Destiny's Child will 'chill out' until 2003

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Grammy-winning R&B trio Destiny's Child is sticking with plans to tour next year but probably will not record as a group again before 2003, the singers' management said Thursday.

In widely published comments earlier this month, lead singer Beyonce Knowles said, "Destiny's Child is going to take a little break" to pursue solo projects for the near future, sparking reports the trio was splitting up. But Knowles' father Mathew, who is the group's manager, issued a statement saying her remarks were misinterpreted.
"Destiny's Child has no intention of breaking up," he said in a statement. "The ladies of Destiny's Child did talk of taking a 'break' but never used the word 'break-up."'

The trio - comprising Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams - have a number of commitments as a group next year, including appearances on the American Music Awards show Jan. 9 and the NAACP Image Awards in February and a world tour beginning in the spring, he said.

Anissa Gordon, a spokeswoman for the group's management company, Music World Entertainment, added that Destiny's Child did not plan to return to the studio as a group any time next year. "They're going to chill out with Destiny's Child for the year 2002 and concentrate on solo efforts, and probably in 2003, they'll come back as a group and record together," she said.

The group's third album of new material, "Survivor", debuted in May at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and has sold more than 3 million copies. It was followed by a holiday album, "8 Days of Christmas", in late October. Earlier this month, the glittery young vocalists known for such hit singles as "Say My Name", "Jumpin', Jumpin"' and "Bootylicious", were named "Artists of the Year" for a second straight year at the Billboard Music Awards.