Wham! were an English pop music duo consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, formed in Bushey in 1981. They became one of the most commercially successful pop acts of the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986.
The members of Wham, vocalist Andrew Ridgeley and backing dancers Pepsi and Shirlie paid an emotional tribute to frontman George Michael who died on Christmas Day. The group last performed together at WHAM! The Final concert at Wembley in June 1986 and despite multiple rumours of a reunion, they never performed again as a group.
George Michael, Wham! lead singer, dead at 53, publicist says. George Michael, who rocketed to stardom with Wham! and went on to enjoy a long and celebrated solo career lined with controversies, has died, his publicist said Sunday. He was 53. His publicist confirmed the news to CBS News in a statement.
In 2005, Ridgeley and Michael made plans to reunite as Wham! for Live 8, but Ridgeley reportedly pulled out at the last minute. In 2012, Michael dismissed rumours that they were set for a reunion to mark the 30th anniversary of their first record. Michael said that there was no truth in speculation the group would reform for a one-off concert.
Who was the band Wham?
Andrew Ridgeley. Wham! (briefly known in the US as Wham! U.K.) were an English pop band formed in Bushey in 1981. The band consisted of George Michael, Andrew Ridgeley, Shirlie Holliman and Pepsi DeMacque.
Now signed to Epic Records, except in the US and some other countries where they were on Epic sister label Columbia Records, Wham! returned in 1984 with a new album and an updated pop image.
In March 1985, Wham! took a break from recording to embark on a lengthy world tour, including a ground-breaking 10-day visit to China, the first by a Western pop group . The China excursion was a publicity scheme devised by Simon Napier-Bell (one of their two managers— Jazz Summers being the other). It began with a concert at the Peoples’ Gymnasium in Beijing in front of 12,000 people. They also played a concert in front of 5,000 in Canton. The two concerts were played without compensation. Wham!’s visit to China attracted huge media attention across the world. Napier-Bell later admitted that he used cunning tactics to sabotage the efforts of rock band Queen to be the first to play in China: he made two brochures for the Chinese authorities – one featuring Wham! fans as pleasant middle-class youngsters, and one portraying Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury in typically flamboyant poses. The Chinese opted for Wham!.
At London’s Wembley Stadium on Saturday 28 June 1986, Wham! bade goodbye to their fans and each other with an emotional embrace at the end of its final concert. 72,000 people attended the eight-hour event, which included support artists, on a scorching hot day in London.
By the end of 1983, Wham! were competing against pop rivals Culture Club and Duran Duran as one of Britain’s biggest pop acts. Their debut album Fantastic spent two weeks at No. 1 in the UK album charts in 1983, but the album only had modest success in the US.
Anderson called his one-hour and 18 minute film If You Were There . In the final stages of editing, Anderson was dismissed by Wham!’s management, the editing team quit, and the film was entirely re-edited, renamed and released as Wham! in China: Foreign Skies.
The debut record to be released by the band was “Wham Rap!”. in June 1982. It was a double A-side including the Social Mix and the Unsocial Mix.
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Who is the lead singer of Wham?
George Michael, Wham! lead singer, dead at 53, publicist says. George Michael, who rocketed to stardom with Wham! and went on to enjoy a long and celebrated solo career lined with controversies, has died, his publicist said Sunday. He was 53. His publicist confirmed the news to CBS News in a statement. “It is with great sadness that we can confirm …
Michael, with strong Greek-Cypriot roots, was born Georgios Panayiotou in England. He and schoolmate Ridgeley formed a ska band called the Executive when they were just 16 before moving on to form Wham! “I wanted to be loved,” said Michael of his start in the music field. “It was an ego satisfaction thing.”.
Who were the members of Wham?
The members of Wham, vocalist Andrew Ridgeley and backing dancers Pepsi and Shirlie paid an emotional tribute to frontman George Michael who died on Christmas Day .
Along with Pepsi DeMacque, Shirlie was a backing singer and dancer for Wham! at the height of their fame. After Wham! ended, they formed a duo Pepsi and Shirlie and had two UK top ten hits with Heartache and Goodbye Stranger. They also provided backing vocals on Geri Haliwell’s 200 number one Bag It Up. +15.
The pair who’ve been married more than 25 years have one of the longest-standing marriages in sho. In 1995 Kemp was diagnosed with two brain tumours and Shirlie took time out from her career to look after him, and ended up being declared bankrupt.
It’s a testament to the enduring bond between the two men that Ridgeley, 54, appeared on stage last night to pay tribute to his former bandmate and childhood friend. Over the past two decades he’s been keen to shun the limelight, after his attempts at forging various new careers came to nothing after Wham! disbanded.
Shirlie Kemp is now a lifestyle photographer and interior designer after a stint working for George Michael’s failed record company. +15. Copy link to paste in your message. The singer has reinvented herself as a lifestyle guru after taking time out to care for her husband when he was treated for two brain tumours.
How Andrew Ridgeley lives an idyllic life in Cornwall thanks to George Michael’s generosity while Pepsi and Shirlie reinvented themselves as lifestyle gurus. Andrew Ridgeley is keen cyclist and environmental campaign. Shirlie married Martin Kemp and is a photographer and interiors stylist.
Where did Wham play?
They gained huge worldwide media attention when Wham! became the first Western pop group to play in China, first in Hong Kong for two warm-up shows, then a show in Beijing in front of 15,000 people at the Worker’s Gymnasium, and finally, one show in Canton.
After years of playing in various music groups, most notably The Executive, Michael and Ridgeley formed the duo Wham! in 1981. Michael was lead vocalist and primary songwriter and played keyboards, while Ridgeley played guitar and performed backing vocals.
In 1984, Wham! charted two U.K. No. 1 singles, and were competing that year with pop rivals Duran Duran to be Britain’s biggest pop act. Toward this end, Napier-Bell devised a publicity scheme that he believed would turn them into major international stars: In April 1985, he took Wham! to China for a 10-day visit. They gained huge worldwide media attention when Wham! became the first Western pop group to play in China, first in Hong Kong for two warm-up shows, then a show in Beijing in front of 15,000 people at the Worker’s Gymnasium, and finally, one show in Canton. The visit was recorded for a documentary film titled Wham! in China: Foreign Skies. In 1985, Ridgeley performed at the Live Aid charity concert with other backing singers, while Michael performed with Elton John .
Wham! Main article: Wham! Wham! enjoyed worldwide success from 1982 to 1986, selling more than 35 million records worldwide. They made their U.S. debut on Dick Clark ‘s American Bandstand, becoming the only 1980s British act to have three No. 1 singles on both the U.K. and U.S. charts.
His brother Paul, an occasional percussionist for Bananarama, played drums on the album.
