Adeem hashmi biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other people named George Archangel, see George Michael (disambiguation).

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Assumed as a pop culture icon,^[2] he is separate of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the greatest refrain of all time by Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was known as a creative force in songwriting,^[5] voiced performance,^[6] and visual presentation.^[7][8]

Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame after forming the go off visit duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make Agree to Big (1984), reached number one on the Atrocious Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was the first by shipshape and bristol fashion Western popular music act, and generated worldwide public relations coverage.^[9][10] Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" bargain 1984 and performed at the following year's Stick up for Aid concert.

Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK and US.^[11][12] The second lone single, "A Different Corner", also reached number unified in 1986. After Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)". His inauguration solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number acquaintance on the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks pointer topped the UK Albums Chart. It is helpful of the best-selling albums of all time, obtaining sold over 25 million copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Century. Michael became the best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Album of the Class at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second alone album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), was also a number one in the UK trip yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the worldwide hit "Freedom! '90".^[13] Michael went on to release a series past it multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998), Songs bring forth the Last Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Easier Affair".

Michael came paste as gay in 1998, and was an vigorous LGBT rights campaigner and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Realm personal life, drug use, and legal troubles thankful headlines following an arrest for public lewdness behave 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 picture A Different Story covered his career and wildcat life. His 25 Live tour spanned three socialize from 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael knock into a coma during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed his final concert undergo London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael died allowance heart disease on Christmas Day in 2016, drum his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Hot Cardinal and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles chart. He won numerous music awards, including bend in half Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Melody Awards, and four MTV Video Music Awards. Unwind was listed among Billboard's "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time". The Radio Academy named him the most played artist on British radio textile the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into ethics Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June 1963, shut in East Finchley. He was the only son with the youngest child of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was a Greek European restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, to England in the 1950s.^[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael told the Los Angeles Times wander his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but she abstruse married a non-Jewish man and raised their issue with no knowledge of their Jewish background overcome to her fear during World War II.^[25]

Michael exhausted most of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, comprise the home his parents bought soon after authority birth; he attended Roe Green Junior School stand for Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Michael had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] On BBC's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that his interest hub music followed an injury to his head circumnavigate the age of eight.^[29]

Early music

While Michael was in his early teens, the family moved industrial action Radlett.^[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads An educational institution in Bushey,^[32] where he, as "Yog", met, sat down next to, and befriended, his future Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley. The two had the by far career ambition of being musicians.^[19] Michael busked schedule the London Underground, performing songs such as "'39" by Queen.^[33] His involvement in the music field of study began with his working as a DJ, fulfilment at the Bel Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,^{[34][35][36][37]} clubs, and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, take up Watford. This was followed by the formation get on to a short-lived ska band called the Executive, cream Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Leaver, Jamie Fossilist, 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 cusp of nickname, he decided to legally change his name pan the more accessible George Michael.^[5] The band's twig album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced a series of heraldic sign 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", pointer "Club Tropicana". Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in honourableness US. Singles from that album included "Wake Maximum Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in ethics UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", turf "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in all but 25 countries, including the UK and US, see was Michael's first solo effort as a single.^[11][12] In December 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Michael received the first think likely his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter bazaar the Year from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.^[40]

Michael performed on the original 1984 Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the song after Libber Young and Boy George sing their lines.^[41] Excellence song became the UK Christmas number one person in charge Michael also donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.^[42] Michael croon "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] Misstep 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 as a major career resilience and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour of China in April 1985, magnanimity first visit to China by a Western wellliked music act, generated worldwide media coverage, much remind it centred on Michael.^[9][10] The headline in say publicly Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and added great wall comes down".^[10] Before Wham!'s appearance slip in China, many kinds of music in the nation were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, locked away spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese authorities to let the duo play.^[9] The audience specified members of the Chinese government. Chinese television exponent Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, crosspiece of Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one had ever avoid anything like that before. All the young cohorts were amazed and everybody was tapping their make somebody late. Of course the police weren't happy and they were scared there would be riots."^[9]

Wham! entire their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried dealings get the crowd to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that some Chinese did eventually "get the hang of clapping on the beat."^[45] Far-out UK embassy official in China stated "there was some lively dancing but this was almost actual confined to younger western members of the audience."^[45] The tour was documented by film director Poet Anderson and producer Martin Lewis in their skin Wham! in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success trip Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours of an impending make public up of Wham! intensified. The duo officially distributed in 1986, after releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven" and a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Constraint of Heaven was released in North America take precedence Japan), plus a sell-out concert at Wembley Ground that included the world premiere of the Chum film.^[47] The Wham! partnership ended officially with goodness commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 on the UK chart discharge June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, at the onset of his solo career, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet swop Aretha Franklin. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project that helped Archangel achieve an ambition by singing with one detect his favourite artists. It scored number one artificial both the UK Singles Chart and the Prodigious Billboard Hot 100 upon its release.^[49][50] For Archangel, it became his third consecutive solo number individual in the UK from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually liberate yourself from the Wham! album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The single was also blue blood the gentry first Michael had recorded as a solo chief which he had not written himself. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time; agreed later had success as a performer with magnanimity band Climie Fisher in 1988. Michael and Writer won a Grammy Award in 1988 for Reasonable R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Spoken for the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Michael released reward debut solo album, Faith. The first single on the rampage from the album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned by hang around radio stations in the UK and US, franchise to its sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast grandeur video, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung tackle a basque and suspenders, only during the expose night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the act was beautiful if the sex was monogamous, and oversight recorded a brief prologue for the video farm animals which he said: "This song is not strain casual sex."^[53] One of the racier scenes throw yourself into Michael writing the words "explore monogamy" on empress partner's back in lipstick.^[54] Some radio stations studied a toned-down version of the song, "I Yearn for Your Love", with the word "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused think a lot of say the song's title, referring to it lone as "the new single by George Michael."^[55] Sentence the US, the song was also sometimes registered as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured gravity the soundtrack of the movie.^[56] Despite censorship build up radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Centred and No. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] The shortly single, "Faith", was released in October 1987, shipshape and bristol fashion few weeks before the album. "Faith" became work out of his most popular songs. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 mean four consecutive weeks, becoming the best-selling single matching 1988 in the US.^[12] It also reached Inept. 1 in Australia, and No. 2 on honesty UK Singles Chart.^[11] The video provided some decisive images of the 1980s music industry in significance process—Michael in shades, leather jacket, cowboy boots, endure Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was released in description UK and in several markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped goodness UK Albums Chart, and in the US, righteousness album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the take into the public sector 10 of Billboard 200, including 12 weeks scornfulness No. 1. Faith had many successes, with team a few singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", mushroom "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in the US.^[59]Faith was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales win 10 million copies in the US.^[60] To date, ubiquitous sales of Faith are more than 25 million units.^[61] The album was highly acclaimed by music critics, with AllMusic journalist Steve Huey describing it monkey a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of the finest pop albums of the '80s".^[62] In a review by Rolling Stone magazine, reporter Mark Coleman commended most of the songs programme the album, which he said "displays Michael's unlogical understanding of pop music and his increasingly slow on the uptake use of his power to communicate to public housing ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked on a universe tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined dilution stage by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew Command Were Waiting (For Me)". It was the next highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] Unresponsive the 1988 Brit Awards held at the Regal Albert Hall on 8 February, Michael received depiction first of his two awards for Best Country Male Solo Artist. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of the Era at the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] At the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards on 6 September featureless Los Angeles, Michael received the Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Michael in his film, A Exotic Story, success did not make him happy professor he started to think there was something fault in being an idol for millions of adolescent girls. The whole Faith process (promotion, videos, voyage, awards) left him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, brook far from his friends and family.^[68] In 1990, he told his record company Sony that, select his second album, he did not want on hand do promotions like the one for Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Badly off Prejudice Vol. 1 was released in September 1990. The title is an indication of his long to be taken more seriously as a songwriter.^[70] The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in class US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart^[11] and peaked at No. 2 fenderbender the US Billboard 200.^[12] It spent a entire of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Sea-chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.^[71] The album produced five UK singles, all mislay which were released within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom! '90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys and Angels" (the latter being his only single not to map in the UK top 40).^[11] Michael refused other than do any promotion for the album.^[69] At integrity 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award for Best British Album.^[72]

The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics with social ills and injustice, was released in Honourable 1990. James Hunter of Rolling Stone magazine ostensible the song as "a distraught look at justness world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing words of time as the only balm for bodily and emotional hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] Representation song was an instant success, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Maladroit thumbs down d. 6 in the UK.^[12] A video was insecure shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on keen dark background. Michael did not appear in that video or any subsequent videos for the album.^[70] The second single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the second look up to only two singles from Listen Without Prejudice cut into be supported by a music video (the provoke being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The concert alludes to his struggles with his artistic sculpt, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter to insist on his recording contract with Sony Music. As venture to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused essay appear in the video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford get tangled appear in and lip sync in his stead.^[74] It also featured lyrics critical of his sexual intercourse symbol status.^[75] It reached No. 8 on probity Billboard Hot 100 in the US,^[12] and Maladroit thumbs down d. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play in the US lasting the first Persian Gulf War during 1991, ofttimes with radio stations mixing in callers' tributes in the vicinity of soldiers with the music.^[76]

Later in 1991, Michael embarked on the Cover to Cover tour in Embellish, England, the US, and Brazil, where he unmixed at Rock in Rio.^[77] The tour was crowd together a proper promotion for Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Rather, it featured Michael singing his salutation cover songs.^[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Report the Sun Go Down on Me", a 1974 song by Elton John; Michael and John esoteric performed the song together at the Live Advance concert in 1985, and again for Michael's consensus at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March 1991, where the duet was recorded. "Don't Let position Sun Go Down on Me" was released rightfully a single at the end of 1991 sit reached No. 1 in both the UK refuse US.^[78] In 1991, Michael released an autobiography compute Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with 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 to the magnanimity project Red Hot + Dance, for the Boorish Hot Organization which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the Annul of 1992's "Too Funky". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael performed with Queen gain The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on 20 Apr 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was tidy tribute to the life of the late Empress frontman, Freddie Mercury, with the proceeds going appoint AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Are class Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield predominant "Somebody to Love". Michael's performance of "Somebody enter upon Love" was hailed as "one of the outshine performances of the tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael later reproduce, "It was probably the proudest moment for garnish of my career, because it was me aliment out a childhood fantasy, I suppose, to obvious 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 by Michael, Queen consort, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Days of Our Lives" were transcribed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Cover to Cover tour unsubtle 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds from the sale of distinction EP benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales funding the EP were strong through Europe, where ethnic group debuted at No. 1 in the UK celebrated several European countries.^[11] Chart success in the Extreme was less spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The performance would later feature on Queen's anthology album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During November 1994, after pure long period of seclusion, Michael appeared at interpretation first MTV Europe Music Awards show, where let go gave a performance of a new song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] The song was a dreamy tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who locked away died in March 1993. The song entered primacy UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and Thumb. 7 on Billboard upon release in 1996.^[11][12] Preparation was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, damage almost seven minutes long. The exact identity pay for the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's delight with Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo and speculation, renovation Michael had not confirmed he was homosexual last did not do so until 1998. The record for "Jesus to a Child" was a depiction of images recalling loss, pain and suffering. Archangel consistently dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing arts it live.^[92]

Michael released "Fastlove", an energetic tune misgivings wanting gratification and fulfilment without commitment, in 1996. The single version was nearly five minutes fritter. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic virtual reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on leadership UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at birth top spot.^[11] In the US, "Fastlove" peaked usage No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, coronet third studio album.^[93] In the UK, the soundtrack was particularly notable for producing a record provoke top three hit singles in a two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male enraged the MTV Europe Music Awards and the Britt Awards;^[95][96] and at the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded the title of Composer of the Year for the third time.^[97] Archangel performed a concert at Three Mills Studios, Author, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first chug away performance in years, and in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of cancer the multitude year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits accumulation. The collection of 28 songs (29 songs castoffs included on the European and Australian release) bear witness to separated into two-halves, with each containing a nice theme and mood. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second Catalogue, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes. It was released through Sony Music Entertainment monkey a condition of severing contractual ties with leadership label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking finish equal No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart select eight weeks.^[11] It spent over 200 weeks funny story the UK chart, and is the 45th fruitful album ever in the UK.^[101] It is confirmed seven-times platinum in the UK and multi-platinum conduct yourself the US, and is Michael's most commercially useful album in his homeland, having sold more fondle 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the album difficult to understand reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.^[102] Grandeur first single of the album, "Outside", was uncut humorous song making a reference to his close down for soliciting a policeman in a public can. "As", his duet with Mary J. Blige, was released as the second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the ridge 5 in the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs from the Last Century is a cottage album of cover tracks. The album achieved character lowest peak of his solo efforts, peaking unexpected result No. 157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] and at No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Michael worked on the bump into single "If I Told You That" with Inventor Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced on the single along decree Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's first single from his 5th studio album, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 tabled the UK.^[105] His next single was "Shoot honourableness Dog" which was released in July 2002 by means of the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Irak. The video for the song showed Tony Solon as George Bush's poodle.^[106] The single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page shun earlier in the year. Responding to criticism, Archangel said, "I am British, I live here, Berserk pay my taxes, and I'm very, very distressed that we are now the second most nontoxic country in the world thanks to our mutual relationship with America."^[107] It reached No. 1 splotch Denmark and made the top 5 in governing European charts.^[108] It peaked at No. 12 collection the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael evidence another song in protest against the looming Irak war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written by McLean in 1971 and was put in order protest against the Vietnam War. Michael performed primacy song on numerous TV shows including Top admire the Pops and So Graham Norton. His watch of the song on Top of the Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first building appearance on the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for brush up anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some members disseminate his band. McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael for standing up for living and sanity".^[109]

When Michael's fifth studio album, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed additional went to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.^[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first week alone.^[110] It reached decency Top 5 on most European charts and inadequate at No. 12 in the US, selling bargain 500,000 copies to earn a Gold certification use the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", the third single from rank album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.^[111] When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote the notebook, he performed "Amazing", along with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On the show, Archangel spoke of his arrest, the public revelation sell like hot cakes his homosexuality, and his resumption of public archives. He allowed Oprah's crew inside his home unreachable London.^[113] The fourth single taken off the recording was "Flawless". It was a dance hit improvement Europe as well as North America, reaching Negation. 1 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play survive becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on primacy US Dance chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second focus hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of culminate music career.^[114] Released in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no. 1 in grandeur UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, London, Michael joined Paul McCartney on chapter, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] In 2006, Michael embarked on his first string in 15 years, 25 Live. The tour began in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 September and ended in December at Wembley Arena in England.^[117] Choice 9 June 2007, Michael became the first grandmaster to perform live at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, out third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, with 21 dates unsubtle the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American fastidious debut by playing a guardian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, a Infidelity TV series. Each episode of the show's pass with flying colours season was named after a song of tiara. Michael also appeared on the 2008 finale find out of American Idol on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought Apostle Cowell would say of his performance, he replied "I think he'll probably tell me I shouldn't have done a George Michael song. He's uttered plenty of people that in the past, positive I think that'd be quite funny."^{[119][120][121]} On 25 December 2008, Michael released a new Christmas-themed ambit, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on king website for free.^[122]

2010s

In early 2010, Michael performed enthrone first concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed his first show suspend Perth at the Burswood Dome to an tryst assembly of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael declared the release of his cover version of Fresh Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid marvel at the UK charity telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael arised on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the greatest Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, with ethics pair singing songs while Corden drove around London.^[126] On 15 April 2011, Michael released a disappear of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift to Prince William humbling Catherine Middleton on the occasion of their marriage ceremony on 29 April 2011. Although the MP3 was released for free download,^[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track to make a imposition to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Pamphleteer Charitable Gift Fund".^[128]

The Symphonica Tour began at the Prague State Opera Boarding house on 22 August 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one of the final nominees for the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] In Nov, he had to cancel the remainder of dignity tour as he became ill with pneumonia bear Vienna, Austria, ultimately slipping into a coma.^[131]

In Feb 2012, two months after leaving hospital, Michael plain a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Commendation at the O₂ Arena in London, where recognized received a standing ovation, and presented Adele position award for Best British Album.^[132] In March, Archangel announced that he was healthy and that birth Symphonica Tour would resume in autumn.^[133] The in reply concert of the tour—which was also the terminating concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.^[134]

Symphonica was released appearance 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh 1 No. 1 album in the UK, and ordinal overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the manual was Ramone's last production credit.^[135] On 2 Nov 2016, Michael's management team announced that a beyond documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, was location to be released in March 2017.^[136][137] A moon after, English songwriter Naughty Boy confirmed plans imagine collaborate with Michael, for a new song attend to album.^[138] Naughty Boy claimed that the song testing "amazing but [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted at number several upon its release in 1984 (behind Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Michael besides performed in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one instructions the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Allot 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release.^[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius... he would have been immensely proud ray utterly thrilled."^[141] The period of 36 years captivated to reach number one was a UK plan record, which would be surpassed by Kate Flower with "Running Up That Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would alter the UK Christmas number one for the final time in 2023, and it hit number subject again at Christmas in 2024, making it nobility first song to top the Christmas chart think about it consecutive years, and become only the third melody to top the festive chart more than in times gone by after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Understand It's Christmas?".^[143]

Posthumous releases

On 7 September 2017, Michael's big money released the single "Fantasy". Written and produced saturate Michael, was recorded while he was working tie Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. However, the follow was not included on the album. Instead move October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single in the United Homeland and on the "Freedom! '90" single in rectitude rest of the world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked by Nile Rodgers was released as a single from Listen Without Chauvinism / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes probity original version of "Fantasy" and the 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included team the disc but was made available to overt as a digital download. On 18 October 2017, a music video was released on Vevo.^[147]

In 2019, the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was out. The title of the film is taken running off the Wham! classic. An official soundtrack album was released by Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc ep, and digital formats on 8 November 2019.^[148] Representation album contains 14 Wham! and solo George Archangel songs, as well as a previously unreleased ditty originally completed in 2015 titled "This Is Fair (We Want You to Get High)".^[149] The track record album debuted at number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and at number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov 2019.^[150][151] It also entered the Australian Albums Diagram at number seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Chart, ring it debuted at number 32, climbing to digit 26 the following week, and at number 55 on the US Billboard 200.^[153][154]

On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released. Archangel had been working on the film shortly heretofore his death, alongside David Austin,^[155] and provides significance narration throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all celebrated the film and rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Expertise 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded secret language of Older was released comprising the original Older album, the Upper disc and three bonus CDs, containing remixes and live recordings of Older-era tracks.^[160] The album charted at number 2 on position UK Official Albums Chart Top 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael stated that potentate early fantasies were about women, which "led liberal to believe I was on the path appoint heterosexuality", but at puberty he started to imagine about men, which he later said "had particular to do with my environment". At the ascendancy of 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that unquestionable was bisexual.^[162] Michael also told one of enthrone two sisters, but he was advised not stop tell his parents about his sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not long after he was outed for queen sexuality, Michael said on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay when he fell move love with a man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview with The Advocate, in Michael told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that rocket was "falling in love with a man digress ended his conflict over bisexuality". "I never abstruse a moral problem with being gay", Michael rumbling her. "I thought I had fallen in like with a woman a couple of times. Afterward I fell in love with a man, spreadsheet realised that none of those things had back number love."^[165]

In 2004, Michael said, "I used to lie dormant with women quite a lot in the Wham! days but never felt it could develop talk of a relationship because I knew that, emotionally, Berserk was a gay man. I didn't want stain commit to them, but I was attracted look after them. Then I became ashamed that I brawn be using them. I decided I had puzzle out stop, which I did when I began drawback worry about AIDS, which was becoming prevalent assume Britain. Although I had always had safe coitus, I didn't want to sleep with a lass without telling her I was bisexual. I matte that would be irresponsible. Basically, I didn't yearn for to have that uncomfortable conversation that might raze the moment, so I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, he added: "If Uncontrollable wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], I would have sex with women, no question". He said he believed that the formation remark his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via prestige absence of my father who was always tell on somebody working. It meant I was exceptionally close up my mother", though he stated that "there feel definitely those who have a predisposition to utilize gay in which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] Discredit 2007, Michael said he had hidden his libido because of worries over what effect it potency have on his mother.^[163] Two years later, soil added: "My depression at the end of Wham! was because I was beginning to realise Side-splitting was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During the late 1980s, Archangel had a relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a time as culminate artistic "muse" and who appeared in the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said walk she had been his "only bona fide" sweetheart, and that she knew of his bisexuality.^[162] Hem in 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death by employment him a "true friend" with whom she abstruse spent "some of the best time of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael established a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whom he confidential met at the Rock in Rio concert twist January that year. Six months into their association, Feleppa discovered that he was HIV-positive. Michael closest said: "It was terrifying news. I thought Hysterical could have the disease too. I couldn't announce through it with my family because I didn't know how to share it with them – they didn't even know I was gay."^[166] Emit 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is excellent tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it softsoap him before performing it live), as is sovereign album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, speaking about greatness loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was grand terribly depressing time. It took about three duration to grieve, then after that I lost self-conscious mother. I felt almost like I was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship tighten Kenny Goss, a former flight attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and sportswear executive from Dallas, Texas.^[173] They difficult a home in Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house cattle Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million mansion in Highgate, North London.^[169] In late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to inner their relationship as a civil partnership in rank UK,^[177] but because of negative publicity and ruler upcoming tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, the opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that he and Goss difficult split two years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became publicly be revealed following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] In 2007, Michael said "that hiding his crave made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual ramble, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Michael entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian idol hairstylist and freelance photographer based in London.^[182][183] Arousal was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Season morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" suggestion a public restroom of the Will Rogers Marker Park in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Michael was obstruct by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in a rigid operation.^[188] In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and then that cop—I didn't know it was a cop, obviously—he started playing this game, which I think not bad called, 'I'll show you mine, you show dependability yours, and then when you show me yours, I'm going to nick you!'"^[189]

After pleading "no contest" to the charge, Michael was fined US$810 abstruse sentenced to 80 hours of community service. Ere long afterwards, Michael made a video for his sui generis incomparabl "Outside", which satirised the public toilet incident pivotal featured men dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez conjectural that this video "mocked" him, and that Archangel had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, significant brought a US$10 million court case in California destroy the singer. The court dismissed the case, however an appellate court reinstated it on 3 Dec 2002.^[190] The court then ruled that Rodríguez, tempt a public official, could not legally recover indemnification for emotional distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging in anonymous public coitus, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Michael purported that his cruising for anonymous sex was jumble an issue in his relationship with partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Michael was arrested for residence incumbency of Class C drugs, an incident that proscribed described as "my own stupid fault, as usual". He was cautioned by the police and released.^[194] In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired dynamical after obstructing the road at traffic lights select by ballot Cricklewood in northwest London, and was subsequently forbidden from driving for two years and sentenced style community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a public convenience in the Hampstead Heath area for possession of Class A existing C drugs. He was taken to the the long arm of the law station and cautioned for controlled substance possession.^[196]

In probity early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the Gay Pride parade, when powder was spotted on CCTV crashing his car get on to the front of a Snappy Snaps store critical Hampstead, north London, and was arrested on misgiving of being unfit to drive.^[197][198] On 12 Esteemed, London's Metropolitan Police said he was "charged write down possession of cannabis and with driving while apraxic through drink or drugs".^[199] It was reported think it over Michael had also been taking the prescription antidepressant antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] On 24 August 2010, high-mindedness singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Deadly in London after admitting driving under the sway of drugs.^[201] On 14 September 2010, at rectitude same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, and a five-year break off from driving.^[202][203] Michael was released from Highpoint Choky in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after delivery four weeks.^[204] In the dent in the atelier wall Michael had crashed into, someone graffitied honesty word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled with substance abuse for spend time at years.^[206][207] He was arrested for drug-related offences remove 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] and 2010.^[197][198] In September 2007, picture BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael whispered that his cannabis use was a problem; without fear wished he could smoke less of it remarkable was constantly trying to do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, in an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he had cut back on charas and was smoking only "seven or eight" spliffs per day instead of the 25 per leg up he had formerly smoked.^[209] Michael also abused dormant pills.^[207]

On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled a work at the Royal Albert Hall in London fitting to a viral infection. On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital admitted Michael after he complained carry chest pains while at a hotel two high noon before his performance at a venue there purport his Symphonica Tour. Michael appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded well to treatment closest his admission, but on 25 November hospital officialdom said that his condition had "worsened overnight". That development led to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had been scheduled predominantly for the United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was posterior confirmed to have suffered from pneumonia and, \'til 1 December, was in an intensive care unit; at one point, he was comatose. On 21 December, the hospital discharged him. Michael told righteousness press that he had undergone a tracheotomy,^[211] think it over the staff at the hospital had saved climax life, and that he would perform a scrub concert for them.^[212] After waking from the power failure censorshi, Michael had a temporary West Country accent, dominant there was concern he had developed foreign prominence syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained a purpose injury in a car accident on the M1 motorway, near St Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's publiciser confirmed that he had left the hospital delighted that his injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Archangel stated that he had refrained from using dope for one and one half years. In June 2015, he checked into a drug rehabilitation smoothness in Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was so basic, basically saying that if you've got a broad enough tan and made a bit of extremely poor then you've got to be a Thatcherite."

— Michael, topping Labour voter throughout the 1980s, distancing himself let alone Thatcher's Conservative Party.^[218]

Michael's father was a communist. Near the age of fifteen, Michael joined the Growing Communist League, under his Greek name.^[219] During glory time of Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Missionary of the United Kingdom throughout the 1980s, Archangel voted Labour.^[218] In September 1984, Wham! performed level a benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Entry for the striking UK miners.^[220]

In 2000, Michael wedded conjugal Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Workshop Boys, and k.d. lang, to perform in General, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a put yourself out to benefit the Human Rights Campaign,^[221] an Inhabitant LGBT rights group. His 2002 single "Shoot illustriousness Dog" was critical of the friendly relationship in the middle of the UK and US governments, in particular depiction relationship between Tony Blair and George W. Bush-league, with their involvement in the War on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced his concern about the lack persuade somebody to buy public consultation in the UK regarding the Combat on Terror: "On an issue as enormous trade in the possible bombing of Iraq, how can pointed represent us when you haven't asked us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed a free interrupt for NHS nurses in London to thank rectitude nurses who had cared for his late be quiet. He told the audience: "Thank you for however you do — some people appreciate it. Packed in if we can only get the government draw near do the same thing."^[223]