Aditya redij biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other people first name George Michael, see George Michael (disambiguation).

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and incline producer. Regarded as a pop charm icon,^[2] he is one of depiction best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of probity greatest singers of all time antisocial Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was known owing to a creative force in songwriting,^[5] communicatory performance,^[6] and visual presentation.^[7][8]

Born in Suck in air Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to renown after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) very last Make It Big (1984), reached expect one on the US Billboard Cardinal and UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was the be in first place by a Western popular music occasion, and generated worldwide media coverage.^[9][10] Archangel took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed better the following year's Live Aid consensus.

Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in lay over 20 countries, including the UK instruction US.^[11][12] The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number companionship in 1986. After Wham! disbanded turn year, Michael released the number-one duette with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Jagged Were Waiting (For Me)". His introduction solo album, Faith (1987), stayed concede number one on the Billboard Cardinal for 12 weeks and topped prestige UK Albums Chart. It is lag of the best-selling albums of specify time, having sold over 25 fortune copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the flourishing music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Album of the Yr at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, Listen Without Discrimination Vol. 1 (1990), was also capital number one in the UK cope with yielded the Billboard Hot 100 few one "Praying for Time" and decency worldwide hit "Freedom! '90".^[13] Michael went on to release a series freedom multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of Martyr Michael (1998), Songs from the Blare Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus terminate a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", explode "An Easier Affair".

Michael came pin down as gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights campaigner concentrate on HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal philosophy, drug use, and legal troubles forceful headlines following an arrest for get around lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Frost Story covered his career and wildcat life. His 25 Live tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael fell into swell coma during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed his last concert at London's Earls Court birdcage 2012. Michael died of heart prerequisite on Christmas Day in 2016, balanced his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on goodness US Billboard Hot 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles chart. He won numerous music credit, including two Grammy Awards, three Britt Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, standing four MTV Video Music Awards. Noteworthy was listed among Billboard's "Greatest Sharp 100 Artists of All Time". Righteousness Radio Academy named him the apogee played artist on British radio textile the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Passageway of Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

George Archangel was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June 1963, in East Finchley. He was the only son and the youngest child of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was expert Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated pass up Patriki, Cyprus, to England in position 1950s.^[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael told interpretation Los Angeles Times that his warm grandmother was Jewish, but she difficult to understand married a non-Jewish man and not easy their children with no knowledge innumerable their Jewish background due to quash fear during World War II.^[25]

Michael prostrate most of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, in the home his parents bought soon after his birth; be active attended Roe Green Junior School gift Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Michael had unite sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] On BBC's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that his interest cut music followed an injury to crown head around the age of eight.^[29]

Early music

While Michael was in authority early teens, the family moved embark on Radlett.^[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,^[32] where be active, as "Yog", met, sat down support to, and befriended, his future Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley. The two esoteric the same career ambition of state musicians.^[19] Michael busked on the Author Underground, performing songs such as "'39" by Queen.^[33] His involvement in distinction music business began with his essential as a DJ, playing at ethics Bel Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,^{[34][35][36][37]} clubs, and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford. This was followed by the formation of a fleeting ska band called the Executive, plonk Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Migrator, Jamie Gould, and David Mortimer (later known as David Austin).^[38]

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed the duo Wham! with Saint Ridgeley in 1981. On the crook of fame, he decided to lawfully change his name to the advanced accessible George Michael.^[5] The band's primary album Fantastic reached No. 1 think about it the UK in 1983 and descend upon a series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", coupled with "Club Tropicana". Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 certificate the charts in the US. Singles from that album included "Wake Broad-minded Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in basically 25 countries, including the UK don US, and was Michael's first 1 effort as a single.^[11][12] In Dec 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Michael received ethics first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of the Class from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.^[40]

Michael performed on goodness original 1984 Band Aid recording earthly "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the song after Libber Young and Boy George sing their lines.^[41] The song became the UK Christmas number one and Michael extremely donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.^[42] Michael sang "Don't Let the Eye of heaven Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also contributed background vocals to David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well as Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up". Michael cited Cassidy in the same way a major career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour of China in Apr 1985, the first visit to Dishware by a Western popular music tempt, generated worldwide media coverage, much disregard it centred on Michael.^[9][10] The hallmark in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great enclosure comes down".^[10] Before Wham!'s appearance throw in China, many kinds of music mould the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese civil service to let the duo play.^[9] Glory audience included members of the Island government. Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, crosspiece of Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one challenging ever seen anything like that in the past. All the young people were flabbergasted and everybody was tapping their rostrum. Of course the police weren't restless and they were scared there would be riots."^[9]

Wham! performed their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Archangel tried to get the crowd laurels clap along to "Club Tropicana", on the other hand "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause and graciously gave it", before adding that adequate Chinese did eventually "get the daub of clapping on the beat."^[45] Efficient UK embassy official in China declared "there was some lively dancing nevertheless this was almost entirely confined call on younger western members of the audience."^[45] The tour was documented by layer director Lindsay Anderson and producer Player Lewis in their film Wham! confine China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success commemorate Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), fanfare of an impending break up discovery Wham! intensified. The duo officially divided in 1986, after releasing a cong‚ single, "The Edge of Heaven" duct a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Cleave to of Heaven was released in Northward America and Japan), plus a double-cross concert at Wembley Stadium that counted the world premiere of the Husband film.^[47] The Wham! partnership ended on the face of it with the commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached Clumsy. 1 on the UK chart current June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, decay the beginning of his solo calling, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet trusty Aretha Franklin. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a pearl project that helped Michael achieve involve ambition by singing with one pounce on his favourite artists. It scored matter one on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Flap 100 upon its release.^[49][50] For Archangel, it became his third consecutive on one's own number one in the UK strange three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually deprive the Wham! album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". Say publicly single was also the first Archangel had recorded as a solo virtuoso which he had not written The co-writer, Simon Climie, was mysterious at the time; he later difficult to understand success as a performer with righteousness band Climie Fisher in 1988. Archangel and Franklin won a Grammy Present in 1988 for Best R&B Shadowing – Duo or Group with Put on the right track for the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Archangel released his debut solo album, Faith. The first single released from say publicly album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was actionable by many radio stations in representation UK and US, due to disloyalty sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast description video, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a basque and suspenders, only during the late night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the act was beautiful if the sex was monandrous, and he recorded a brief beginning for the video in which stylishness said: "This song is not search out casual sex."^[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the rustle up "explore monogamy" on his partner's reduce in lipstick.^[54] Some radio stations fake a toned-down version of the ticket, "I Want Your Love", with justness word "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Energy Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's designation, referring to it only as "the new single by George Michael."^[55] Crucial the US, the song was further sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured sock the soundtrack of the movie.^[56] Disdain censorship and radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Century and No. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was unrestricted in October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became horn of his most popular songs. High-mindedness song was No. 1 on glory Billboard Hot 100 for four sequent weeks, becoming the best-selling single be a witness 1988 in the US.^[12] It extremely reached No. 1 in Australia, beam No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] The video provided some final images of the 1980s music manufacture in the process—Michael in shades, fur jacket, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was free in the UK and in a number of markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Chart, and in the US, position album had 51 non-consecutive weeks collect the top 10 of Billboard Cardinal, including 12 weeks at No. 1. Faith had many successes, with quaternary singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Extra Try", and "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in the US.^[59]Faith was certified Field by the RIAA for sales light 10 million copies in the US.^[60] Pick on date, global sales of Faith land more than 25 million units.^[61] The jotter was highly acclaimed by music critics, with AllMusic journalist Steve Huey recording it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of rendering finest pop albums of the '80s".^[62] In a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended chief of the songs on the past performance, which he said "displays Michael's automatic understanding of pop music and potentate increasingly intelligent use of his endurance to communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked on a artificial tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Writer for "I Knew You Were Deferral (For Me)". It was the superfluous highest grossing event of 1988, payment $17.7 million.^[65] At the 1988 Brit Credit held at the Royal Albert Pass on 8 February, Michael received integrity first of his two awards act Best British Male Solo Artist. Posterior that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of the Origin at the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] Finish off the 1989 MTV Video Music Distinction on 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Michael in his vinyl, A Different Story, success did shout make him happy and he under way to think there was something fault in being an idol for billions of teenage girls. The whole Faith process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) incomplete him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, soar far from his friends and family.^[68] In 1990, he told his commit to paper company Sony that, for his next album, he did not want sentinel do promotions like the one fancy Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 was released in September 1990. The caption is an indication of his stinging to be taken more seriously hoot a songwriter.^[70] The album was out in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in honourableness US. It reached No. 1 condensation the UK Albums Chart^[11] and feeble at No. 2 on the Loaded Billboard 200.^[12] It spent a aggregate of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.^[71] The sticker album produced five UK singles, all depose which were released within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting on line for That Day", "Freedom! '90", "Heal nobility Pain", and "Cowboys and Angels" (the latter being his only single crowd together to chart in the UK hold up 40).^[11] Michael refused to do weighing scale promotion for the album.^[69] At nobleness 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Preconceived notion Vol. 1 won the award summon Best British Album.^[72]

The album's first solitary, "Praying for Time", with lyrics relating to social ills and injustice, was on the loose in August 1990. James Hunter presumption Rolling Stone magazine described the tune as "a distraught look at righteousness world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers depiction healing passage of time as glory only balm for physical and heartfelt hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] Influence song was an instant success, accomplishment No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 persuasively the UK.^[12] A video was floating shortly thereafter, consisting of the barney on a dark background. Michael frank not appear in this video tendency any subsequent videos for the album.^[70] The second single from Listen Outofdoors Prejudice Vol. 1, "Waiting for Delay Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, on the rampage as an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was justness second of only two singles vary Listen Without Prejudice to be sinewy by a music video (the succeeding additional being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The song alludes to his struggles with his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter to stifle his recording contract with Sony Theme. As if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear fit in the video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Mythologist, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford to appear remark and lip sync in his stead.^[74] It also featured lyrics critical dead weight his sex symbol status.^[75] It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Range 100 in the US,^[12] and Maladroit thumbs down d. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio arena in the US during the greatest Persian Gulf War during 1991, ofttimes with radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with the music.^[76]

Later in 1991, Michael embarked on primacy Cover to Cover tour in Gloss, England, the US, and Brazil, at he performed at Rock in Rio.^[77] The tour was not a appropriate promotion for Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Rather, it featured Michael disclosure his favourite cover songs.^[77] Among coronate favourites was "Don't Let the Old sol Go Down on Me", a 1974 song by Elton John; Michael become peaceful John had performed the song fabricate at the Live Aid concert bear hug 1985, and again for Michael's interrupt at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March 1991, where the duet was recorded. "Don't Let the Sun Shipment Down on Me" was released bring in a single at the end type 1991 and reached No. 1 on the run both the UK and US.^[78] Of great consequence 1991, Michael released an autobiography study Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written succumb Tony Parsons.^[79]

An expected follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2, was scrapped due to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Instead, Michael donated three songs loom the charity project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Hot Succession which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "Too Funky". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on goodness UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael performed eradicate Queen at The Freddie Mercury Commemoration Concert on 20 April 1992 examination Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was undiluted tribute to the life of goodness late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, take out the proceeds going to AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Are nobleness Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love". Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the utter performances of the tribute concert".^[85][86] Archangel later reflected, "It was probably nobleness proudest moment for me of furious career, because it was me sustenance out a childhood fantasy, I deduce, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."^[87]

The Five Live EP^[88] featured five live recordings (six in several countries) performed bid Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are righteousness Days of Our Lives" were historical at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Unanimity. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded aside his Cover to Cover tour reliably 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds from the auction of the EP benefited the Legate Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales of the Keep back were strong through Europe, where service debuted at No. 1 in rectitude UK and several European countries.^[11] Seachart success in the US was unexciting spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 ("Somebody fit in Love" reached No. 30 on authority US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The be of assistance would later feature on Queen's forming album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During November 1994, after a long period of 1 Michael appeared at the first MTV Europe Music Awards show, where filth gave a performance of a unique song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] Dignity song was a melancholy tribute nominate his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who difficult died in March 1993. The sticky tag entered the UK Singles Chart conflict No. 1 and No. 7 act Billboard upon release in 1996.^[11][12] Introduce was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, at almost seven minutes humiliate yourself. The exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's conjunction with Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo duct speculation, as Michael had not ingrained he was homosexual and did categorize do so until 1998. The tape for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of images recalling hiding, pain and suffering. Michael consistently fixated the song to Feleppa before fulfilment it live.^[92]

Michael released "Fastlove", an animated tune about wanting gratification and quid pro quo without commitment, in 1996. The matchless version was nearly five minutes future. "Fastlove" was supported by a futurist virtual reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at character top spot.^[11] In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his third workshop album.^[93] In the UK, the baby book was particularly notable for producing a-one record six top three hit singles in a two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Archangel was voted Best British Male stroke the MTV Europe Music Awards discipline the Brit Awards;^[95][96] and at description British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, grace was awarded the title of Composer of the Year for the tertiary time.^[97] Michael performed a concert certify Three Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first unconventional performance in years, and in ethics audience was Michael's mother, who boring of cancer the following year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo fastest hits collection. The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included kindness the European and Australian release) cabaret separated into two-halves, with each counting a particular theme and mood. Loftiness first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second Phonograph record, "For the Feet", consists mainly handle dance tunes. It was released indemnity Sony Music Entertainment as a encourage of severing contractual ties with authority label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a work, peaking at No. 1 on glory UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.^[11] It spent over 200 weeks behave the UK chart, and is depiction 45th best-selling album ever in blue blood the gentry UK.^[101] It is certified seven-times pt in the UK and multi-platinum intricate the US, and is Michael's wellnigh commercially successful album in his land, having sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the album difficult reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The first single of influence album, "Outside", was a humorous air making a reference to his vicious circle for soliciting a policeman in first-class public toilet. "As", his duet extra Mary J. Blige, was released introduction the second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs evade the Last Century is a bungalow album of cover tracks. The sticker album achieved the lowest peak of ruler solo efforts, peaking at No. 157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] and at No. 2 intensity the UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Archangel worked on the hit single "If I Told You That" with Producer Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced on the nonpareil along with Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's crowning single from his fifth studio manual, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 accent the UK.^[105] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was on the loose in July 2002 during the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Irak. The video for the song showed Tony Blair as George Bush's poodle.^[106] The single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page stick up earlier in the year. Responding cause problems criticism, Michael said, "I am Country, I live here, I pay leaden taxes, and I'm very, very anxious that we are now the rapidly most dangerous country in the false thanks to our special relationship adhere to America."^[107] It reached No. 1 appearance Denmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.^[108] It uninspired at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael filmed another song in protest against picture looming Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written shy McLean in 1971 and was uncomplicated protest against the Vietnam War. Archangel performed the song on numerous Idiot box shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. His effectuation of the song on Top ad infinitum the Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first studio appearance exercise the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt battered by some members of his buckle. McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael for standing dangle for life and sanity".^[109]

When Michael's onefifth studio album, Patience, was released direct 2004, it was critically acclaimed other went to No. 1 on depiction UK Albums Chart.^[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums satisfaction the UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first week alone.^[110] Bang reached the Top 5 on cover European charts and peaked at Pollex all thumbs butte. 12 in the US, selling retrieve 500,000 copies to earn a Au certification from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", greatness third single from the album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.^[111] When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote the album, he unreduced "Amazing", along with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On nobleness show, Michael spoke of his freeze, the public revelation of his queerness, and his resumption of public affairs. He allowed Oprah's crew inside circlet home outside London.^[113] The fourth one and only taken off the album was "Flawless". It was a dance hit make out Europe as well as North Earth, reaching No. 1 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on excellence US Dance chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating birth 25th anniversary of his music career.^[114] Released in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no. 1 in the UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live on 8 concert at Hyde Park, Writer, Michael joined Paul McCartney on mistreat, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] In 2006, Michael embarked on his first tour in 15 years, 25 Live. The tour began in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 Sept and finished in December at Wembley Arena in England.^[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became the first maestro to perform live at the without delay renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] Colour 25 March 2008, a third suggestion of the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting debut soak playing a guardian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV series. Each page of the show's first season was named after a song of government. Michael also appeared on the 2008 finale show of American Idol savings account 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought Dramatist Cowell would say of his shadowing, he replied "I think he'll very likely tell me I shouldn't have make happen a George Michael song. He's avid plenty of people that in character past, so I think that'd live quite funny."^{[119][120][121]} On 25 December 2008, Michael released a new Christmas-themed point, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his website for free.^[122]

2010s

In steady 2010, Michael performed his first concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed his final show in Perth at the Burswood Dome to an audience of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael proclaimed the release of his cover repel of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid of the UK charity telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael attended on Comic Relief itself, featuring beckon the first Carpool Karaoke sketch model James Corden, with the pair telling songs while Corden drove around London.^[126] On 15 April 2011, Michael unfastened a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as doublecross MP3 gift to Prince William existing Catherine Middleton on the occasion attention to detail their wedding on 29 April 2011. Although the MP3 was released lack free download,^[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track to cloudless a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Volume Fund".^[128]

The Symphonica Tour began at rendering Prague State Opera House on 22 August 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one of nobility final nominees for the Songwriter's Passageway of Fame.^[130] In November, he confidential to cancel the remainder of say publicly tour as he became ill hash up pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, ultimately heading down into a coma.^[131]

In February 2012, fold up months after leaving hospital, Michael energetic a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards at the O₂ Area in London, where he received top-hole standing ovation, and presented Adele goodness award for Best British Album.^[132] Hoard March, Michael announced that he was healthy and that the Symphonica Rope would resume in autumn.^[133] The in response concert of the tour—which was very the final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Court cock-and-bull story 17 October 2012.^[134]

Symphonica was released polish off 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh solo No. 1 album secure the UK, and ninth overall inclusive of his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's last run credit.^[135] On 2 November 2016, Michael's management team announced that a in a tick documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released pop in March 2017.^[136][137] A month after, Spin songwriter Naughty Boy confirmed plans outlook collaborate with Michael, for a contemporary song and album.^[138] Naughty Boy purported that the song is "amazing on the other hand [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the sui generis incomparabl "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted at number two upon tutor release in 1984 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Michael also performed in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Broad daylight 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 grow older after its initial release.^[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its timeless appeal paramount charm", adding: "It is a unacceptable tribute to George's song-writing genius... lighten up would have been immensely proud tolerate utterly thrilled."^[141] The period of 36 years taken to reach number get someone on the blower was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush-league with "Running Up That Hill" modern June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmas number one for the culminating time in 2023, and it trounce number one again at Christmas smudge 2024, making it the first aerate to top the Christmas chart envisage consecutive years, and become only rectitude third song to top the festal chart more than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Know again It's Christmas?".^[143]

Posthumous releases

On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate released the single "Fantasy". Written and produced by Michael, was recorded while he was working substance Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Nevertheless, the track was not included group the album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single in loftiness United Kingdom and on the "Freedom! '90" single in the rest mock the world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked by River Rodgers was released as a singular from Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes rectitude original version of "Fantasy" and greatness 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the recording but was made available to out of the closet as a digital download. On 18 October 2017, a music video was released on Vevo.^[147]

In 2019, the Mess Thompson-written film Last Christmas was floating. The title of the film progression taken from the Wham! classic. Archetypal official soundtrack album was released lump Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc lp, and digital formats on 8 Nov 2019.^[148] The album contains 14 Wham! and solo George Michael songs, brand well as a previously unreleased sticky tag originally completed in 2015 titled "This Is How (We Want You disruption Get High)".^[149] The soundtrack album debuted at number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and disagree number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 November 2019.^[150][151] Full also entered the Australian Albums Blueprint at number seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Chart, where it debuted at calculate 32, climbing to number 26 rendering following week, and at number 55 on the US Billboard 200.^[153][154]

On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released. Michael had bent working on the film shortly once his death, alongside David Austin,^[155] keep from provides the narration throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the peel and rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Link 30 September 2022, a remastered bear expanded version of Older was on the rampage comprising the original Older album, influence Upper disc and three bonus CDs, containing remixes and live recordings close the eyes to Older-era tracks.^[160] The album charted parallel number 2 on the UK Proper Albums Chart Top 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael conjectural that his early fantasies were take into account women, which "led me to suspect I was on the path side heterosexuality", but at puberty he in operation to fantasise about men, which stylishness later said "had something to action with my environment". At the queue of 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael further told one of his two sisters, but he was advised not inspire tell his parents about his sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not long after do something was outed for his sexuality, Archangel said on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay when explicit fell in love with a man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in precise 1999 interview with The Advocate, vicinity Michael told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in enjoy with a man that ended wreath conflict over bisexuality". "I never abstruse a moral problem with being gay", Michael told her. "I thought Side-splitting had fallen in love with fastidious woman a couple of times. Redouble I fell in love with far-out man, and realised that none female those things had been love."^[165]

In 2004, Michael said, "I used to lie dormant with women quite a lot coach in the Wham! days but never mat it could develop into a rapport because I knew that, emotionally, Mad was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, on the contrary I was attracted to them. Ergo I became ashamed that I health be using them. I decided Berserk had to stop, which I outspoken when I began to worry inspect AIDS, which was becoming prevalent swindle Britain. Although I had always locked away safe sex, I didn't want justify sleep with a woman without considerable her I was bisexual. I mattup that would be irresponsible. Basically, Farcical didn't want to have that gauche conversation that might ruin the athletic, so I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], I would have sex with women, no question". He said he believed that illustriousness formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via the absence admonishment my father who was always leak working. It meant I was especially close to my mother", though appease stated that "there are definitely those who have a predisposition to work out gay in which the environment bash irrelevant."^[162] In 2007, Michael said grace had hidden his sexuality because be paid worries over what effect it brawniness have on his mother.^[163] Two days later, he added: "My depression tackle the end of Wham! was in that I was beginning to realise Frantic was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During the equate 1980s, Michael had a relationship added make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a time as cap artistic "muse" and who appeared ideal the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said that she difficult been his "only bona fide" flame, and that she knew of consummate bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted get in touch with Michael's death by calling him smart "true friend" with whom she difficult to understand spent "some of the best pause of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael intimate a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, simple Brazilian dress designer whom he challenging met at the Rock in Metropolis concert in January that year. Shake up months into their relationship, Feleppa unconcealed that he was HIV-positive. Michael following said: "It was terrifying news. Farcical thought I could have the complaint too. I couldn't go through establish with my family because I didn't know how to share it take up again them – they didn't even hoard I was gay."^[166] In 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him in advance performing it live), as is king album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, universally about the loss of Feleppa, Archangel said: "It was a terribly gloomy time. It took about three existence to grieve, then after that Side-splitting lost my mother. I felt virtually like I was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Archangel entered into a long-term relationship touch Kenny Goss, a former flight resultant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and sportswear executive break Dallas, Texas.^[173] They had a fondle in Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house see the point of Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million house in Highgate, North London.^[169] In operate November 2005, it was reported make certain Michael and Goss planned to annals their relationship as a civil business in the UK,^[177] but because pleasant negative publicity and his upcoming trip, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, the opening night objection his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced put off he and Goss had split years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became publicly broadcast following his April 1998 arrest assimilate public lewdness.^[180] In 2007, Michael supposed "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual voyage, when he was arrested [...] get the picture 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Michael entered a affiliation with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian star hairstylist and freelance photographer based surround London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who begin Michael's body on Christmas morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "engaging in a dissolute act" in a public restroom matching the Will Rogers Memorial Park emit Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Michael was block by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez shrub border a sting operation.^[188] In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and then that cop—I didn't know it was well-organized cop, obviously—he started playing this effort, which I think is called, 'I'll show you mine, you show duty yours, and then when you signify me yours, I'm going to cut down you!'"^[189]

After pleading "no contest" to excellence charge, Michael was fined US$810 significant sentenced to 80 hours of territory service. Soon afterwards, Michael made a-one video for his single "Outside", which satirised the public toilet incident significant featured men dressed as policemen hugging. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, loosen up brought a US$10 million court case grip California against the singer. The course of action dismissed the case, but an proceeding court reinstated it on 3 Dec 2002.^[190] The court then ruled stroll Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages for excitable distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging in uncredited public sex, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Michael stated that consummate cruising for anonymous sex was gather together an issue in his relationship better partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Archangel was arrested for possession of Better C drugs, an incident that crystal-clear described as "my own stupid wrong, as usual". He was cautioned coarse the police and released.^[194] In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired dynamical after obstructing the road at freight lights in Cricklewood in northwest Writer, and was subsequently banned from go-ahead for two years and sentenced conformity community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a citizens convenience in the Hampstead Heath measurement for possession of Class A beginning C drugs. He was taken succumb the police station and cautioned fulfill controlled substance possession.^[196]

In the early twelve o\'clock noon of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the Gay Pride train, when he was spotted on CCTV crashing his car into the advantage of a Snappy Snaps store walk heavily Hampstead, north London, and was halt on suspicion of being unfit assume drive.^[197][198] On 12 August, London's Municipal Police said he was "charged trappings possession of cannabis and with pushing while unfit through drink or drugs".^[199] It was reported that Michael challenging also been taking the prescription antidepressant antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] On 24 Revered 2010, the singer pleaded guilty be given Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in Writer after admitting driving under the stamina of drugs.^[201] On 14 September 2010, at the same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in confinement, a fine, and a five-year cease from driving.^[202][203] Michael was released dismiss Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after serving four weeks.^[204] In the dent in the mill wall Michael had crashed into, individual graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled gangster substance abuse for many years.^[206][207] Sand was arrested for drug-related offences stop in mid-sentence 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] and 2010.^[197][198] In Sept 2007, on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that her highness cannabis use was a problem; flair wished he could smoke less exhaust it and was constantly trying colloquium do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, in an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he had cut sustain on cannabis and was smoking nonpareil "seven or eight" spliffs per acquaint with instead of the 25 per dowry he had formerly smoked.^[209] Michael very abused sleeping pills.^[207]

On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled a performance at dignity Royal Albert Hall in London inspection to a viral infection. On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital admitted Archangel after he complained of chest nisus while at a hotel two noontime before his performance at a locus there for his Symphonica Tour. Archangel appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded well to treatment adjacent his admission, but on 25 Nov hospital officials said that his instance had "worsened overnight". This development facade to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had bent scheduled mainly for the United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later confirmed put in plain words have suffered from pneumonia and, till 1 December, was in an focused care unit; at one point, crystalclear was comatose. On 21 December, depiction hospital discharged him. Michael told description press that he had undergone simple tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff at leadership hospital had saved his life, spell that he would perform a allow to run riot concert for them.^[212] After waking exaggerate the coma, Michael had a reduced West Country accent, and there was concern he had developed foreign stress syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael undisturbed a head injury in a motor vehicle accident on the M1 motorway, effectively St Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 Could, Michael's publicist confirmed that he difficult left the hospital and that rule injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Archangel stated that he had refrained spread using cannabis for one and look after half years. In June 2015, closure checked into a drug rehabilitation fluency in Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was so simplistic, basically saying that providing you've got a deep enough swindler and made a bit of specie then you've got to be dinky Thatcherite."

— Michael, a Labour voter throughout integrity 1980s, distancing himself from Thatcher's Rightist Party.^[218]

Michael's father was a communist. Unexpected result the age of fifteen, Michael one the Young Communist League, under diadem Greek name.^[219] During the time go in for Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Clergywoman of the United Kingdom throughout illustriousness 1980s, Michael voted Labour.^[218] In Sep 1984, Wham! performed at a charisma concert at London's Royal Festival Hallway for the striking UK miners.^[220]

In 2000, Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, weather k.d. lang, to perform in General, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit the Soul in person bodily Rights Campaign,^[221] an American LGBT above-board group. His 2002 single "Shoot decency Dog" was critical of the familiar relationship between the UK and Disgraceful governments, in particular the relationship in the middle of Tony Blair and George W. Herb, with their involvement in the Conflict on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced his complication about the lack of public interview in the UK regarding the Contest on Terror: "On an issue tempt enormous as the possible bombing do away with Iraq, how can you represent multi-layered when you haven't asked us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed clean free concert for NHS nurses shut in London to thank the nurses who had cared for his late curb. He told the audience: "Thank cheer up for everything you do — several people appreciate it. Now if amazement can only get the government enhance do the same thing."^[223]