There's a lot. What do you think about the moment of high, the moment of that? This is just surreal. I'll never forget this moment in the group. Sharing like the stage with certain acts at time. Like we toured. I mean, it's crazy. Rihanna supported us back in the day. Yes! Oh my God. S-O-S day. Hold on for a second. Hold on for a second. You're telling me Rihanna opened for you.

8:39Neo, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga. They did all right. They did all right. They had decent careers, you know? We were just a little like springboard for them. We're like, have fun! That was the opening lineup. Yeah. So, yeah, over in Europe, yeah, and Australia, wild. We opened up and supported the Peas, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Okay. So the mix was strong back in the day. But, yeah, I mean, you know, it's like sharing. You hear, you know, we still, like, to this day, you hear all the music. I'm like, wow, I shared moments and stages with these people, I guess. is still sometimes you don't quite wrap your head around it.

9:28No. With the Pussycat Dolls, I think what was so interesting is that pretty much everyone around the world can point to one or more songs from the Pussycat Dolls. Truly. So I could point to many. What's your favorite? Buttons. Me too. Oh, is it? That's your favorite? Okay, so now we're talking about Buttons. Yeah, okay. This is good. I felt that you were, it felt like you were one of the lead dancers of this group. That's how it felt to me. I'm just giving you my opinion. Okay, okay. Not just giving you to even comment on this. And where I'm going with this, and this is a question I'll give you my full context.

10:14Okay. I've been a part of ensemble casts, if you will, for almost my entire career. And what's interesting to me as being part of an ensemble cast is that we're never told, especially on a television project, you're never told, okay, this person is the lead. This person is number two. This person is number three, four, five, whatever. You're not told that, right? The edited experience wasn't what I felt in the room. Okay. So that's me. That's my experience. Was that your experience? uh there was a structure to the group that we knew about so that structure played out through whatever it was music videos uh how routines were structured and and that's the that's the way it was so this okay and so the structure and However much of this you don't want to talk about, we don't have to, right?

11:21But the structure was what? The structure was that Nicole was the lead singer. And that was the structure.

11:36Yeah, that's how it seemed. Yeah. I mean, you know, it was what it was. I want to remember it as the legacy we've left behind, the memories that I did have that were amazing being on these stages, getting to do what I loved. And I don't want to sit here and bash and speak negatively about it. I mean, it was a certain time as well, like where, you know, there's different conversations being had about like what and moments to maybe take for yourself of like, what is going on here? How do I feel about this? Maybe I'll voice that opinion or I'll, you know, how is my mental health doing? That stuff just didn't exist then.

12:28It was like you just sort of, you got up and you got the job done. Do I wish it was a bit more expansive? You know, yes. But also I was getting to live out my dreams. And so like to sit here and speak negatively about something makes me take away from also what the fuck I got to do. So now the group through the years, right, what ends up happening and you tell me is that there was uh was it uh it was right pre-covid where the whole thought was okay the group is going to go back out on tour yeah all right covid obviously plays a plays a big issue yes but then post-covid the group doesn't go back out Yeah.

13:18And what's at least what's what you see in the press is that there was infighting that happened. And that's the result of the group breaking up. What's the reason? What's the real reason? I mean, I think that, well, we were ready to go and Miss Rona shut it down. You know, she came in and said niche, niche to all of it. But there was then some I can't actually because there's legal stuff that was involved. So I can't actually speak about it. But, yeah, unfortunately, legal stuff started happening and it wasn't able to get figured out. But, I mean, you never know, like, honestly, because I didn't think we'd get back out there the time that we did.

14:00So it'd be a shame not to. All right. So finance is my background. Okay. So, yeah. Everyone's like, what? You're doing all kinds of things. Yeah, so that was my first career was finance. Was it? So I always look at everything from a financial lens. Okay. So I started going down my nerd trail on how much money the Pussycat Dolls have made. Okay. Now, you know what? Somebody else probably made a lot of money. This is what I'm going to say. I mean, we know. So do you know what my calculation was? What? Oh, my gosh. Paul ah what would you guess I honestly wouldn't even have a clue I know that I was and I mean again I feel weird sometimes talking about this stuff because I don't want people to feel like I'm like yo girl you got to go do your dream you got to travel but when you work hard and then somebody else is capitalizing off of that that's where it gets like a bit tricky but I was smart enough and I had good people around me at the time that I invested into a property.

15:16And listen, at my age, I think I was like 27, 28. Not a lot of people could do that. So I was grateful that I had that because I know I've heard some stories in the past where some people didn't even have something to walk away with. Exactly, exactly. Nothing. They had nothing to show away. Yeah. Right? At minimum,$250 million. That's a lot of cash. It's a lot of cash. It's a lot of cash. I saw the highest grossing tours in certain areas. Yeah. Probably that Lady Gaga. Yeah, probably that one. Rihanna, Nia, a lineup. Yeah. But in certain areas, highest grossing tour, you have 54 to 55 million albums sold.

16:01You still have all the streams that are happening. There's merchandise going on. So minimum, 250 million, right? So you have then press articles. Yeah. Right. So all of that is all pressure that's being placed on you. And also, I would imagine your schedule, especially when traveling, must have been slant. It was wild. Oh, my gosh. It was wild. I remember we were in Cairo, Egypt, performing in front of the pyramids. And at that time, I think us and Sting had only, I'm sure now it's changed, but it had only been like the artists that got to do this. You know, we're doing Dojo and like Booty Poppet.

16:42And I turn around, like the Sphinx and the Pyramids are like lit up in different colors. And I'm like, what is going on? And then I'm on a plane, wake up, and I'm doing a Kiss concert in Los Angeles, you know, like straight off the plane. Or at one point, we're in three different countries in one day. Like, it was just mental, the schedule. So it was wild. It's wild. I mean, and so all of this is like this, I don't want to call it a tornado, but it is swirling around you. Yeah. Right? So all of this is swirling around you. How does that begin to impact your mind and your body? I mean, I think this schedule took its toll as there wasn't a lot of time really to take care of yourself.

17:30like I remember being looking remember looking forward to those long-haul flights because I was like oh that one's like Australia's like how far oh kind of all that time to like rest on a plane and just like disconnect and like actually like get some sleep I did I just felt like I wanted to just do the best that I I could and go out there and perform so really when my body started shutting down that was when I was like okay I guess I gotta like take a little pause okay a little moment when you said your body would shut down yeah yeah yeah I've actually I've spoken about this so basically we were in London doing a gig and I was sick and I was like okay I'm just ill you know probably caught something um vomiting and extreme headaches and it's not getting any better and I'm like okay we need to get on a flight to go to Germany.

18:22Like, uh-oh, like, I don't think I can move. And so I ended up going to the hospital. And they were like, okay, we think that you're having brain aneurysm. So we need you to chill. And I was like, well, I need to get on a plane. So like, whatever y 'all need to give me, like, let's get it done and then I can go. And then as I'm walking to the MRI, my knee locks up. And basically, I had viral arthritis. I didn't even know this was the thing so so I couldn't um I couldn't bend my knee as I'm walking to get the MRI so but my body just was like stop you just I had to to stop I was having some kind of reaction to a virus that that I had caught and it which was causing extreme headaches and then for my knee to lock up yeah all right then you went right back yeah then you went right back yeah yeah but that I was the show must go on.

19:19I was like, let's, okay, this is what I, this is what we do. So what do you think? I want to show you something. This is, I have many surprises for you. You ready? You ready? Oh, doing things. Okay. Okay. So then given everything that you've just told me. Yeah. What is the first thing that you think about when you see this?

19:47gosh she's like a baby this was an exciting time because this was the first ever album cover so I was like you know I was like you were in it I was in it and I was like these clothes like this is fun if you can give young Ash some advice right there what would you tell her right when she's walking away from that photo shoot? Ooh, girl, saddle up. It's going to be right. Put that seatbelt on. I mean, yeah. But it's going to be everything. You know, it's like it was hard. It was outrageous. It was extreme. It was intense. It was tough. There was tears. There was, like, expression. like you know like yes it was a lot but i would i would say yes again you would say yes again yeah now that by the way also is something that my boys would have no idea what that is that you're you're holding so so for anyone uh like my boys who are watching this don't know what this is this is what we used to play music yes this was the good old days and i'd have like ashley's like like, you know, fun playlist, going out list, like emotional playlist, like having fun playlist.

21:15Did you ever put your own music on your playlist? No. Stop it right now. No, I'm serious. You put your own music on your playlist. You would never put buttons on your playlist. Oh my gosh, stop. Seriously. No way. No, really. No, no way. Really? No. You never sing don't you to your boyfriend? Stop it right now. All right, all right, all right. Done, done, done. Oh, my God, so cringy. Babe. Hey. You drummed the shoulder a little bit. Yeah. And if you want to hear the full unfiltered stories from today's guest, you can check them out on the We Need to Talk page. Drop a like, leave a comment, and hit subscribe.

22:05See you next week.