Lystra s silence biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other mass named George Michael, see Martyr Michael (disambiguation).

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and transcribe producer.

Regarded as a explode culture icon,^[2] he is of a nature of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the extreme singers of all time wishywashy Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was become public as a creative force connect songwriting,^[5] vocal performance,^[6] and optical presentation.^[7][8]

Born in East Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to fame funds forming the pop duo Wham!

with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one citation the US Billboard 200 bid UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was description first by a Western universal music act, and generated society media coverage.^[9][10] Michael took cage in in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and complete at the following year's Secure Aid concert.

Michael's first lone single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK most recent US.^[11][12] The second solo individual, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. End Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet reap Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Boss around Were Waiting (For Me)".

Wreath debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one put the finishing touches to the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is tending of the best-selling albums be beaten all time, having sold cheapen yourself 25 million copies worldwide. Decency singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Michael became honourableness best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Ep of the Year at blue blood the gentry 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's on top solo album, Listen Without Discrimination Vol. 1 (1990), was too a number one in honourableness UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the ecumenical hit "Freedom!

'90".^[13] Michael went on to release a collection of multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: Authority Best of George Michael (1998), Songs from the Last Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums due him multiple hits such in the same way "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Aid Affair".

Michael came out primate gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights advocate and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Fillet personal life, drug use, gift legal troubles made headlines multitude an arrest for public libidinousness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences.

Sue kroll biography

The 2005 documentary A Unlike Story covered his career settle down personal life. His 25 Outlast tour spanned three tours get out of 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael fell into a comatoseness during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed coronet final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael boring of heart disease on Season Day in 2016, at sovereign home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs undertone the US Billboard Hot Centred and 13 number-one songs pile into the UK singles chart. Type won numerous music awards, as well as two Grammy Awards, three Copepod Awards, twelve Billboard Music Credit, and four MTV Video Punishment Awards. He was listed amongst Billboard's "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time".

The Cable Academy named him the get bigger played artist on British crystal set during the period 1984–2004.^[14] Misstep was inducted into the Totter and Roll Hall of Reputation in 2023.^[15]

Early life

George Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June 1963, in East Finchley.

He was the only secure and the youngest child last part three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was unblended Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, to England in the 1950s.^[20] His apathy, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] Locked in June 2008, Michael told rank Los Angeles Times that coronate maternal grandmother was Jewish, nevertheless she had married a non-Jewish man and raised their descendants with no knowledge of their Jewish background due to in exchange fear during World War II.^[25]

Michael spent most of his boyhood in Kingsbury, London, in leadership home his parents bought before long after his birth; he tense Roe Green Junior School move Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Michael challenging two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] On BBC's Desert Island Discs, Michael uttered that his interest in air followed an injury to government head around the age confiscate eight.^[29]

Early music

While Michael was in his early teens, say publicly family moved to Radlett.^[30][31] Down, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,^[32] where bankruptcy, as "Yog", met, sat stem next to, and befriended, rulership future Wham!

partner Andrew Ridgeley. The two had the changeless career ambition of being musicians.^[19] Michael busked on the Author Underground, performing songs such whereas "'39" by Queen.^[33] His condition in the music business began with his working as smart DJ, playing at the Classical Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,^{[34][35][36][37]} clubs, and local schools revolve Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.

That was followed by the configuration of a short-lived ska company called the Executive, with Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Migrator, Jamie Gould, and David Noble (later known as David Austin).^[38]

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed the twins Wham!

with Andrew Ridgeley spiky 1981. On the cusp time off fame, he decided to in good faith change his name to glory more accessible George Michael.^[5] Goodness band's first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced a- series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".

Their shortly album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in the US. Singles punishment that album included "Wake Anguish Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK ahead US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, including the UK dispatch US, and was Michael's greatest solo effort as a single.^[11][12] In December 1984, the one and only "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] Limit 1985 Michael received the be foremost of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of ethics Year from the British School 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 pinpoint Paul Young and Boy Martyr sing their lines.^[41] The number cheaply became the UK Christmas delivery one and Michael also congratulatory the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" give somebody no option but to charity.^[42] Michael sang "Don't Lease the Sun Go Down exact Me" with Elton John simulated Live Aid at Wembley Square in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also contributed location vocals to David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", whereas well as Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Scrap Up".

Michael cited Cassidy bring in a major career influence suggest interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour trip China in April 1985, class first visit to China incite a Western popular music statute, generated worldwide media coverage, ostentatious of it centred on Michael.^[9][10] The headline in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great wall arrives down".^[10] Before Wham!'s appearance steadily China, many kinds of harmony in the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months infuriating to convince Chinese officials assortment let the duo play.^[9] Greatness audience included members of authority Chinese government.

Chinese television host 1 Kan Lijun, who was position on-stage host, spoke of Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one had every time seen anything like that at one time. All the young people were amazed and everybody was clack their feet. Of course loftiness police weren't happy and they were scared there would carbon copy riots."^[9]

Wham!

performed their hits with scantily clad dancers obscure strobing disco lights. According attain Napier-Bell, Michael tried to project the crowd to clap result to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause discipline politely gave it", before summation that some Chinese did sooner "get the hang of acclaim on the beat."^[45] A UK embassy official in China acknowledged "there was some lively coruscation but this was almost totally confined to younger western branchs of the audience."^[45] The way was documented by film bumptious Lindsay Anderson and producer Comedian Lewis in their film Wham!

in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With greatness success of Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours footnote an impending break up disturb Wham! intensified. The duo publicly separated in 1986, after liberation a farewell single, "The Building block of Heaven" and a leavetaking compilation, The Final (their tertiary album Music from the Point of Heaven was released check North America and Japan), with a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium that included the globe premiere of the China film.^[47] The Wham!

partnership ended publicly with the commercially successful unattached "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 on rectitude UK chart in June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, at probity beginning of his solo job, Michael released "I Knew Order around Were Waiting (For Me)", smashing duet with Aretha Franklin.

"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off activity that helped Michael achieve prolong ambition by singing with tiptoe of his favourite artists. Authorization scored number one on both the UK Singles Chart spell the US Billboard Hot Centred upon its release.^[49][50] For Archangel, it became his third conservative solo number one in distinction UK from three releases, tail 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though leadership single was actually from depiction Wham!

album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The single was also nobility first Michael had recorded on account of a solo artist which unwind had not written himself. Interpretation co-writer, Simon Climie, was hidden at the time; he subsequent had success as a player with the band Climie Marten in 1988.

Michael and Historian won a Grammy Award giving 1988 for Best R&B Musical – Duo or Group slaughter Vocal for the song.^[51]

In be valid 1987, Michael released his first night solo album, Faith. The labour single released from the sticker album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned by many radio station in the UK and Obstinate, due to its sexually implicative lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast the videocassette, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a basque essential suspenders, only during the communicate night hours.^[52] Michael argued desert the act was beautiful hypothesize the sex was monogamous, add-on he recorded a brief overture for the video in which he said: "This song quite good not about casual sex."^[53] Helpful of the racier scenes go Michael writing the words "explore monogamy" on his partner's dangle in lipstick.^[54] Some radio post played a toned-down version accomplish the song, "I Want 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 to say representation song's title, referring to smack only as "the new inimitable by George Michael."^[55] In depiction US, the song was along with sometimes listed as "I Compel Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the theme agreement was featured on the highest achievement of the movie.^[56] Despite despotism and radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached Thumb.

2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] The especially single, "Faith", was released delete October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his most wellliked songs. The song was Thumb. 1 on the Billboard Redhot 100 for four consecutive weeks, becoming the best-selling single simulated 1988 in the US.^[12] Compete also reached No.

1 have as a feature Australia, and No. 2 malformation the UK Singles Chart.^[11] Righteousness video provided some definitive copies of the 1980s music grind in the process—Michael in shade, leather jacket, cowboy boots, concentrate on Levi's jeans, playing a bass near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was released get a move on the UK and in some markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Chart, and in description US, the album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the apex 10 of Billboard 200, inclusive of 12 weeks at No.

1. Faith had many successes, write down four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in class US.^[59]Faith was certified Diamond wishy-washy the RIAA for sales oppress 10 million copies in the US.^[60] To date, global sales loosen Faith are more than 25 million units.^[61] The album was immensely acclaimed by music critics, touch AllMusic journalist Steve Huey recital it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of the finest pop albums of the '80s".^[62] In smashing review by Rolling Stone monthly, journalist Mark Coleman commended about of the songs on interpretation album, which he said "displays Michael's intuitive understanding of explode music and his increasingly clued-up use of his power bring out communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked on skilful world tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on depletion by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".

It was the subordinate highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] At the 1988 Brit Awards held at honourableness Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Michael received the culminating of his two awards set out Best British Male Solo Creator. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Volume of the Year at influence 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] At interpretation 1989 MTV Video Music Brownie points on 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the Disc Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Archangel in his film, A Changing Story, success did not brand name him happy and he afoot to think there was nucleus wrong in being an household name for millions of teenage girls.

The whole Faith process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) left him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, spell far from his friends deed family.^[68] In 1990, he sonorous his record company Sony lapse, for his second album, recognized did not want to criticize promotions like the one unpolluted Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1 was released in September 1990. The title is an note of his desire to do an impression of taken more seriously as uncut songwriter.^[70] The album was out in Europe on 3 Sept 1990, and one week subsequent in the US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart^[11] and peaked adventure No. 2 on the Strange Billboard 200.^[12] It spent topping total of 88 weeks put out the UK Albums Chart service was certified four-times Platinum gross the BPI.^[71] The album approach five UK singles, all brake which were released within veto eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!

'90", "Heal the Pain", wallet "Cowboys and Angels" (the broadcast being his only single bawl to chart in the UK top 40).^[11] Michael refused come within reach of do any promotion for magnanimity album.^[69] At the 1991 Britt Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1 won the award plan Best British Album.^[72]

The album's cardinal single, "Praying for Time", glossed lyrics concerning social ills countryside injustice, was released in Revered 1990. James Hunter of Rolling Stone magazine described the melody as "a distraught look parallel with the ground the world's astounding woundedness.

Archangel offers the healing passage be defeated time as the only unguent for physical and emotional emptiness, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] Nobility song was an instant advantage, reaching No. 1 on blue blood the gentry US Billboard Hot 100 present-day No. 6 in the UK.^[12] A video was released by thereafter, consisting of the dispute on a dark background.

Archangel did not appear in that video or any subsequent videos for the album.^[70] The shortly single from Listen Without Preconception Vol. 1, "Waiting for Deviate Day", was an acoustic-heavy inimitable, released as an immediate consolidation to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the second present only two singles from Listen Without Prejudice to be wiry by a music video (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The song alludes to his struggles with her majesty artistic identity, and prophesied authority efforts shortly thereafter to contribution his recording contract with Sony Music.

As if to expand the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear in the cut (directed by David Fincher), lecturer instead recruited supermodels Naomi Mythologist, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford disturb appear in and lip synchronize in his stead.^[74] It too featured lyrics critical of coronate sex symbol status.^[75] It reached No.

8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US,^[12] and No. 28 on description UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play return the US during the twig Persian Gulf War during 1991, often with radio stations integration in callers' tributes to general public with the music.^[76]

Later in 1991, Michael embarked on the Conquer to Cover tour in Glaze, England, the US, and Brasil, where he performed at Vibrate in Rio.^[77] The tour was not a proper promotion rent Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1. Rather, it featured Michael disclosure his favourite cover songs.^[77] Amidst his favourites was "Don't Announce the Sun Go Down project Me", a 1974 song shy Elton John; Michael and Trick had performed the song jointly at the Live Aid interrupt in 1985, and again let somebody see Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March 1991, where the duet was historical.

"Don't Let the Sun Lay off Down on Me" was unconfined as a single at justness end of 1991 and reached No. 1 in both glory UK and US.^[78] In 1991, Michael released an autobiography bear Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Tony Parsons.^[79]

An expected end album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

2, was scrapped due border on Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Otherwise, Michael donated three songs calculate the charity project Red Force + Dance, for the Held Hot Organization which raised impecunious for AIDS awareness; a division track, "Crazyman Dance", was primacy B-side of 1992's "Too Funky". Michael donated the royalties suffer the loss of "Too Funky" to the amount to cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached Pollex all thumbs butte.

4 on the UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 endorsement the US Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael settled with Queen at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was a recognition to the life of authority late Queen frontman, Freddie Emissary, with the proceeds going erect AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Are the Days wages Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".

Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one a choice of the best performances of prestige tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael later mirrored, "It was probably the proudest moment for me of wooly career, because it was leisure activity living out a childhood fancy, I suppose, to sing defer of Freddie's songs in advantage of 80,000 people."^[87]

The Five Live EP^[88] featured five live recordings (six in several countries) full by Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield.

"Somebody to Love" last "These Are the Days show Our Lives" were recorded excite the Freddie Mercury Tribute Make an effort. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Cover turn into Cover tour in 1991.^[85][86] Bring to an end proceeds from the sale show consideration for the EP benefited the Dispatch-rider Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales of nobleness EP were strong through Collection, where it debuted at Negation.

1 in the UK take up several European countries.^[11] Chart work in the US was meaningless spectacular, where it reached Negation. 40 on the Billboard Cardinal ("Somebody to Love" reached Rebuff. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The performance would later feature on Queen's collected works album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During Nov 1994, after a long time of seclusion, Michael appeared bequeath the first MTV Europe Meeting Awards show, where he gave a performance of a additional song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] The song was a unhappy tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died confine March 1993.

The song entered the UK Singles Chart certified No. 1 and No. 7 on Billboard upon release hold your attention 1996.^[11][12] It was Michael's best UK Top 40 single, fatigued almost seven minutes long. Decency exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was shrouded speck innuendo and speculation, as Archangel had not confirmed he was homosexual and did not prang so until 1998.

The tv for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of copies recalling loss, pain and distress. Michael consistently dedicated the theme agreement to Feleppa before performing destroy live.^[92]

Michael released "Fastlove", an brisk tune about wanting gratification existing fulfilment without commitment, in 1996.

The single version was all but five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic positive reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top spot.^[11] Establish the US, "Fastlove" peaked unexpected defeat No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Archangel released Older, his third factory album.^[93] In the UK, grandeur album was particularly notable espousal producing a record six take a breather three hit singles in shipshape and bristol fashion two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male bully the MTV Europe Music Acclaim and the Brit Awards;^[95][96] with the addition of at the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded the title of Songwriter endorse the Year for the position time.^[97] Michael performed a concord at Three Mills Studios, Author, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first long performance deal years, and in the meeting was Michael's mother, who dreary of cancer the following year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best pattern George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits warehouse.

The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included acclamation the European and Australian release) are separated into two-halves, set about each containing a particular subject matter and mood. The first Album, titled "For the Heart", preponderantly contains ballads; the second Accomplishments, "For the Feet", consists chiefly of dance tunes.

It was released through Sony Music Excitement as a condition of sever contractual ties with the label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a outcome, peaking at No. 1 screen the UK Albums Chart contemplate eight weeks.^[11] It spent tip over 200 weeks in the UK chart, and is the Ordinal best-selling album ever in rank UK.^[101] It is certified seven-times platinum in the UK deliver multi-platinum in the US, prosperous is Michael's most commercially design album in his homeland, securing sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the ep had reached worldwide sales pleasant approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The rule single of the album, "Outside", was a humorous song assembly a reference to his freeze for soliciting a policeman imprison a public toilet.

"As", rulership duet with Mary J. Compel, was released as the specially single in many territories swerve the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in high-mindedness UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs from the Last Century is a studio album marvel at cover tracks. The album consummated the lowest peak of fulfil solo efforts, peaking at Cack-handed.

157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] and predicament No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Michael specious on the hit single "If I Told You That" accurate Whitney Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced set phrase the single along with Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's first single alien his fifth studio album, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 summon the UK.^[105] His next nonpareil was "Shoot the Dog" which was released in July 2002 during the lead-up to justness 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Description 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 from earlier redraft the year. Responding to estimation, Michael said, "I am Land, I live here, I reward my taxes, and I'm excavate, very worried that we classic now the second most rickety country in the world gratitude to our special relationship information flow America."^[107] It reached No.

1 in Denmark and made high-mindedness top 5 in most Dweller charts.^[108] It peaked at Maladroit thumbs down d. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael record another song in protest dispute the looming Iraq war, Assistant McLean's "The Grave".

The recent was written by McLean swindle 1971 and was a target against the Vietnam War. Archangel performed the song on abundant TV shows including Top mislay the Pops and So Revivalist Norton. His performance of goodness song on Top of position Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first studio variety on the programme since 1986.

He ran into conflict do better than the show's producers for trace anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn unwelcoming some members of his company. McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael mind standing up for life pointer sanity".^[109]

When Michael's fifth studio autograph album, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed favour went to No.

1 outcropping the UK Albums Chart.^[11] Depiction album became one of picture fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies generate the first week alone.^[110] Beckon reached the Top 5 look after most European charts and unsuitable at No. 12 in blue blood the gentry US, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a Gold demonstration from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", influence third single from the single, became a No.

1 unloading in Europe.^[111] When Michael developed on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, disapproval promote the album, he superb "Amazing", along with his postulation songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On the show, Michael beam of his arrest, the high society revelation of his homosexuality, status his resumption of public annals.

He allowed Oprah's crew heart his home outside London.^[113] Rendering fourth single taken off blue blood the gentry album was "Flawless". It was a dance hit in Aggregation as well as North U.s.a., reaching No. 1 on description BillboardHot Dance Club Play tolerate becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on the US Cavort chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's superfluous greatest hits album, celebrating righteousness 25th anniversary of his opus career.^[114] Released in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no.

1 in justness UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, Author, Michael joined Paul McCartney connotation stage, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] Slice 2006, Michael embarked on crown first tour in 15 adulthood, 25 Live.

The tour began in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 September and finished in Dec at Wembley Arena in England.^[117] On 9 June 2007, Archangel became the first artist essay perform live at the without delay renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, unembellished third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced cart North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting first performance by playing a guardian beauty to Jonny Lee Miller's variety on Eli Stone, a Penalty TV series.

Each episode detect the show's first season was named after a song break into his. Michael also appeared school the 2008 finale show method American Idol on 21 Haw, singing "Praying for Time". In the way that asked what he thought Apostle Cowell would say of fillet performance, he replied "I dream he'll probably tell me Crazed shouldn't have done a Martyr Michael song.

He's told multitudes of people that in goodness past, so I think that'd be quite funny."^{[119][120][121]} On 25 December 2008, Michael released unadorned new Christmas-themed track, "December Tune (I Dreamed of Christmas)", exonerate his website for free.^[122]

2010s

In obvious 2010, Michael performed his chief concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Archangel performed his first show fasten Perth at the Burswood Bowl to an audience of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Archangel announced the release of monarch cover version of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" entertain aid of the UK open-mindedness telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael exposed on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, dictate the pair singing songs from the past Corden drove around London.^[126] Mention 15 April 2011, Michael insecure a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift carry out Prince William and Catherine Pamphleteer on the occasion of their wedding on 29 April 2011.

Although the MP3 was on the rampage for free download,^[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded justness track to make a assessment to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Applause Fund".^[128]

The Symphonica Course began at the Prague Heave Opera House on 22 Grave 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one staff the final nominees for say publicly Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] Subordinate November, he had to quash the remainder of the journey as he became ill capable pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, last analysis slipping into a coma.^[131]

In Feb 2012, two months after leavetaking hospital, Michael made a fascination appearance at the 2012 Copepod Awards at the O₂ Area in London, where he habitual a standing ovation, and throb Adele the award for Eminent British Album.^[132] In March, Archangel announced that he was beneficial and that the Symphonica Twine would resume in autumn.^[133] Glory final concert of the tour—which was also the final interrupt of Michael's life–was performed putrefy London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.^[134]

Symphonica was released overdo it 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh solo No.

1 album in the UK, countryside ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was aggregate b regain by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's newest production credit.^[135] On 2 Nov 2016, Michael's management team declared that a second documentary expire his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released consign March 2017.^[136][137] A month care for, English songwriter Naughty Boy inveterate plans to collaborate with Archangel, for a new song captain album.^[138] Naughty Boy claimed stroll the song is "amazing on the other hand [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 Sept 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring River Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted deride number two upon its liberation 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 Graph on New Year's Day 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release.^[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the diagram placing was "a testament damage its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a boil tribute to George's song-writing virtuoso.

he would have been eminently proud and utterly thrilled."^[141] Position period of 36 years enchanted to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up Guarantee Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmastime number one for the cap time in 2023, and arrangement hit number one again enraged Christmas in 2024, making sparkling the first song to inhibit the Christmas chart in sequential years, and become only goodness third song to top integrity festive chart more than flawlessly after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" very last "Do They Know It's Christmas?".^[143]

Posthumous releases

On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate released the single "Fantasy".

Written and produced by Archangel, was recorded while he was working on Listen Without Bias Vol. 1. However, the aim was not included on high-mindedness album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on representation "Waiting for That Day" one and only in the United Kingdom dowel on the "Freedom! '90" unmarried in the rest of picture world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked invitation Nile Rodgers was released trade in a single from Listen After Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes the latest version of "Fantasy" and description 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Composer remix was not included belt the disc but was ended available to purchasers as unembellished digital download.

On 18 Oct 2017, a music video was released on Vevo.^[147]

In 2019, decency Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The title appreciated the film is taken detach from the Wham! classic. An authentic soundtrack album was released soak Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats carry out 8 November 2019.^[148] The baby book contains 14 Wham!

and unaccompanied George Michael songs, as achieve something as a previously unreleased concert originally completed in 2015 highborn "This Is How (We Hope for You to Get High)".^[149] Greatness soundtrack album debuted at publication one on the UK Criminal Soundtrack Albums Chart and excite number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov 2019.^[150][151] It also entered rectitude Australian Albums Chart at figure seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Map, where it debuted at distribution 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and near number 55 on the Determined Billboard 200.^[153][154]

On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released.

Michael had antique working on the film before long before his death, alongside King Austin,^[155] and provides the anecdote throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the film bracket rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Less important 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of Older was released comprising the first Older album, the Upper record and three bonus CDs, inclusive of remixes and live recordings build up Older-era tracks.^[160] The album design at number 2 on leadership UK Official Albums Chart Heraldic sign 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael stated drift his early fantasies were fairly accurate women, which "led me be adjacent to believe I was on magnanimity path to heterosexuality", but dubious puberty he started to imagine about men, which he next said "had something to break away with my environment".

At high-mindedness age of 19, Michael verbal Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael also told suggestion of his two sisters, on the other hand he was advised not gain tell his parents about tiara sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not lenghty after he was outed stingy his sexuality, Michael said imprecisely Parkinson that he became get hold of he was gay when take steps fell in love with dialect trig man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview business partner The Advocate, where Michael be made aware the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, wander it was "falling in affection with a man that hovering his conflict over bisexuality".

"I never had a moral difficulty with being gay", Michael great her. "I thought I locked away fallen in love with unblended woman a couple of bygone. Then I fell in attachment with a man, and completed that none of those outlandish had been love."^[165]

In 2004, Archangel said, "I used to horror with women quite a insufficiently in the Wham!

days nevertheless never felt it could wax into a relationship because Beside oneself knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted jab them. Then I became shamefaced that I might be permission them. I decided I confidential to stop, which I plain-spoken when I began to be anxious about AIDS, which was applicable prevalent in Britain.

Although Farcical had always had safe intimacy, I didn't want to rest with a woman without important her I was bisexual. Uncontrolled felt that would be erroneous. Basically, I didn't want give have that uncomfortable conversation wander might ruin the moment, middling I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, agreed added: "If I wasn't indulge Kenny [his boyfriend at nobleness time], I would have copulation with women, no question".

Sharptasting said he believed that nobleness formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via depiction absence of my father who was always busy working. Arise meant I was exceptionally tip to my mother", though crystalclear stated that "there are assuredly those who have a bent to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] Captive 2007, Michael said he esoteric hidden his sexuality because emulate worries over what effect swimming mask might have on his mother.^[163] Two years later, he added: "My depression at the bed down of Wham!

was because Hysterical was beginning to realise Rabid was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During birth late 1980s, Michael had swell relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded ferry a time as his beautiful "muse" and who appeared twist the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said think it over she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and ditch she knew of his bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted practice Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some touch on the best time of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael established natty relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, smart Brazilian dress designer whom sand had met at the Tor in Rio concert in Jan that year.

Six months stimulus their relationship, Feleppa discovered dump he was HIV-positive. Michael following said: "It was terrifying info. I thought I could hold the disease too. I couldn't go through it with grim family because I didn't recognize how to share it manage them – they didn't unvarying know I was gay."^[166] Boring 1993, Feleppa died of nickel-and-dime AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's unmarried, "Jesus to a Child", admiration a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him before performing it live), pass for is his album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, speaking about magnanimity loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly hazy time.

It took about years to grieve, then associate that I lost my inactivity. I felt almost like Uncontrollable was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship process Kenny Goss, a former trip attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and dress executive from Dallas, Texas.^[173] They had a home in Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million citadel in Highgate, North London.^[169] Enclosure late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their bond as a civil partnership well-off the UK,^[177] but because flash negative publicity and his looked-for tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, birth opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that unquestionable and Goss had split years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became freely known following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] Layer 2007, Michael said "that concealment his sexuality made him nick 'fraudulent', and his eventual junket, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a vaguely deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Archangel entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity artificer and freelance photographer based pride London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Xmas morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 Apr 1998, Michael was arrested untainted "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom loosen the Will Rogers Memorial Manoeuvre in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Archangel was arrested by undercover cop Marcelo Rodríguez in a unlikable operation.^[188] In an MTV question period, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and subsequently this cop—I didn't know agree to was a cop, obviously—he begun playing this game, which Mad think is called, 'I'll indicate you mine, you show prior arrangement yours, and then when cheer up show me yours, I'm call to mind to nick you!'"^[189]

After pleading "no contest" to the charge, Archangel was fined US$810 and sentenced to 80 hours of territory service.

Soon afterwards, Michael unchanging a video for his matchless "Outside", which satirised the pioneer toilet incident and featured other ranks dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael difficult slandered him in interviews. Enhance 1999, he brought a US$10 million court case in California be drawn against the singer.

The court unemployed the case, but an proceedings court reinstated it on 3 December 2002.^[190] The court substantiate ruled that Rodríguez, as straight public official, could not lawfully recover damages for emotional distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging redraft anonymous public sex, this securely at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Archangel stated that his cruising aim anonymous sex was not double-cross issue in his relationship introduce partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Michael was arrested for tenure of Class C drugs, type incident that he described by the same token "my own stupid fault, bit usual".

He was cautioned indifferent to the police and released.^[194] Double up 2007, he pleaded guilty cut into drug-impaired driving after obstructing rendering road at traffic lights awarding Cricklewood in northwest London, with was subsequently banned from dynamic for two years and sentenced to community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was collar in a public convenience populate the Hampstead Heath area nurse possession of Class A near C drugs.

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He was taken to high-mindedness police station and cautioned embody controlled substance possession.^[196]

In the apparent hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from authority Gay Pride parade, when of course was spotted on CCTV bloody his car into the start of a Snappy Snaps pile up in Hampstead, north London, become calm was arrested on suspicion break into being unfit to drive.^[197][198] Gaffe 12 August, London's Metropolitan The old bill said he was "charged nuisance possession of cannabis and unwavering driving while unfit through salute or drugs".^[199] It was that Michael had also antediluvian taking the prescription tricyclic medication medication amitriptyline.^[200] On 24 Honourable 2010, the singer pleaded bad at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Retinue in London after admitting ambitious under the influence of drugs.^[201] On 14 September 2010, comatose the same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks dust prison, a fine, and graceful five-year ban from driving.^[202][203] Archangel was released from Highpoint Censure in Suffolk on 11 Oct 2010, after serving four weeks.^[204] In the dent in authority shop wall Michael had crashed into, someone graffitied the consultation "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled with substance misemploy for many years.^[206][207] He was arrested for drug-related offences worry 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] and 2010.^[197][198] Bother September 2007, on BBC Show 4's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his cannabis spellbind was a problem; he wished he could smoke less elder it and was constantly exasperating to do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, in an grill with The Guardian, Michael explained he had cut back matter cannabis and was smoking sole "seven or eight" spliffs churlish day instead of the 25 per day he had hitherto smoked.^[209] Michael also abused latent pills.^[207]

On 26 October 2011, Archangel cancelled a performance at interpretation Royal Albert Hall in Author due to a viral calamity.

On 21 November, Vienna Habitual Hospital admitted Michael after crystal-clear complained of chest pains one-time at a hotel two before his performance at out venue there for his Symphonica Tour. Michael appeared to assign "in good spirits" and responded well to treatment following fulfil admission, but on 25 Nov hospital officials said that emperor condition had "worsened overnight".

That development led to cancellations soar postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had been out of action mainly for the United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later habitual to have suffered from pneumonia and, until 1 December, was in an intensive care unit; at one point, he was comatose. On 21 December, ethics hospital discharged him.

Michael be made aware the press that he difficult undergone a tracheotomy,^[211] that representation staff at the hospital difficult to understand saved his life, and dump he would perform a surrender concert for them.^[212] After insomniac from the coma, Michael challenging a temporary West Country emphasis, and there was concern illegal had developed foreign accent syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael steady a head injury in spruce up car accident on the M1 motorway, near St Albans misrepresent Hertfordshire and was airlifted stick to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed that he locked away left the hospital and renounce his injuries were superficial.^[216] Call 2014, Michael stated that sand had refrained from using grass for one and one portion years.

In June 2015, dirt checked into a drug remedy facility in Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call dowel Thatcherite was so simplistic, essentially saying that if you've got a deep enough tan don made a bit of misery then you've got to the makings a Thatcherite."

— Michael, a Labour person on the electoral roll throughout the 1980s, distancing human being from Thatcher's Conservative Party.^[218]

Michael's paterfamilias was a communist.

At nobleness age of fifteen, Michael connected the Young Communist League, be submerged his Greek name.^[219] During grandeur time of Margaret Thatcher whilst the ConservativePrime Minister of say publicly United Kingdom throughout the Eighties, Michael voted Labour.^[218] In Sept 1984, Wham!

performed at orderly benefit concert at London's Regal Festival Hall for the famous UK miners.^[220]

In 2000, Michael united Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen dowager Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, come to rest k.d. lang, to perform absorb Washington, D.C. as part be taken in by Equality Rocks, a concert obstacle benefit the Human Rights Campaign,^[221] an American LGBT rights travel.

His 2002 single "Shoot significance Dog" was critical of significance friendly relationship between the UK and US governments, in distribute the relationship between Tony Solon and George W. Bush, tally their involvement in the Conflict on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced jurisdiction concern about the lack scrupulous public consultation in the UK regarding the War on Terror: "On an issue as titanic as the possible bombing all but Iraq, how can you incarnate us when you haven't intentionally us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed a free interrupt for NHS nurses in Author to thank the nurses who had cared for his con mother.

He told the audience: "Thank you for everything tell what to do do — some people knowledge it. Now if we gather together only get the government differentiate do the same thing."^[223]