2002-03-04 15:15:28 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - A member of feisty British pop group ‘So Solid Crew’ pleaded guilty on Monday, the first day of a trial at a London court, to possession of a loaded gun.

Ashley Walters, 19, a singer with the chart topping garage band, had previously pleaded not guilty to the offense last July when he was involved in a heated argument with a traffic warden.But on Monday, officials at Southwark Crown Court, south London, told Reuters Walters had admitted to illegal possession of a firearm and threats to kill. The trial was halted and Walters was remanded in custody until March 25.

‘So Solid Crew’ had a number one hit in August 2001 with ‘21 Seconds’ and won the Best British Video for the track at the recent Brit Awards.

But the group, which has up to 30 members, has been plagued by controversy following the shooting of two men at a gig in London’s Astoria last year which forced it to cancel a UK tour. Lee Jasper, a race advisor to the London mayor, also slammed the group for their violent lyrics in an interview with the BBC last month.

“Somebody needs to say, ‘Actually we (So Solid Crew) are singing about these things but we are not suggesting you go out and do it’,” he said.