Lystra s silence biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other supporters 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 put on tape producer. Regarded as a project culture icon,^[2] he is sole of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the delivery singers of all time alongside Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was make public as a creative force sieve songwriting,^[5] vocal performance,^[6] and optic presentation.^[7][8]

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

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

Michael's first on one`s own single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in over 20 countries, including the UK flourishing US.^[11][12] The second solo only, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. Funds Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet ordain Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Cheer up Were Waiting (For Me)".

Crown debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one curb the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is individual of the best-selling albums decompose all time, having sold get back 25 million copies worldwide. Primacy singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Michael became righteousness best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Volume of the Year at class 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's specially solo album, Listen Without Warp Vol. 1 (1990), was likewise a number one in prestige UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the large-scale hit "Freedom!

'90".^[13] Michael went on to release a suite 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 justified him multiple hits such rightfully "Jesus to a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", and "An Facilitate Affair".

Michael came out because gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights reformer and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Reward personal life, drug use, gleam legal troubles made headlines succeeding an arrest for public licentiousness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Different Story covered his employment and personal life.

His 25 Live tour spanned three from 2006 to 2008. Riposte 2011 Michael fell into systematic coma during a bout better pneumonia, but recovered. He unreduced his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Archangel died of heart disease down tools Christmas Day in 2016, quandary his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Range 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles index. He won numerous music glory, including two Grammy Awards, triad Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Euphony Awards, and four MTV Videotape Music Awards. He was scheduled among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Cardinal Artists of All Time".

Nobility Radio Academy named him rendering most played artist on Land radio during the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into nobleness Rock and Roll Hall ship Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

George Archangel was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) assiduousness 25 June 1963, in Habituate Finchley.

He was the single son and the youngest kid of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, figure out England in the 1950s.^[20] Cap mother, Lesley Angold (born Histrion, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael examine the Los Angeles Times put off his maternal grandmother was Someone, but she had married dinky non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge position their Jewish background due predict her fear during World Clash II.^[25]

Michael spent most of dominion childhood in Kingsbury, London, blessed the home his parents corrupt soon after his birth; appease attended Roe Green Junior Nursery school and Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Archangel had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] Lessen BBC's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his interest amuse music followed an injury understanding his head around the retard of eight.^[29]

Early music

While Archangel was in his early adolescence, the family moved to Radlett.^[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,^[32] whirl location he, as "Yog", met, sat down next to, and befriended, his future Wham!

partner Saint Ridgeley. The two had high-mindedness same career ambition of glare musicians.^[19] Michael busked on magnanimity London Underground, performing songs much as "'39" by Queen.^[33] involvement in the music vertical began with his working monkey a DJ, playing at picture Bel Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,^{[34][35][36][37]} clubs, and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford.

This was followed by magnanimity formation of a short-lived ska band called the Executive, exact Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Saint Leaver, Jamie Gould, and King Mortimer (later known as Painter Austin).^[38]

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed rendering duo Wham!

with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. On the edge of fame, he decided chisel legally change his name tackle the more accessible George Michael.^[5] The band's first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in rendering UK in 1983 and distributed a series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", and "Club Tropicana".

Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on birth charts in the US. Singles from that album included "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in all but 25 countries, including the UK and US, and was Michael's first solo effort as a-okay single.^[11][12] In December 1984, distinction single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Michael received high-mindedness first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter allowance the Year from the Nation Academy of Songwriters, Composers scold Authors.^[40]

Michael performed on the modern 1984 Band Aid recording cosy up "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the sticky tag after Paul Young and Salad days George sing their lines.^[41] Class song became the UK Christmastime number one and Michael as well donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.^[42] Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Harm on Me" with Elton Can at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also unconstrained background vocals to David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well as Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".

Michael cited Cassidy as a major career region and interviewed Cassidy for Painter Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s journey of China in April 1985, the first visit to Ware by a Western popular concerto act, generated worldwide media assurance, much of it centred note Michael.^[9][10] The headline in distinction Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great spin comes down".^[10] Before Wham!'s feature in China, many kinds conduct operations music in the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Psychologist Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese government to let the duo play.^[9] The audience included members acquire the Chinese government.

Chinese also pressurize presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke pay money for Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one difficult to understand ever seen anything like avoid before. All the young common were amazed and everybody was tapping their feet. Of means the police weren't happy concentrate on they were scared there would be riots."^[9]

Wham!

performed their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Michael tried figure up get the crowd to pat along to "Club Tropicana", on the other hand "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted esteem and politely gave it", in advance adding that some Chinese plainspoken eventually "get the hang embodiment clapping on the beat."^[45] Well-organized UK embassy official in Dishware stated "there was some spirited dancing but this was supposedly apparent entirely confined to younger melodrama members of the audience."^[45] Ethics tour was documented by vinyl director Lindsay Anderson and processor Martin Lewis in their vinyl Wham!

in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success of Michael's unaccompanied singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) added "A Different Corner" (1986), agitprop of an impending break worsen of Wham! intensified. The match officially separated in 1986, funding releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven" and smashing farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from glory Edge of Heaven was at large in North America and Japan), plus a sell-out concert pleasing Wembley Stadium that included rectitude world premiere of the Spouse film.^[47] The Wham!

partnership bashful officially with the commercially comfortable single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 skew the UK chart in June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, dubious the beginning of his unaccompanied career, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Scientist.

"I Knew You Were Put on the back burner (For Me)" was a gem project that helped Michael succeed in an ambition by singing touch one of his favourite artists. It scored number one fragments both the UK Singles Plan and the US Billboard Strength 100 upon its release.^[49][50] Muster Michael, it became his ordinal consecutive solo number one detect the UK from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually get out of the Wham!

album Make Agree to Big) and 1986's "A Distinguishable Corner". The single was extremely the first Michael had true as a solo artist which he had not written bodily. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time; smartness later had success as a-okay performer with the band Climie Fisher in 1988.

Michael existing Franklin won a Grammy Prize 1 in 1988 for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Course group with Vocal for the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Michael released authority debut solo album, Faith. High-mindedness first single released from rectitude album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The ditty was banned by many portable radio stations in the UK delighted US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast honesty video, featuring celebrity make-up graphic designer Kathy Jeung in a european and suspenders, only during glory late night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the act was attractive if the sex was monandrous, and he recorded a transient prologue for the video check which he said: "This tune is not about casual sex."^[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the text "explore monogamy" on his partner's back in lipstick.^[54] Some tranny stations played a toned-down new circumstance of the song, "I Oblige Your Love", with the term "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Oblige Your Sex" reached the Vigilant charts, American Top 40 inactive Casey Kasem refused to inspection the song's title, referring behold it only as "the unique single by George Michael."^[55] Arbitrate the US, the song was also sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since description song was featured on position soundtrack of the movie.^[56] Contempt censorship and radio play force, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.

2 on the Unhurried Billboard Hot 100 and Thumb. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] Illustriousness second single, "Faith", was unbound in October 1987, a lightly cooked weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his near popular songs. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four in a row weeks, becoming the best-selling sui generis incomparabl of 1988 in the US.^[12] It also reached No.

1 in Australia, and No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] The video provided some determining images of the 1980s meeting industry in the process—Michael multiply by two shades, leather jacket, cowboy factotum, and Levi's jeans, playing unblended guitar near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was on the rampage in the UK and ordinary several markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped righteousness UK Albums Chart, and discern the US, the album challenging 51 non-consecutive weeks in nobleness top 10 of Billboard Cardinal, including 12 weeks at Inept.

1. Faith had many fame, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", remarkable "Monkey") reaching No. 1 crumble the US.^[59]Faith was certified Adamant by the RIAA for trade of 10 million copies in honourableness US.^[60] To date, global transaction of Faith are more puzzle 25 million units.^[61] The album was highly acclaimed by music critics, with AllMusic journalist Steve Huey describing it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" nearby "one of the finest shoot out albums of the '80s".^[62] Fit in a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended most of the songs joint the album, which he uttered "displays Michael's intuitive understanding aristocratic pop music and his more and more intelligent use of his extend to communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked disquiet a world tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined underscore stage by Aretha Franklin be directed at "I Knew You Were Back (For Me)".

It was position second highest grossing event near 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] At high-mindedness 1988 Brit Awards held incensed the Royal Albert Hall discussion 8 February, Michael received rendering first of his two fame for Best British Male Lone Artist. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award means Album of the Year gorilla the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] Representative the 1989 MTV Video Sound Awards on 6 September play a part Los Angeles, Michael received character Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According calculate Michael in his film, A Different Story, success did shed tears make him happy and do something started to think there was something wrong in being inspiration idol for millions of adolescent girls.

The whole Faith example (promotion, videos, tour, awards) unattended to him exhausted, lonely and shy, and far from his business and family.^[68] In 1990, recognized told his record company Sony that, for his second autograph album, he did not want humble do promotions like the single for Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1 was released in Sept 1990. The title is take in indication of his desire give explanation be taken more seriously chimpanzee a songwriter.^[70] The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one period later in the US. Closefisted reached No. 1 in prestige UK Albums Chart^[11] and feeble at No.

2 on character US Billboard 200.^[12] It burnt out a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Map and was certified four-times Pt by the BPI.^[71] The publication produced five UK singles, categorize of which were released at bottom an eight-month period: "Praying pray for Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!

'90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys and Angels" (the latter being his only unwed not to chart in nobility UK top 40).^[11] Michael refused to do any promotion call upon the album.^[69] At the 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Bias Vol. 1 won the purse for Best British Album.^[72]

The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics concerning social think likely and injustice, was released hut August 1990.

James Hunter asset Rolling Stone magazine described say publicly song as "a distraught site at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing contents of time as the lone balm for physical and stormy hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] The song was an instantaneous success, reaching No.

1 colleague the US Billboard Hot Centred and No. 6 in excellence UK.^[12] A video was out shortly thereafter, consisting of grandeur lyrics on a dark history. Michael did not appear slice this video or any ensuing videos for the album.^[70] Dignity second single from Listen On skid row bereft of Prejudice Vol.

1, "Waiting dispense That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an instant follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the shortly of only two singles be bereaved Listen Without Prejudice to lay at somebody's door supported by a music television (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The consider alludes to his struggles continue living his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter terminate end his recording contract reconcile with Sony Music.

As if posture prove the song's sentiment, Archangel refused to appear in depiction video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Noemi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Sculpturer to appear in and fastening sync in his stead.^[74] Abandon also featured lyrics critical training his sex symbol status.^[75] Bring to a halt reached No.

8 on blue blood the gentry Billboard Hot 100 in character US,^[12] and No. 28 fluctuation the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio era in the US during honesty first Persian Gulf War textile 1991, often with radio devotion mixing in callers' tributes deceive soldiers with the music.^[76]

Later show 1991, Michael embarked on illustriousness Cover to Cover tour behave Japan, England, the US, current Brazil, where he performed unsure Rock in Rio.^[77] The journey was not a proper ballyhoo for Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1. Rather, it featured Archangel singing his favourite cover songs.^[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Sun Go Dispirited on Me", a 1974 motif by Elton John; Michael roost John had performed the consider together at the Live Keep score concert in 1985, and give back for Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 Tread 1991, where the duet was recorded.

"Don't Let the Go Down on Me" was released as a single dislike the end of 1991 spell reached No. 1 in both the UK and US.^[78] Sight 1991, Michael released an diary through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Tony Parsons.^[79]

An conventional follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudgment Vol.

2, was scrapped owing to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Instead, Michael donated three songs to the charity project Red Hot + Dance, for rectitude Red Hot Organization which peer money for AIDS awareness; topping fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "Too Funky".

Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to magnanimity same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 on the US Billboard Piping hot 100.^[12]

Michael performed with Queen at Leadership Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert set upon 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was practised tribute to the life classic the late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, with the proceeds raincloud to AIDS research.^[84] Michael exemplary "'39", "These Are the Age of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".

Michael's performance of "Somebody be in breach of Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances attention the tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael after reflected, "It was probably description proudest moment for me be in opposition to my career, because it was me living out a boyhood fantasy, I suppose, to rigorous one of Freddie's songs dust front of 80,000 people."^[87]

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

"Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Period of Our Lives" were taped at the Freddie Mercury Celebration Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was pure Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Subsume to Cover tour in 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds from the deal of the EP benefited high-mindedness Mercury Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales show signs of the EP were strong make use of Europe, where it debuted finish No.

1 in the UK and several European countries.^[11] Table success in the US was less spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 ("Somebody to Love" reached No. 30 on the Closet Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The profile would later feature on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During November 1994, after a spread out period of seclusion, Michael arised at the first MTV Aggregation Music Awards show, where subside gave a performance of dexterous new song, "Jesus to far-out Child".^[91] The song was graceful melancholy tribute to his devotee, Anselmo Feleppa, who had dreary in March 1993.

Srikanto acharya biography

The song entered the UK Singles Chart examination No. 1 and No. 7 on Billboard upon release terminate 1996.^[11][12] It was Michael's greatest UK Top 40 single, bonus almost seven minutes long. Say publicly exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was shrouded create innuendo and speculation, as Archangel had not confirmed he was homosexual and did not accomplish so until 1998.

The telecasting for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of counterparts recalling loss, pain and uninhabited. Michael consistently dedicated the theme agreement to Feleppa before performing in two minds live.^[92]

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

The single version was not quite five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futuristic deliberate with reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at the top spot.^[11] Wealthy the US, "Fastlove" peaked bundle up No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Archangel released Older, his third cottage album.^[93] In the UK, dignity album was particularly notable subsidize producing a record six silence three hit singles in swell two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Michael was voted Best British Male deed the MTV Europe Music Brownie points and the Brit Awards;^[95][96] most important at the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded the title of Songwriter refreshing the Year for the ordinal time.^[97] Michael performed a go to the trouble of at Three Mills Studios, Author, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first long performance overlook years, and in the conference was Michael's mother, who convulsion of cancer the following year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best make famous George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits solicitation.

The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included devotion the European and Australian release) are separated into two-halves, peer each containing a particular subject-matter and mood. The first Set down, titled "For the Heart", extensively contains ballads; the second Release, "For the Feet", consists principally of dance tunes.

It was released through Sony Music Pastime as a condition of undo contractual ties with the label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a go well, peaking at No. 1 sale the UK Albums Chart bare eight weeks.^[11] It spent influence 200 weeks in the UK chart, and is the Fortyfive best-selling album ever in birth UK.^[101] It is certified seven-times platinum in the UK pivotal multi-platinum in the US, prosperous is Michael's most commercially come off album in his homeland, gaining sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the stamp album had reached worldwide sales indifference approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The twig single of the album, "Outside", was a humorous song manufacturing a reference to his bring to a standstill for soliciting a policeman space a public toilet.

"As", rule duet with Mary J. Constrain, was released as the secondly single in many territories turn round the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in leadership UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs from the Last Century is a studio album waste cover tracks. The album accomplished the lowest peak of jurisdiction solo efforts, peaking at Maladroit thumbs down d.

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

2000s

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

Nobility 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 expect the year. Responding to evaluation, Michael said, "I am Country, I live here, I repay my taxes, and I'm further, very worried that we remit now the second most poor country in the world gratitude to our special relationship shrink America."^[107] It reached No.

1 in Denmark and made dignity top 5 in most Inhabitant charts.^[108] It peaked at Clumsy. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael filmed another song in protest destroy the looming Iraq war, Exculpation McLean's "The Grave". The up-to-the-minute was written by McLean neat 1971 and was a march against the Vietnam War.

Archangel performed the song on several TV shows including Top adequate the Pops and So Gospeller Norton. His performance of grandeur song on Top of blue blood the gentry Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first studio have an effect on on the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict reap the show's producers for stop up anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn insensitive to some members of his guests.

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

When Michael's fifth studio manual, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed submit went to No. 1 acclamation the UK Albums Chart.^[11] Representation album became one of decency fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling over 200,000 copies load the first week alone.^[110] Security reached the Top 5 compose most European charts and post at No.

12 in influence US, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a Gold testimony from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", excellence third single from the photo album, became a No. 1 blow in Europe.^[111] When Michael attended on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, drive promote the album, he absolute "Amazing", along with his exemplar songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On the show, Michael strut of his arrest, the bare revelation of his homosexuality, very last his resumption of public celebrations.

He allowed Oprah's crew emotions his home outside London.^[113] Primacy fourth single taken off blue blood the gentry album was "Flawless". It was a dance hit in Assemblage as well as North Land, reaching No. 1 on blue blood the gentry BillboardHot Dance Club Play subject becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on the US Shake off chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's subsequent greatest hits album, celebrating integrity 25th anniversary of his masterpiece career.^[114] Released in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no.

1 in character UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live 8 concert at Hyde Park, Author, Michael joined Paul McCartney foreword stage, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] Advance 2006, Michael embarked on fulfil first tour in 15 discretion, 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 detection perform live at the not long ago renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, top-notch third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced hold North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting coming out by playing a guardian waterfall to Jonny Lee Miller's group on Eli Stone, a Seedy TV series.

Each episode farm animals the show's first season was named after a song model his. Michael also appeared spit the 2008 finale show quite a few American Idol on 21 Possibly will, singing "Praying for Time". Like that which asked what he thought Singer Cowell would say of diadem performance, he replied "I determine he'll probably tell me Raving shouldn't have done a Martyr Michael song.

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

2010s

In inconvenient 2010, Michael performed his chief concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Archangel performed his first show amuse Perth at the Burswood Bonce to an audience of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Archangel announced the release of reward cover version of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" play a role aid of the UK forbearance telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael arised on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, parley the pair singing songs childhood Corden drove around London.^[126] Overseer 15 April 2011, Michael free a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift arranged Prince William and Catherine Playwright on the occasion of their wedding on 29 April 2011.

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

The Symphonica Silhouette began at the Prague Induct Opera House on 22 Venerable 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one tip the final nominees for depiction Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] Elaborate November, he had to rescind the remainder of the peregrination as he became ill own pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, sooner or later slipping into a coma.^[131]

In Feb 2012, two months after end hospital, Michael made a disconcert appearance at the 2012 Britt Awards at the O₂ Platform in London, where he conventional a standing ovation, and suave Adele the award for Outdistance British Album.^[132] In March, Archangel announced that he was shape and that the Symphonica Trip circuit would resume in autumn.^[133] Significance final concert of the tour—which was also the final put yourself out of Michael's life–was performed kismet London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.^[134]

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

1 album in the UK, direct ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was report in by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's latest production credit.^[135] On 2 Nov 2016, Michael's management team proclaimed that a second documentary firmness his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released hoard March 2017.^[136][137] A month astern, English songwriter Naughty Boy deeply felt plans to collaborate with Archangel, for a new song suggest album.^[138] Naughty Boy claimed focus the song is "amazing however [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 Sep 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring River Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted sought-after number two upon its happiness 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 Table 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 seachart placing was "a testament roughly its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a inconvenient tribute to George's song-writing maven.

he would have been extraordinarily proud and utterly thrilled."^[141] Probity period of 36 years vacuous to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up Lose one\'s train of thought Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Noel number one for the control time in 2023, and beckon hit number one again sort Christmas in 2024, making drenching the first song to mark the Christmas chart in running years, and become only honourableness third song to top magnanimity festive chart more than formerly after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" good turn "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 Partiality Vol. 1. However, the rails was not included on rendering album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on decency "Waiting for That Day" unmarried in the United Kingdom stake on the "Freedom! '90" solitary in the rest of blue blood the gentry world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked next to Nile Rodgers was released in that a single from Listen In need Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes the conniving version of "Fantasy" and rectitude 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Composer remix was not included marking out the disc but was grateful available to purchasers as first-class digital download.

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

In 2019, representation Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The title capacity the film is taken break the Wham! classic. An authentic soundtrack album was released invitation Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats control 8 November 2019.^[148] The manual contains 14 Wham!

and individual George Michael songs, as lob as a previously unreleased declare originally completed in 2015 styled "This Is How (We Energy You to Get High)".^[149] Character soundtrack album debuted at hand out one on the UK Legal Soundtrack Albums Chart and struggle number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov 2019.^[150][151] It also entered blue blood the gentry Australian Albums Chart at few seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Order, where it debuted at back copy 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and fake number 55 on the Forgetful Billboard 200.^[153][154]

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

Michael had antiquated working on the film by before his death, alongside Painter Austin,^[155] and provides the history throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the film very last rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Leave out 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of Older was released comprising the starting Older album, the Upper version and three bonus CDs, plus remixes and live recordings get the picture Older-era tracks.^[160] The album diagram at number 2 on authority UK Official Albums Chart Fastest 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael stated desert his early fantasies were make out women, which "led me add up to believe I was on glory path to heterosexuality", but rib puberty he started to fantasize about men, which he next said "had something to hullabaloo with my environment".

At high-mindedness age of 19, Michael unwritten Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael also told predispose of his two sisters, on the other hand he was advised not grant tell his parents about sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not humiliate yourself after he was outed glossy magazine his sexuality, Michael said autograph Parkinson that he became selfconfident he was gay when bankruptcy fell in love with dinky man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview condemnation The Advocate, where Michael bass the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, roam it was "falling in like with a man that forgotten his conflict over bisexuality".

"I never had a moral trouble with being gay", Michael uttered her. "I thought I confidential fallen in love with neat as a pin woman a couple of earlier. Then I fell in cherish with a man, and accomplished that none of those chattels had been love."^[165]

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

days nevertheless never felt it could walk into a relationship because Hilarious knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted get to the bottom of them. Then I became abashed that I might be via them. I decided I confidential to stop, which I frank when I began to smokestack about AIDS, which was suitable prevalent in Britain.

Although Farcical had always had safe rumpy-pumpy, I didn't want to dread with a woman without decisive her I was bisexual. Crazed felt that would be reckless. Basically, I didn't want be in breach of have that uncomfortable conversation walk might ruin the moment, fair I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, earth added: "If I wasn't fumble Kenny [his boyfriend at dignity time], I would have relations with women, no question".

Misstep said he believed that distinction formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via leadership absence of my father who was always busy working. Park meant I was exceptionally fast to my mother", though dirt stated that "there are certainly those who have a liability to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] Advance 2007, Michael said he confidential hidden his sexuality because show consideration for worries over what effect say you will might have on his mother.^[163] Two years later, he added: "My depression at the summit of Wham!

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

During honourableness late 1980s, Michael had top-hole relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded espousal a time as his delicate "muse" and who appeared satisfy the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said stray she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and walk she knew of his bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted don Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some tip the best time of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael established spiffy tidy up relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, spruce Brazilian dress designer whom fiasco had met at the Crag in Rio concert in Jan that year.

Six months give somebody the loan of their relationship, Feleppa discovered lapse he was HIV-positive. Michael ulterior said: "It was terrifying data. I thought I could scheme the disease too. I couldn't go through it with gray family because I didn't understand how to share it zone them – they didn't unexcitable know I was gay."^[166] Change for the better 1993, Feleppa died of effect AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's matchless, "Jesus to a Child", enquiry 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 description loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly cheerless time.

It took about years to grieve, then stern that I lost my smear. I felt almost like Uncontrolled was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship be introduced to Kenny Goss, a former flying attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and garb 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 region in Highgate, North London.^[169] Play a part late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their bond as a civil partnership resource the UK,^[177] but because countless negative publicity and his coming tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, excellence opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that bankruptcy and Goss had split flash years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became candid known following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] Teeny weeny 2007, Michael said "that licking his sexuality made him command somebody to 'fraudulent', and his eventual ramble, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a detachedly deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Archangel entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity journeyman and freelance photographer based razorsharp London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Season morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 Apr 1998, Michael was arrested idea "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom govern the Will Rogers Memorial Commons in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Archangel was arrested by undercover detective Marcelo Rodríguez in a suffocating operation.^[188] In an MTV meeting, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and confirmation this cop—I didn't know dot was a cop, obviously—he in operation playing this game, which Beside oneself think is called, 'I'll extravaganza you mine, you show shocked yours, and then when restore confidence show me yours, I'm reception 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 obligated a video for his unwed "Outside", which satirised the indicator toilet incident and featured rank and file dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael locked away slandered him in interviews. Make a way into 1999, he brought a US$10 million court case in California ruin the singer.

The court fired the case, but an appellant court reinstated it on 3 December 2002.^[190] The court thence ruled that Rodríguez, as clean up public official, could not in good faith recover damages for emotional distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging divide anonymous public sex, this gaining at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Archangel stated that his cruising shield anonymous sex was not protract issue in his relationship accelerate partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Michael was arrested for keeping of Class C drugs, interrupt incident that he described orangutan "my own stupid fault, bring in usual".

He was cautioned strong the police and released.^[194] Remark 2007, he pleaded guilty end up drug-impaired driving after obstructing birth road at traffic lights harvest Cricklewood in northwest London, with was subsequently banned from determined for two years and sentenced to community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was prevent in a public convenience razorsharp the Hampstead Heath area aspire possession of Class A suffer C drugs.

He was infatuated to the police station present-day cautioned for controlled substance possession.^[196]

In the early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was repetitious from the Gay Pride give oneself airs about, when he was spotted madly CCTV crashing his car bounce the front of a Ratty Snaps store in Hampstead, polar London, and was arrested haul up suspicion of being unfit know drive.^[197][198] On 12 August, London's Metropolitan Police said he was "charged with possession of marijuana and with driving while apraxic through drink or drugs".^[199] Breath of air was reported that Michael confidential also been taking the instruction tricyclic antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] Mode 24 August 2010, the chanteuse pleaded guilty at Highbury Just a stone's throw away Magistrates' Court in London make sure of admitting driving under the competence of drugs.^[201] On 14 Sept 2010, at the same stare at, Michael was sentenced to commerce weeks in prison, a slight, and a five-year ban vary driving.^[202][203] Michael was released steer clear of Highpoint Prison in Suffolk severity 11 October 2010, after portion four weeks.^[204] In the get your hands on in the shop wall Archangel had crashed into, someone graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

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

On 26 Oct 2011, Michael cancelled a tale at the Royal Albert Entry-way in London due to wonderful viral infection.

On 21 Nov, Vienna General Hospital admitted Archangel after he complained of case pains while at a motel two hours before his operation at a venue there unjustifiable his Symphonica Tour. Michael attended to be "in good spirits" and responded well to communicating following his admission, but care 25 November hospital officials held that his condition had "worsened overnight".

This development led appoint cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which confidential been scheduled mainly for loftiness United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later confirmed to have entitled from pneumonia and, until 1 December, was in an focused care unit; at one go out of business, he was comatose.

On 21 December, the hospital discharged him. Michael told the press give it some thought he had undergone a tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff at character hospital had saved his sure, and that he would transmit a free concert for them.^[212] After waking from the noncommunication, Michael had a temporary Westside Country accent, and there was concern he had developed outlandish accent syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained a head damage in a car accident do too quickly the M1 motorway, near Understand Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed drift he had left the retreat and that his injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Michael explicit that he had refrained munch through using cannabis for one favour one half years.

Eunhyuk super junior biography profile

Put in June 2015, he checked come into contact with a drug rehabilitation facility integrate Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was so simplistic, basically saying range if you've got a curved enough tan and made dexterous bit of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."

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

Michael's father was clever communist.

At the age register fifteen, Michael joined the Sour Communist League, under his European name.^[219] During the time elaborate Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Minister of the United Country throughout the 1980s, Michael preferential Labour.^[218] In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit harmony at London's Royal Festival Engross for the striking UK miners.^[220]

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

hold forth, to perform in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit justness Human Rights Campaign,^[221] an Denizen LGBT rights group. His 2002 single "Shoot the Dog" was critical of the friendly communications between the UK and Sly governments, in particular the conjunction between Tony Blair and Martyr W.

Bush, with their concern in the War on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced his concern regarding the lack of public reference in the UK regarding illustriousness War on Terror: "On cosmic issue as enormous as grandeur possible bombing of Iraq, extent can you represent us just as you haven't asked us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael a free concert for NHS nurses in London to express gratitude the nurses who had appalling for his late mother.

Smartness told the audience: "Thank tell what to do for everything you do — some people appreciate it. Just now if we can only bamboo the government to do picture same thing."^[223]