George Michael News

Last Christmas, the song almost as much a part of Christmas as mince pies, turkey, and pigs in blankets became the number one song for the second consecutive year, according to Andrew Ridgeley of the duo.

That, in a nutshell, is the story of Wham!, the British pop duo, and its two stars, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. It's a story that director Chris Smith tells in a Netflix documentary, which is nominated in Sunday's EE British Academy Film Awards, known as the BAFTAs. Other contenders in the documentary category include «Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie,» about the actor's battle with Parkinson's disease; and «American Symphony,» a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste.

leather jacket worn by the 'King of Pop,' Michael Jackson, in the 1980s was bought for a whopping £250,000 ($306,000). Earlier, the black-and-white jacket worn by the famous star was expected to sell for between £200,000 and £400,000 at the auction. Along with an Amy Winehouse hairpiece and a George Michael jacket, the item was one of over 200 pieces of music memorabilia that were auctioned off in London on Friday. Apart from Jackson's jacket, pieces associated with other legendary singers and artists, including David Bowie, Oasis, and The Beatles, also went under the hammer.

Hall of Fame has announced that the 2023 induction ceremony will be accessible for live streaming on Disney+ for the first time. This development ushers in a new era for music fans, who can now watch the event live on November 3 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

Netflix documentary "Wham!", Andrew Ridgeley openly acknowledged the presence of «friction» within the band when George Michael took charge of the creative direction. Through the use of archival footage and audio recordings featuring both individuals, the film chronicles Wham!'s meteoric rise to global stardom within a mere four years. Their success included multiple chart-topping albums in the UK, along with internationally acclaimed hits such as «Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go.» Ridgeley and Michael, who were close friends and teenagers when they formed Wham! in 1981, soon realized that Michael possessed a strong artistic vision. As they worked on their debut album, "Fantastic," Michael emerged as the primary songwriter and producer, in addition to being the lead vocalist. Reflecting on this dynamic, Ridgeley shared in the documentary, «George's songwriting abilities were developing at an astonishing pace, surpassing my own. This created some friction between us.» He further acknowledged that the ambitious goals they had set for themselves could only be achieved through the high-quality songwriting that Michael consistently delivered. In just a span of four years, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed a musical partnership that propelled Wham! to remarkable heights, solidifying their status as one of the most prominent bands of the 1980s. With numerous chart-topping hits that resonated globally, Wham! created a phenomenon known as Whamania that captivated audiences worldwide. Netflix's latest documentary, Wham!, provides an intimate exploration of the band's journey and artistic contributions.