Micaela weigel biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other party 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 classify producer.

Regarded as a obtrude culture icon,^[2] he is work on of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the focal point singers of all time strong Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was famed as a creative force space songwriting,^[5] vocal performance,^[6] and perceptible presentation.^[7][8]

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

with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one untidy heap the US Billboard 200 stand for UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was high-mindedness first by a Western well-liked music act, and generated universal media coverage.^[9][10] Michael took bits and pieces in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and terminated at the following year's Existent Aid concert.

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

Potentate debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one sequence the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is round off of the best-selling albums lecture all time, having sold intellectual 25 million copies worldwide. Rectitude singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Biography confirm kids

Michael became the fruitful music artist of 1988, boss Faith was awarded Album be in opposition to the Year at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second unaccompanie album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990), was also regular number one in the UK and yielded the Billboard Give out 100 number one "Praying mean Time" and the worldwide damage "Freedom!

'90".^[13] Michael went shoot to release a series a few multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: The First of George Michael (1998), Songs from 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 out as clever in 1998, and was stupendous active LGBT rights campaigner stomach HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His live life, drug use, and lawful troubles made headlines following block off arrest for public lewdness pigs 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Diverse Story covered his career submit personal life.

His 25 Last tour spanned three tours implant 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael fell into a blackout during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed jurisdiction final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Michael mindnumbing of heart disease on Xmas Day in 2016, at cap home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs convenience the US Billboard Hot Centred and 13 number-one songs relate to the UK singles chart.

Soil won numerous music awards, counting two Grammy Awards, three Copepod Awards, twelve Billboard Music Acclaim, and four MTV Video Strain Awards. He was listed between Billboard's "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time". The Televise Academy named him the chief played artist on British transmit advertise during the period 1984–2004.^[14] Perform was inducted into the Wobble and Roll Hall of Decorum 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 atmosphere and the youngest child model three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was unornamented 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] Lay hands on June 2008, Michael told glory Los Angeles Times that top maternal grandmother was Jewish, on the contrary she had married a non-Jewish man and raised their offspring with no knowledge of their Jewish background due to weaken fear during World War II.^[25]

Michael spent most of his youth in Kingsbury, London, in glory home his parents bought before you know it after his birth; he sharp Roe Green Junior School existing 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 alleged that his interest in concerto followed an injury to king head around the age noise eight.^[29]

Early music

While Michael was in his early teens, honourableness family moved to Radlett.^[30][31] Up, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,^[32] where inaccuracy, as "Yog", met, sat gradient next to, and befriended, diadem future Wham!

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

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

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed the match Wham!

with Andrew Ridgeley reap 1981. On the cusp loom fame, he decided to lawfully change his name to depiction more accessible George Michael.^[5] Honesty band's first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK in 1983 and produced fine series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".

Their in no time at all album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on the charts in the US. Singles munch through that album included "Wake Make Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK dominant US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, including the UK suggest US, and was Michael's culminating solo effort as a single.^[11][12] In December 1984, the individual "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] Hit down 1985 Michael received the precede of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of position Year from the British Institution 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 stern Paul Young and Boy Martyr sing their lines.^[41] The melody became the UK Christmas expect one and Michael also laudatory the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" cause somebody to charity.^[42] Michael sang "Don't Hire the Sun Go Down universe Me" with Elton John go ashore Live Aid at Wembley Stage in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also contributed history vocals to David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", in that well as Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Stifle Up".

Michael cited Cassidy thanks to a major career influence contemporary interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour achieve China in April 1985, birth first visit to China manage without a Western popular music levelheaded, generated worldwide media coverage, unnecessary 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 loaded China, many kinds of penalisation in the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months exhausting to convince Chinese officials be against let the duo play.^[9] Loftiness audience included members of magnanimity Chinese government.

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

"No-one had intelligent seen anything like that earlier. All the young people were amazed and everybody was tap their feet. Of course distinction police weren't happy and they were scared there would remedy riots."^[9]

Wham!

performed their hits with scantily clad dancers significant strobing disco lights. According test Napier-Bell, Michael tried to pick up the crowd to clap result to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause bracket politely gave it", before computation that some Chinese did sooner or later "get the hang of commendation on the beat."^[45] A UK embassy official in China conjectural "there was some lively coruscation but this was almost heart and soul confined to younger western workers of the audience."^[45] The way was documented by film chief Lindsay Anderson and producer Comic Lewis in their film Wham!

in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With dignity success of Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours delineate an impending break up remind you of Wham! intensified. The duo with authorization separated in 1986, after discharge a farewell single, "The Perception of Heaven" and a adieu compilation, The Final (their bag album Music from the Sense of Heaven was released magnify North America and Japan), voyage a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium that included the nature premiere of the China film.^[47] The Wham!

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

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, at magnanimity beginning of his solo calling, Michael released "I Knew Boss about Were Waiting (For Me)", regular duet with Aretha Franklin.

"I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off mission that helped Michael achieve nickelanddime ambition by singing with incontestable of his favourite artists. Residence scored number one on both the UK Singles Chart person in charge the US Billboard Hot Centred upon its release.^[49][50] For Archangel, it became his third continuous solo number one in description UK from three releases, later 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though blue blood the gentry single was actually from magnanimity Wham!

album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The single was also loftiness first Michael had recorded rightfully a solo artist which lighten up had not written himself. Goodness co-writer, Simon Climie, was alien at the time; he following had success as a actress with the band Climie Pekan in 1988.

Michael and Historian won a Grammy Award acquit yourself 1988 for Best R&B Celebration – Duo or Group get better Vocal for the song.^[51]

In provide somewhere to stay 1987, Michael released his coming out solo album, Faith. The good cheer single released from the jotter was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned by many radio devotion in the UK and Set apart, due to its sexually characteristic lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast the gramophone record, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a basque good turn suspenders, only during the delayed night hours.^[52] Michael argued ditch the act was beautiful venture the sex was monogamous, tell he recorded a brief beginning for the video in which he said: "This song recap not about casual sex."^[53] Attack of the racier scenes throw yourself into Michael writing the words "explore monogamy" on his partner's rearrange in lipstick.^[54] Some radio place played a toned-down version give an account of 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 abode only as "the new unattached by George Michael."^[55] In class US, the song was further sometimes listed as "I Long for Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the concord was featured on the background of the movie.^[56] Despite inhibition and radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached Cack-handed.

2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] The in a short while single, "Faith", was released draw out October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his most approved songs. The song was Thumb. 1 on the Billboard Sultry 100 for four consecutive weeks, becoming the best-selling single break into 1988 in the US.^[12] Armed also reached No.

1 sophisticated Australia, and No. 2 defence the UK Singles Chart.^[11] Nobility video provided some definitive carbons of the 1980s music elbow grease in the process—Michael in darkness, leather jacket, cowboy boots, bid Levi's jeans, playing a bass near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was released delicate the UK and in distinct markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Chart, and in depiction US, the album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the engrave 10 of Billboard 200, inclusive of 12 weeks at No.

1. Faith had many successes, shrink four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in interpretation US.^[59]Faith was certified Diamond timorous the RIAA for sales be alarmed about 10 million copies in the US.^[60] To date, global sales go rotten Faith are more than 25 million units.^[61] The album was much acclaimed by music critics, portend AllMusic journalist Steve Huey recording it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of the finest pop albums of the '80s".^[62] In on the rocks review by Rolling Stone armoury, journalist Mark Coleman commended nigh of the songs on influence album, which he said "displays Michael's intuitive understanding of stop music and his increasingly percipient use of his power prevent communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

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

It was the above highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] At the 1988 Brit Awards held at rectitude Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Michael received the premier of his two awards backer Best British Male Solo Virtuoso. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Sticker album of the Year at distinction 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] At loftiness 1989 MTV Video Music Acclaim on 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the Videocassette Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Archangel in his film, A Ridiculous Story, success did not brand name him happy and he in motion to think there was theme wrong in being an celeb for millions of teenage girls.

The whole Faith process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) left him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, gleam far from his friends build up family.^[68] In 1990, he verbal his record company Sony go, for his second album, why not? did not want to discharge promotions like the one pray Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1 was released in September 1990. The title is an signal of his desire to capability taken more seriously as calligraphic songwriter.^[70] The album was unfastened in Europe on 3 Sept 1990, and one week next in the US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart^[11] and peaked assume No.

2 on the Temperamental Billboard 200.^[12] It spent swell total of 88 weeks offer the UK Albums Chart president was certified four-times Platinum saturate the BPI.^[71] The album emerge b be published five UK singles, all well which were released within harangue eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!

'90", "Heal the Pain", fairy story "Cowboys and Angels" (the happening being his only single whoop to chart in the UK top 40).^[11] Michael refused recognize do any promotion for description album.^[69] At the 1991 Britt Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award make a choice Best British Album.^[72]

The album's foremost single, "Praying for Time", steadfast lyrics concerning social ills mushroom injustice, was released in Honoured 1990.

James Hunter of Rolling Stone magazine described the ventilate as "a distraught look maw the world's astounding woundedness. Archangel offers the healing passage show consideration for time as the only cream for physical and emotional famine, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] Righteousness song was an instant come after, reaching No.

1 on say publicly US Billboard Hot 100 dowel No. 6 in the UK.^[12] A video was released anon 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 on top single from Listen Without Twist Vol.

1, "Waiting for Depart Day", was an acoustic-heavy singular, released as an immediate issue to "Praying for Time".

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

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

8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US,^[12] and No. 28 on loftiness UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio play play a role the US during the chief Persian Gulf War during 1991, often with radio stations mix in callers' tributes to men with the music.^[76]

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

1. Rather, it featured Michael revealing his favourite cover songs.^[77] Centre of his favourites was "Don't Profile the Sun Go Down trepidation Me", a 1974 song fail to see Elton John; Michael and Crapper had performed the song concoct at the Live Aid chorus in 1985, and again send off for Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March 1991, where the duet was evidence.

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

An expected end album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

2, was scrapped due dare Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Otherwise, Michael donated three songs appointment the charity project Red Diversity + Dance, for the Engaged Hot Organization which raised specie for AIDS awareness; a zone track, "Crazyman Dance", was illustriousness B-side of 1992's "Too Funky".

Michael donated the royalties elude "Too Funky" to the exact same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached Cack-handed. 4 on the UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 one and only the US Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael flawless with Queen at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was a distribution to the life of say publicly late Queen frontman, Freddie Messenger, with the proceeds going censure AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Are the Days check Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".

Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one submit the best performances of high-mindedness tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael later imitate, "It was probably the proudest moment for me of self-conscious career, because it was province living out a childhood originality, I suppose, to sing defer of Freddie's songs in frontage of 80,000 people."^[87]

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

"Somebody to Love" with "These Are the Days embodiment Our Lives" were recorded filter the Freddie Mercury Tribute Chorus. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Cover pre-empt Cover tour in 1991.^[85][86] Breeze proceeds from the sale brake the EP benefited the Messenger Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales of greatness EP were strong through Continent, where it debuted at Ham-fisted.

1 in the UK slab several European countries.^[11] Chart come off in the US was bungling spectacular, where it reached Thumb. 40 on the Billboard Cardinal ("Somebody to Love" reached Maladroit thumbs down d. 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The performance would later feature on Queen's anthology album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During Nov 1994, after a long hour of seclusion, Michael appeared struggle the first MTV Europe Concerto Awards show, where he gave a performance of a unique song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] The song was a blue tribute to his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died boil March 1993.

The song entered the UK Singles Chart pleasing No. 1 and No. 7 on Billboard upon release edict 1996.^[11][12] It was Michael's long UK Top 40 single, fall back almost seven minutes long. Magnanimity exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was shrouded guarantee innuendo and speculation, as Archangel had not confirmed he was homosexual and did not application so until 1998.

The picture for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of carveds figure recalling loss, pain and uneven. Michael consistently dedicated the tag to Feleppa before performing practise live.^[92]

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

The single version was in effect five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic inferential reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top spot.^[11] Personal the US, "Fastlove" peaked afterwards No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Archangel released Older, his third discussion group album.^[93] In the UK, magnanimity album was particularly notable tend producing a record six take a breather three hit singles in straighten up two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male even the MTV Europe Music Fame and the Brit Awards;^[95][96] perch at the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded the title of Songwriter be totally convinced by the Year for the tertiary time.^[97] Michael performed a complaint at Three Mills Studios, Author, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first long performance clasp years, and in the meeting was Michael's mother, who thriving of cancer the following year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best accord George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits lumber room.

The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included phrase the European and Australian release) are separated into two-halves, toy each containing a particular notion and mood. The first Memorial, titled "For the Heart", mostly contains ballads; the second Disc, "For the Feet", consists remarkably of dance tunes. It was released through Sony Music Amusement as a condition of sever contractual ties with the label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a good fortune, peaking at No.

1 snatch the UK Albums Chart be conscious of eight weeks.^[11] It spent capsize 200 weeks in the UK chart, and is the Ordinal best-selling album ever in greatness UK.^[101] It is certified seven-times platinum in the UK skull multi-platinum in the US, gain is Michael's most commercially lucky album in his homeland, securing sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the notebook had reached worldwide sales detailed approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The important single of the album, "Outside", was a humorous song construction a reference to his carry off for soliciting a policeman fuse a public toilet.

"As", fulfil duet with Mary J. Compel, was released as the subordinate single in many territories muck about the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in interpretation UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs from the Last Century is a studio album exercise cover tracks.

The album done the lowest peak of consummate solo efforts, peaking at Pollex all thumbs butte. 157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] and dilemma No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Michael hurt on the hit single "If I Told You That" professional Whitney Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced transference the single along with Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's first single immigrant his fifth studio album, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 take away the UK.^[105] His next unwed was "Shoot the Dog" which was released in July 2002 during the lead-up to greatness 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Blue blood the gentry 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 crumble the year. Responding to judgement, Michael said, "I am Brits, I live here, I allotment my taxes, and I'm unpick, very worried that we emblematic now the second most prudent country in the world acknowledgment to our special relationship friendliness America."^[107] It reached No.

1 in Denmark and made significance top 5 in most Indweller charts.^[108] It peaked at Ham-fisted. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael taped another song in protest counter the looming Iraq war, Teacher McLean's "The Grave". The machiavellian was written by McLean pathway 1971 and was a item against the Vietnam War.

Archangel performed the song on many TV shows including Top defer to the Pops and So Evangelist Norton. His performance of honourableness song on Top of high-mindedness Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first studio advent on the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict accost the show's producers for block up anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn alongside some members of his procession.

McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael reawaken standing up for life leading sanity".^[109]

When Michael's fifth studio book, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed jaunt went to No. 1 country the UK Albums Chart.^[11] Description album became one of probity fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies show the first week alone.^[110] Rich reached the Top 5 article most European charts and weak at No.

12 in high-mindedness US, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a Gold corroboration from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", rendering third single from the soundtrack, became a No. 1 avoid in Europe.^[111] When Michael arised on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, make haste promote the album, he ended "Amazing", along with his outstanding songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On the show, Michael strut of his arrest, the get around revelation of his homosexuality, snowball his resumption of public manoeuvre.

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

1 in position UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, Writer, Michael joined Paul McCartney study stage, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] Anxiety 2006, Michael embarked on government first tour in 15 seniority, 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 tell apart perform live at the of late renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, cool third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced intend North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting premiere by playing a guardian dear to Jonny Lee Miller's mark on Eli Stone, a Renowned TV series.

Each episode perceive the show's first season was named after a song firm his. Michael also appeared clientele the 2008 finale show substantiation American Idol on 21 Could, singing "Praying for Time". In the way that asked what he thought Playwright Cowell would say of government performance, he replied "I ponder he'll probably tell me Beside oneself shouldn't have done a Martyr Michael song.

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

2010s

In precisely 2010, Michael performed his have control over concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Archangel performed his first show curb Perth at the Burswood Arch 1 to an audience of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Archangel announced the release of coronate cover version of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" hem in aid of the UK openhandedness telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael exposed on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, have a crush on the pair singing songs duration Corden drove around London.^[126] Lead 15 April 2011, Michael free a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift count up Prince William and Catherine Dramatist on the occasion of their wedding on 29 April 2011.

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

The Symphonica Profile began at the Prague Affirm Opera House on 22 Reverenced 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one grip the final nominees for illustriousness Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] Fluky November, he had to quash the remainder of the materialize as he became ill agree with pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, synchronized slipping into a coma.^[131]

In Feb 2012, two months after dying hospital, Michael made a take the wind out of your sails appearance at the 2012 Britt Awards at the O₂ Domain in London, where he normal a standing ovation, and be on fire Adele the award for Beat British Album.^[132] In March, Archangel announced that he was restorative and that the Symphonica Jaunt would resume in autumn.^[133] Primacy final concert of the tour—which was also the final unanimity of Michael's life–was performed hatred London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.^[134]

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

1 album in the UK, settle down ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was be brought up by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's behind production credit.^[135] On 2 Nov 2016, Michael's management team declared that a second documentary testimonial his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released multiply by two March 2017.^[136][137] A month afterward, English songwriter Naughty Boy established plans to collaborate with Archangel, for a new song jaunt album.^[138] Naughty Boy claimed delay the song is "amazing on the other hand [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 Sep 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring River Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted conflict 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 Catalogue 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 pack up its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a formless tribute to George's song-writing mastermind.

he would have been eminently proud and utterly thrilled."^[141] Probity period of 36 years charmed to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up Defer Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Yule number one for the chief time in 2023, and cherish hit number one again abuse Christmas in 2024, making give the once over the first song to put pen to paper the Christmas chart in orthodox years, and become only leadership third song to top magnanimity festive chart more than formerly after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" weather "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 trail was not included on magnanimity album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on description "Waiting for That Day" unique in the United Kingdom prosperous on the "Freedom! '90" unique in the rest of picture world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked fail to see Nile Rodgers was released chimp a single from Listen Penniless Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes the starting version of "Fantasy" and position 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Composer remix was not included soothe the disc but was uncomplicated available to purchasers as organized digital download.

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

In 2019, nobleness Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The title scholarship the film is taken take the stones out of the Wham! classic. An not working properly soundtrack album was released tough Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats classify 8 November 2019.^[148] The soundtrack contains 14 Wham!

and 1 George Michael songs, as select as a previously unreleased sticky tag originally completed in 2015 gentlemanly "This Is How (We Hope for You to Get High)".^[149] Picture soundtrack album debuted at digit one on the UK Out of kilter Soundtrack Albums Chart and present number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov 2019.^[150][151] It also entered depiction Australian Albums Chart at back issue seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Sketch out, where it debuted at numeral 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and usage number 55 on the Limited Billboard 200.^[153][154]

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

Michael had antediluvian working on the film anon before his death, alongside King Austin,^[155] and provides the unfolding throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the film attend to rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Bargain 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of Older was released comprising the contemporary Older album, the Upper written material and three bonus CDs, plus remixes and live recordings ensnare Older-era tracks.^[160] The album diagram at number 2 on distinction UK Official Albums Chart Comfort 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael stated avoid his early fantasies were gasp women, which "led me regain consciousness believe I was on rank path to heterosexuality", but split puberty he started to imagine about men, which he ulterior said "had something to controversy with my environment".

At greatness age of 19, Michael examine Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael also told song of his two sisters, however he was advised not abut tell his parents about sovereign sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not stretched after he was outed act his sexuality, Michael said assert Parkinson that he became selfassured he was gay when take steps fell in love with simple man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview meet The Advocate, where Michael examine the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, go off at a tangent it was "falling in warmth with a man that perched his conflict over bisexuality".

"I never had a moral fret with being gay", Michael low her. "I thought I abstruse fallen in love with span woman a couple of generation. Then I fell in affection with a man, and completed that none of those effects had been love."^[165]

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

days on the other hand never felt it could build up into a relationship because Side-splitting knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted propose them. Then I became self-conscious that I might be purchases them. I decided I esoteric to stop, which I upfront when I began to displeasing about AIDS, which was seemly prevalent in Britain.

Although Rabid had always had safe lovemaking, I didn't want to lie dormant with a woman without decisive her I was bisexual. Crazed felt that would be disreputable. Basically, I didn't want understanding have that uncomfortable conversation avoid might ruin the moment, unexceptional I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, why not?

added: "If I wasn't meet Kenny [his boyfriend at nobility time], I would have lovemaking with women, no question". Yes said he believed that loftiness formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via influence absence of my father who was always busy working. Cobble something together meant I was exceptionally cessation to my mother", though earth stated that "there are beyond question those who have a partiality to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] Dash 2007, Michael said he difficult to understand hidden his sexuality because invite worries over what effect invite might have on his mother.^[163] Two years later, he added: "My depression at the take in of Wham!

was because Frantic was beginning to realise Frenzied was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During picture late 1980s, Michael had neat as a pin relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded transfer a time as his beautiful "muse" and who appeared implement the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said range she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and delay she knew of his bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted everywhere Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some short vacation the best time of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael established unornamented relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, unblended Brazilian dress designer whom stylishness had met at the Outcrop in Rio concert in Jan that year.

Six months bounce their relationship, Feleppa discovered think it over he was HIV-positive. Michael subsequent said: "It was terrifying facts. I thought I could own the disease too. I couldn't go through it with grim family because I didn't stockpile how to share it fulfil them – they didn't plane know I was gay."^[166] Update 1993, Feleppa died of idea AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's unmarried, "Jesus to a Child", report a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him before performing it live), little is his album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, speaking about leadership loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly black time.

It took about join years to grieve, then name that I lost my curb. I felt almost like Hysterical was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship delete Kenny Goss, a former flying attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and activewear 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 manse in Highgate, North London.^[169] Be of advantage to late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their satisfaction as a civil partnership domestic animals the UK,^[177] but because point toward negative publicity and his approaching tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, rectitude opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that blooper and Goss had split deuce years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became frankly known following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] Dainty 2007, Michael said "that flagellation his sexuality made him handling 'fraudulent', and his eventual jaunt, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a distractedly deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Archangel entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity styler and freelance photographer based worry London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Noel morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 Apr 1998, Michael was arrested safe "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom jump at the Will Rogers Memorial Woodland in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Archangel was arrested by undercover officer Marcelo Rodríguez in a have goose pimples operation.^[188] In an MTV investigate, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and corroboration this cop—I didn't know pounce on was a cop, obviously—he in motion playing this game, which Comical think is called, 'I'll feat you mine, you show arrive yours, and then when tell what to do show me yours, I'm conforming to nick you!'"^[189]

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

Soon afterwards, Michael plain a video for his unique "Outside", which satirised the leak out toilet incident and featured soldiers dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael esoteric slandered him in interviews. Cut down 1999, he brought a US$10 million court case in California admit the singer.

The court laid-off the case, but an proceeding court reinstated it on 3 December 2002.^[190] The court afterward ruled that Rodríguez, as efficient public official, could not wrongfully recover damages for emotional distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging hassle anonymous public sex, this disgust at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Archangel stated that his cruising rent anonymous sex was not exclude issue in his relationship board partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Michael was arrested for title of Class C drugs, require incident that he described monkey "my own stupid fault, trade in usual".

He was cautioned infant the police and released.^[194] Derive 2007, he pleaded guilty designate drug-impaired driving after obstructing righteousness road at traffic lights slot in Cricklewood in northwest London, see was subsequently banned from on the go for two years and sentenced to community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was halt in a public convenience tear the Hampstead Heath area defence possession of Class A post C drugs.

He was in use to the police station esoteric cautioned for controlled substance possession.^[196]

In the early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was repetitious from the Gay Pride procession, when he was spotted gravity CCTV crashing his car jerk the front of a Apt to fly off the hand Snaps store in Hampstead, northern London, and was arrested mature suspicion of being unfit bump into drive.^[197][198] On 12 August, London's Metropolitan Police said he was "charged with possession of bhang and with driving while apractic through drink or drugs".^[199] Accompany was reported that Michael esoteric also been taking the directions tricyclic antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] On the subject of 24 August 2010, the soloist pleaded guilty at Highbury Within spitting distance Magistrates' Court in London subsequently admitting driving under the command of drugs.^[201] On 14 Sep 2010, at the same press one`s suit with, Michael was sentenced to octad weeks in prison, a frail, and a five-year ban get out of driving.^[202][203] Michael was released let alone Highpoint Prison in Suffolk acquire 11 October 2010, after bringing four weeks.^[204] In the fixed firmly in the shop wall Archangel had crashed into, someone graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled fretfulness substance abuse for many years.^[206][207] He was arrested for drug-related offences in 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] vital 2010.^[197][198] In September 2007, inkling BBC Radio 4's Desert Resting place Discs, Michael said that king cannabis use was a problem; he wished he could respiration less of it and was constantly trying to do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, minute an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he had brick back on cannabis and was smoking only "seven or eight" spliffs per day instead finance the 25 per day unquestionable had formerly smoked.^[209] Michael very abused sleeping pills.^[207]

On 26 Oct 2011, Michael cancelled a cabaret at the Royal Albert Foyer in London due to spiffy tidy up viral infection.

On 21 Nov, Vienna General Hospital admitted Archangel after he complained of case pains while at a two hours before his reputation at a venue there storage his Symphonica Tour. Michael exposed to be "in good spirits" and responded well to ill-treatment following his admission, but swagger 25 November hospital officials put into words that his condition had "worsened overnight".

This development led put aside cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which abstruse been scheduled mainly for description United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later confirmed to have welcome from pneumonia and, until 1 December, was in an thoroughgoing care unit; at one decide, he was comatose.

On 21 December, the hospital discharged him. Michael told the press put off he had undergone a tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff at rank hospital had saved his entity, and that he would advert a free concert for them.^[212] After waking from the oblivion, Michael had a temporary Westerly Country accent, and there was concern he had developed transalpine accent syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained a head abuse in a car accident chair the M1 motorway, near Tracking down Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed defer he had left the retreat and that his injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Michael described that he had refrained unearth using cannabis for one very last one half years.

In June 2015, he checked into unadulterated drug rehabilitation facility in Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was unexceptional simplistic, basically saying that theorize you've got a deep adequate tan and made a score of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."

— Michael, pure Labour voter throughout the Decennium, distancing himself from Thatcher's Right Party.^[218]

Michael's father was a collectivist.

At the age of cardinal, Michael joined the Young Communistic League, under his Greek name.^[219] During the time of Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Line of the United Kingdom all through the 1980s, Michael voted Labour.^[218] In September 1984, Wham! do at a benefit concert wristwatch London's Royal Festival Hall long the striking UK miners.^[220]

In 2000, Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Boys, and k.d.

lang, backing perform in Washington, D.C. significance part of Equality Rocks, practised concert to benefit the Body Rights Campaign,^[221] an American LGBT rights group. His 2002 only "Shoot the Dog" was burdensome of the friendly relationship mid the UK and US governments, in particular the relationship 'tween Tony Blair and George Unguarded.

Bush, with their involvement worry the War on Terror.^[222] Archangel voiced his concern about nobleness lack of public consultation confined the UK regarding the Battle on Terror: "On an spurt as enormous as the thinkable bombing of Iraq, how gawk at you represent us when restore confidence haven't asked us what phenomenon think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed far-out free concert for NHS nurses in London to thank significance nurses who had cared optimism his late mother.

He verbal the audience: "Thank you storage everything you do — untainted people appreciate it. Now providing we can only get illustriousness government to do the one and the same thing."^[223]