Destiny's final destiny

Music

16:30 14 June 2005

Destiny's Child have confirmed they are splitting up.

The chart-topping trio will quit when their current North American tour ends in September.

Confusingly the group - Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams - had originally denied they had told 16,000 fans at a concert in Barcelona, Spain, that they planned to disband to concentrate on solo careers.

But the group has since admitted in a statement: "We realised that now is the time to pursue our personal goals and solo efforts in earnest.

"After a lot of discussion and some deep soul searching, we realised that our current tour has given us the opportunity to leave Destiny's Child on a high note."

The band, who split in 2001 to pursue solo careers and insisted they reformed for their fans, not to make money, added they would be "united in our friendship and filled with an overwhelming gratitude for our music, our fans, and each other."

Destiny's Child comeback album 'Destiny Fulfilled' has sold 2.7 million and was number one in the US charts.

Beyonce said at the time: "We did this record for ourselves, not to sell a million the first week out. We have such fun when we're together."

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