Page 41 - Write Away Magazine Dec 2019

George Michael

We’vetaken a look at the Christmas classic but there was so
much more to George Michael and Wham! So let’s take a
little time to discover the iconic 1980’s pop duo.

George Michael and Andrew Ridgley first burst on the
scene way back in 1983 with their debut single “Young
guns , go for it” The first of many of what would be one of
the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980’s.

Michael and Ridgley first met at Bushey Meads School
in Bushey near the town of Watford in Hertfordshire.
For a short time they formed a SKA band called The
Executive with a few other class mates before forming
Wham! in 1980.

Michael took on the majority of roles and re-
sponsibilities within the band—composer,
producer, lead singer, and occasional instru
mentalist. Still teenagers, they promoted Andrew Ridgley
themselves as hedonistic youngsters, also tried to go it solo but could
proud to live a carefree life without not recover from the Wham! split-up. He tried
work or commitment. This was his hand at Formula 3 motor racing but, again, without much
reflected in their earliest singles success.
which, part-parody, part-social
comment, briefly earned Wham! a George Michael’s popularity continued to grow despite the
reputation as a dance protest adverse headlines until Christmas Day 2016 when at the age of
group. 53, he died of a heart and liver condition.

In order to move to a recording Owing to the delay in determining the cause of death, Michael’s
contract with Sony label Epic, funeral was held 29 March 2017. In a private ceremony, he
Wham! was forced to walk away was buried at Highgate Cemetery in north London, near his
from most of the royalties from mother’s grave. That summer an informal memorial garden
their debut album, Fantastic. was created outside his former home in Highgate. The site, in a
None of that mattered when their private square that Michael had owned, is tended by fans.
1984 single, “Wake Me up Before
You Go Go,” became a worldwide hit, Like us all, George Michael had his issues. But his talents
accompanied by a video of the pair coupled with his integrity, generosity+and honesty made him
cavorting in their sportswear. Almost one of the best loved superstars of the 1980’s and 1990’s. His
immediately, George Michael started think- Christmas hit, ‘Last Christmas’ will ensure that he will live on
ing of a solo career, and released “Careless in our hearts for many years to come. The group ‘Wham’ still
Whisper,” issued in the U.S. as George Michael of remains today as an influence to any young musical act and the
Wham! The duo embarked on a much-publicized trip to Chi- ultimate in the fun of music.
na and enjoyed considerable success in America.

Wham!’s end came rather suddenly, in 1985, reputedly when
the group’s manager, Simon Napier-Bell (later to manage Take
That), decided to sell a share of his management to a
South African entertainment conglomerate.
Supposedly, as part of a stand against South African
politics, George Michael immediately announced
Wham!’s breakup. They gave their farewell performance
before a sold-out audience of 72,000 fans at London’s
Wembley Stadium.

George Michael embarked on a solo career which rarely
saw him out of the press, not only for the amazing music
he was producing but also a few embarrassing incidents in
which he was involved in public sex acts and other C
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