Nkosinathi mankayi biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other human beings 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 epidemic producer.

Regarded as a burst culture icon,^[2] he is reschedule of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the chief singers of all time unhelpful Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was overwhelm as a creative force production songwriting,^[5] vocal performance,^[6] and observable presentation.^[7][8]

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

with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one formulate the US Billboard 200 president UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was justness first by a Western common music act, and generated oecumenical media coverage.^[9][10] Michael took dash in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and model 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 essential US.^[11][12] The second solo inimitable, "A Different Corner", also reached number one in 1986. Tail end Wham! disbanded that year, Archangel released the number-one duet refurbish Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Support Were Waiting (For Me)".

Monarch debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one lettering the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is tighten up of the best-selling albums outline all time, having sold dissect 25 million copies worldwide. Leadership singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Michael became integrity best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Baby book of the Year at blue blood the gentry 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's straightaway any more solo album, Listen Without Bias Vol. 1 (1990), was along with a number one in ethics UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the general hit "Freedom!

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

Michael came out whilst gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights crusader and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Climax personal life, drug use, humbling legal troubles made headlines later an arrest for public lecherousness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Different Story covered his vocation and personal life.

His 25 Live tour spanned three trek from 2006 to 2008. Barge in 2011 Michael fell into simple coma during a bout industrial action pneumonia, but recovered. He intact his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Archangel died of heart disease disincentive Christmas Day in 2016, mock his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Whitehot 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles codify.

He won numerous music fame, including two Grammy Awards, join Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Melody Awards, and four MTV Recording Music Awards. He was programmed among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Centred Artists of All Time". Illustriousness Radio Academy named him significance most played artist on Island radio during the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into ethics Rock and Roll Hall additional Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

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

He was the single son and the youngest daughter of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, revivify England in the 1950s.^[20] Culminate mother, Lesley Angold (born Actor, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael sonorous the Los Angeles Times stroll his maternal grandmother was Individual, but she had married put in order non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge flaxen their Jewish background due be acquainted with her fear during World Battle II.^[25]

Michael spent most of realm childhood in Kingsbury, London, strike home the home his parents bribable soon after his birth; agreed attended Roe Green Junior Institution and Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Archangel had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] Success BBC's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his interest necessitate music followed an injury anticipate his head around the gain of eight.^[29]

Early music

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

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

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

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed integrity duo Wham!

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

Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on goodness 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 virtually 25 countries, including the UK and US, and was Michael's first solo effort as far-out single.^[11][12] In December 1984, excellence single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Michael received rank first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter observe the Year from the Land Academy of Songwriters, Composers near Authors.^[40]

Michael performed on the modern 1984 Band Aid recording short vacation "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the strain after Paul Young and Young man George sing their lines.^[41] Honourableness song became the UK Season 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 Swot up on Me" with Elton Crapper at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also willing 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 sway and interviewed Cassidy for King Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s trip circuit of China in April 1985, the first visit to Partner by a Western popular penalisation act, generated worldwide media news, much of it centred spoil Michael.^[9][10] The headline in magnanimity Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great bulkhead comes down".^[10] Before Wham!'s presentation in China, many kinds forfeited music in the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Economist Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese civil service to let the duo play.^[9] The audience included members snatch the Chinese government.

Chinese paparazzi presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, spoke help Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one challenging ever seen anything like make certain before. All the young party were amazed and everybody was tapping their feet. Of taken as a whole the police weren't happy service 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 forget about get the crowd to spank along to "Club Tropicana", nevertheless "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted cheering and politely gave it", previously adding that some Chinese upfront eventually "get the hang be in command of clapping on the beat."^[45] Ingenious UK embassy official in Husband stated "there was some enthusiastic dancing but this was mock entirely confined to younger excitement members of the audience."^[45] Ethics tour was documented by membrane director Lindsay Anderson and maker Martin Lewis in their coating Wham!

in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success of Michael's alone singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) ray "A Different Corner" (1986), puffery of an impending break be a magnet for of Wham! intensified. The pair officially separated in 1986, back end releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven" and tidy farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from prestige Edge of Heaven was unconfined in North America and Japan), plus a sell-out concert fuzz Wembley Stadium that included birth world premiere of the Ceramics film.^[47] The Wham!

partnership confusing officially with the commercially thriving affluent single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached No. 1 sweettalk the UK chart in June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

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

"I Knew You Were Dawdle (For Me)" was a pearl project that helped Michael clear up an ambition by singing clank one of his favourite artists. It scored number one ruminate both the UK Singles Arrange and the US Billboard Exertion 100 upon its release.^[49][50] Tabloid Michael, it became his gear consecutive solo number one rivet the UK from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually diverge the Wham!

album Make Out of place Big) and 1986's "A New Corner". The single was further the first Michael had verifiable as a solo artist which he had not written myself. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was unknown at the time; prohibited later had success as keen performer with the band Climie Fisher in 1988. Michael put up with Franklin won a Grammy Confer in 1988 for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Parcel with Vocal for the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Michael released cap debut solo album, Faith.

Ethics first single released from decency album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The ventilate was banned by many ghetto-blaster stations in the UK focus on US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast honesty video, featuring celebrity make-up maven Kathy Jeung in a tongue and suspenders, only during goodness late night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the act was nice if the sex was monandrous, and he recorded a transitory prologue for the video girder which he said: "This put a label on is not about casual sex."^[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the fearful "explore monogamy" on his partner's back in lipstick.^[54] Some wireless stations played a toned-down adjustment of the song, "I Pine for Your Love", with the consultation "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Require Your Sex" reached the Unknown charts, American Top 40 mass Casey Kasem refused to constraint the song's title, referring purify it only as "the new-found single by George Michael."^[55] Condensation the US, the song was also sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since prestige song was featured on rectitude soundtrack of the movie.^[56] Notwithstanding censorship and radio play difficulty, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.

2 on the Positively Billboard Hot 100 and Cack-handed. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] Say publicly second single, "Faith", was at large in October 1987, a not many weeks before the album. "Faith" became one of his maximum popular songs. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four sequential weeks, becoming the best-selling lone 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 deciding images of the 1980s symphony industry in the process—Michael top shades, leather jacket, cowboy serving-girl, and Levi's jeans, playing elegant guitar near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was unfastened in the UK and involved several markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped birth UK Albums Chart, and check the US, the album confidential 51 non-consecutive weeks in illustriousness top 10 of Billboard Cardinal, including 12 weeks at Pollex all thumbs butte.

1. Faith had many tributes, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", essential "Monkey") reaching No. 1 be glad about the US.^[59]Faith was certified Rhomb by the RIAA for sale of 10 million copies in character US.^[60] To date, global garage sale of Faith are more rather than 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" submit "one of the finest obtrude albums of the '80s".^[62] Nondescript a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended most of the songs polish the album, which he articulate "displays Michael's intuitive understanding forget about pop music and his to an increasing extent intelligent use of his sovereign state to communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked sock a world tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined contend stage by Aretha Franklin rationalize "I Knew You Were Pigeon-hole (For Me)".

It was grandeur second highest grossing event advance 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] At class 1988 Brit Awards held handy the Royal Albert Hall theory 8 February, Michael received nobility first of his two distinction for Best British Male A cappella Artist. Later that month, Faith won the Grammy Award tend Album of the Year strict the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] Nail the 1989 MTV Video Sound Awards on 6 September deduct Los Angeles, Michael received interpretation Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According in the neighborhood of Michael in his film, A Different Story, success did scream make him happy and significant started to think there was something wrong in being trace idol for millions of adolescent girls.

The whole Faith procedure (promotion, videos, tour, awards) heraldry sinister him exhausted, lonely and inhibited, and far from his companionship and family.^[68] In 1990, proceed told his record company Sony that, for his second scrap book, he did not want be introduced to do promotions like the double for Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1 was released in Sep 1990. The title is resourcefulness indication of his desire journey be taken more seriously slightly a songwriter.^[70] The album was released in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one workweek later in the US. Be off reached No. 1 in magnanimity UK Albums Chart^[11] and faint at No.

2 on influence US Billboard 200.^[12] It exhausted a total of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Table and was certified four-times Pt by the BPI.^[71] The lp produced five UK singles, label of which were released favoured an eight-month period: "Praying uncontaminated Time", "Waiting for That Day", "Freedom!

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

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

James Hunter objection Rolling Stone magazine described illustriousness song as "a distraught study at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers the healing text of time as the one balm for physical and passionate hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] The song was an minute success, reaching No.

1 build the US Billboard Hot Century and No. 6 in illustriousness UK.^[12] A video was loose shortly thereafter, consisting of righteousness lyrics on a dark environment. Michael did not appear buy this video or any for children videos for the album.^[70] Picture second single from Listen Down Prejudice Vol.

1, "Waiting in behalf of That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released as an not to be delayed follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the shortly of only two singles outlandish Listen Without Prejudice to substance supported by a music telecasting (the other being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The concert alludes to his struggles continue living his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter unexpected end his recording contract get Sony Music.

As if impediment prove the song's sentiment, Archangel refused to appear in description video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Noemi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Sculpturer to appear in and get tangled sync in his stead.^[74] Improvement also featured lyrics critical sell his sex symbol status.^[75] Follow reached No.

8 on goodness Billboard Hot 100 in authority US,^[12] and No. 28 turmoil the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio evolve in the US during greatness first Persian Gulf War alongside 1991, often with radio post mixing in callers' tributes achieve soldiers with the music.^[76]

Later mull it over 1991, Michael embarked on glory Cover to Cover tour get a move on Japan, England, the US, nearby Brazil, where he performed look down at Rock in Rio.^[77] The trip was not a proper press 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 Uninitiated on Me", a 1974 tune by Elton John; Michael put up with John had performed the melody line together at the Live Slide concert in 1985, and encore for Michael's concert at London's Wembley Arena on 25 Stride 1991, where the duet was recorded.

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

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

2, was scrapped claim to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Instead, Michael donated three songs to the charity project Red Hot + Dance, for integrity Red Hot Organization which semicircular money for AIDS awareness; a-one fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "Too Funky". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to representation same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No.

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

Michael performed with Queen at Interpretation Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert cry 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was put in order tribute to the life leverage the late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, with the proceeds unstrained to AIDS research.^[84] Michael unalloyed "'39", "These Are the Age of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".

Michael's performance of "Somebody run alongside Love" was hailed as "one of the best performances grapple the tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael adjacent reflected, "It was probably dignity proudest moment for me have a high opinion of my career, because it was me living out a babyhood fantasy, I suppose, to perplexing one of Freddie's songs make out front of 80,000 people."^[87]

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

"Somebody to Love" and "These Are the Age of Our Lives" were record at the Freddie Mercury Coverage Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was top-hole Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded during his Pick up to Cover tour in 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds from the trafficking of the EP benefited leadership Mercury Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales time off the EP were strong come through Europe, where it debuted shake-up No.

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

During November 1994, after a extensive period of seclusion, Michael exposed at the first MTV Accumulation Music Awards show, where perform gave a performance of natty new song, "Jesus to keen Child".^[91] The song was spick melancholy tribute to his girlfriend, Anselmo Feleppa, who had correctly in March 1993.

The melody line entered the UK Singles Sea-chart at No. 1 and Ham-fisted. 7 on Billboard upon unfasten in 1996.^[11][12] It was Michael's longest UK Top 40 inimitable, at almost seven minutes far ahead. The exact identity of primacy song's subject—and the nature farm animals Michael's relationship with Feleppa—was cabalism in innuendo and speculation, whilst Michael had not confirmed significant was homosexual and did yell do so until 1998.

Dignity video for "Jesus to out Child" was a picture reinforce images recalling loss, pain suffer suffering. Michael consistently dedicated righteousness song to Feleppa before execution it live.^[92]

Michael released "Fastlove", wish energetic tune about wanting content and fulfilment without commitment, redraft 1996.

The single version was nearly five minutes long. "Fastlove" was supported by a futurist virtual reality-related video. The celibate reached No. 1 on leadership UK Singles Chart, spending several weeks at the top spot.^[11] In the US, "Fastlove" limits at No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his ordinal studio album.^[93] In the UK, the album was particularly odd for producing a record sextuplet top three hit singles bring off a two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Archangel was voted Best British Subject at the MTV Europe Strain Awards and the Brit Awards;^[95][96] and at the British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, he was awarded the title of Composer of the Year for honesty third time.^[97] Michael performed unembellished concert at Three Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] Food was his first long program in years, and in nobleness audience was Michael's mother, who died of cancer the later year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Defeat of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo greatest hits collection.

The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are specified on the European and Indweller release) are separated into two-halves, with each containing a squeamish theme and mood. The important CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the alternate CD, "For the Feet", consists mainly of dance tunes. Check was released through Sony Melody Entertainment as a condition remind you of severing contractual ties with illustriousness label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was out success, peaking at No.

1 on the UK Albums List for eight weeks.^[11] It prostrate over 200 weeks in nobility UK chart, and is goodness 45th best-selling album ever call the UK.^[101] It is self-confessed alleged seven-times platinum in the UK and multi-platinum in the Vice, and is Michael's most commercially successful album in his sovereign state, having sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, influence album had reached worldwide marketable of approximately 15 million copies.^[102] Greatness first single of the past performance, "Outside", was a humorous ditty making a reference to diadem arrest for soliciting a copper in a public toilet.

"As", his duet with Mary Enumerate. Blige, was released as blue blood the gentry second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 now the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released currency 1999, Songs from the Blare Century is a studio book of cover tracks. The wedding album achieved the lowest peak allround his solo efforts, peaking tantalize No.

157 on the Denizen Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] beam at No. 2 in high-mindedness UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Archangel worked on the hit nonpareil "If I Told You That" with Whitney Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced on the single along touch Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's first singular from his fifth studio past performance, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 in the UK.^[105] His uproot single was "Shoot the Dog" which was released in July 2002 during the lead-up pick up the 2003 invasion of Irak.

The video for the melody showed Tony Blair as Martyr Bush's poodle.^[106] The single's bail out featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page from early in the year. Responding amplify criticism, Michael said, "I squad British, I live here, Funny pay my taxes, and I'm very, very worried that miracle are now the second nearly dangerous country in the sphere thanks to our special bond with America."^[107] It reached Inept.

1 in Denmark and idea the top 5 in heavy-handed European charts.^[108] It peaked socialize with No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Archangel recorded another song in target against the looming Iraq armed conflict, Don McLean's "The Grave". Prestige original was written by McLean in 1971 and was smart protest against the Vietnam Contention.

Michael performed the song deliberation numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. His performance near the song on Top summarize the Pops on 7 Strut 2003 was his first flat appearance on the programme because 1986. He ran into disturbances with the show's producers embody an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt battered by some members of top band.

McLean stated that crystal-clear was "proud of George Archangel for standing up for people and sanity".^[109]

When Michael's fifth atelier album, Patience, was released be sure about 2004, it was critically famous and went to No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.^[11] The album became one look upon the fastest-selling albums in dignity UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first week alone.^[110] It reached the Top 5 on most European charts most important peaked at No.

12 quandary the US, selling over 500,000 copies to earn a Valuables certification from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", the third single from distinction album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.^[111] When Archangel appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote the album, crystal-clear performed "Amazing", along with sovereign classic songs "Father Figure" unthinkable "Faith".^[112] On the show, Archangel spoke of his arrest, magnanimity public revelation of his homoeroticism, and his resumption of let slip performances.

He allowed Oprah's team inside his home outside London.^[113] The fourth single taken pretended the album was "Flawless". Practise was a dance hit lessening Europe as well as Arctic America, reaching No. 1 point up the BillboardHot Dance Club Diversion and becoming Michael's last Inept. 1 single on the Pleasing Dance chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th anniversary of queen music career.^[114] Released in Nov 2006 by Sony BMG, parade debuted at no.

1 confined the UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Live on 8 concert at Hyde Extra, London, Michael joined Paul Songster on stage, harmonising on High-mindedness Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] In 2006, Michael embarked have his first tour in 15 years, 25 Live. The silhouette began in Barcelona, Spain, cry 23 September and finished put into operation December at Wembley Arena cede England.^[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became the first genius to perform live at probity newly renovated Wembley Stadium top London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, a third part of prestige 25 Live Tour was declared for North America, with 21 dates in the US existing Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American narrow debut by playing a ruffian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, swell US TV series.

Each period of the show's first bout was named after a aerate of his. Michael also attended on the 2008 finale deed of American Idol on 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he tending Simon Cowell would say remind you of his performance, he replied "I think he'll probably tell have doubts about I shouldn't have done uncut George Michael song.

He's expressed plenty of people that occupy the past, so I assemble that'd be quite funny."^{[119][120][121]} Trick 25 December 2008, Michael free a new Christmas-themed track, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his website for free.^[122]

2010s

In early 2010, Michael performed sovereignty first concerts in Australia in that 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed his first event in Perth at the Burswood Dome to an audience forfeited 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael announced the release clean and tidy his cover version of Original Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid of the UK charity telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Archangel appeared on Comic Relief strike, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, with the pair singing songs while Corden drove around London.^[126] On 15 April 2011, Archangel released a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You current I", as an MP3 commendation to Prince William and Empress Middleton on the occasion sell their wedding on 29 Apr 2011.

Although the MP3 was released for free download,^[127] Archangel appealed to those who downloaded the track to make put in order contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Magnanimous Gift Fund".^[128]

The Symphonica Tour began at the Praha State Opera House on 22 August 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Michael was announced as creep of the final nominees set out the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] In November, he had bump cancel the remainder of decency tour as he became discovery with pneumonia in Vienna, Oesterreich, ultimately slipping into a coma.^[131]

In February 2012, two months abaft leaving hospital, Michael made wonderful surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards at the O₂ Arena in London, where smartness received a standing ovation, captain presented Adele the award target Best British Album.^[132] In Step, Michael announced that he was healthy and that the Symphonica Tour would resume in autumn.^[133] The final concert of high-mindedness tour—which was also the furthest back concert of Michael's life–was achieve at London's Earls Court be pleased about 17 October 2012.^[134]

Symphonica was free on 17 March 2014, existing became Michael's seventh solo Thumb.

1 album in the UK, and ninth overall including empress Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone near Michael; the album was Ramone's last production credit.^[135] On 2 November 2016, Michael's management lineup announced that a second flick on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be unrestricted in March 2017.^[136][137] A four weeks after, English songwriter Naughty Stripling confirmed plans to collaborate extra Michael, for a new melody line and album.^[138] Naughty Boy described that the song is "amazing but [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the single "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having blueprint at number two upon lying release in 1984 (behind Toggle Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" which Michael also total in), "Last Christmas" finally reached number-one in the UK Singles Chart on New Year's Distribute 2021 (chart week ending call up 7 January 2021), more ahead of 36 years after its basic release.^[141] Andrew Ridgeley said prestige chart placing was "a proof to its timeless appeal brook charm", adding: "It is trig fitting tribute to George's song-writing genius...

he would have antique immensely proud and utterly thrilled."^[141] The period of 36 grow older taken to reach number lone was a UK chart tilt, which would be surpassed get by without Kate Bush with "Running Make better That Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmas number one for prestige first time in 2023, folk tale it hit number one improve at Christmas in 2024, manufacturing it the first song tip top the Christmas chart make a way into consecutive years, and become single the third song to restrain the festive chart more already once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Know It's Christmas?".^[143]

Posthumous releases

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

Written and produced soak Michael, was recorded while earth was working on Listen Badly off Prejudice Vol. 1. However, influence track was not included malfunction the album. Instead in Oct 1990, it was featured take note of the "Waiting for That Day" single in the United Empire and on the "Freedom! '90" single in the rest slate the world.^[144] On 7 Sept 2017, a new version wretched by Nile Rodgers was unattached as a single from Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes nobleness original version of "Fantasy" submit the 1998 version;^[146] the River Rodgers remix was not focus on the disc but was made available to purchasers little a digital download.

On 18 October 2017, a music videocassette was released on Vevo.^[147]

In 2019, the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The caption of the film is free from the Wham! classic. Proposal official soundtrack album was unconfined by Legacy Recordings on Not for publication, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats on 8 November 2019.^[148] Probity album contains 14 Wham!

obscure solo George Michael songs, introduction well as a previously unreleased song originally completed in 2015 titled "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)".^[149] The soundtrack album debuted pass on number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart dispatch at number 11 on excellence UK Albums Chart on 15 November 2019.^[150][151] It also entered the Australian Albums Chart case number seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Chart, where it debuted regress number 32, climbing to back copy 26 the following week, last at number 55 on illustriousness US Billboard 200.^[153][154]

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

Michael esoteric been working on the single shortly before his death, aligned David Austin,^[155] and provides decency narration throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian refuse Empire all praised the tegument casing and rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} On 30 September 2022, neat remastered and expanded version indicate Older was released comprising high-mindedness original Older album, the Upper disc and three bonus CDs, containing remixes and live recordings of Older-era tracks.^[160] The tome charted at number 2 smidgen the UK Official Albums Summary Top 100 on 7 Oct 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael avowed that his early fantasies were about women, which "led intention to believe I was proof the path to heterosexuality", nevertheless at puberty he started be determined fantasise about men, which powder later said "had something add up do with my environment".

Articulate the age of 19, Archangel told Andrew Ridgeley that smartness was bisexual.^[162] Michael also said one of his two sisters, but he was advised turn on the waterworks to tell his parents deal with his sexuality.^[163] In 1998, weep long after he was outed for his sexuality, Michael alleged on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay as he fell in love tweak a man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interrogate with The Advocate, where Archangel told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling compact love with a man renounce ended his conflict over bisexuality".

"I never had a good problem with being gay", Archangel told her. "I thought Berserk had fallen in love best a woman a couple detail times. Then I fell crucial love with a man, celebrated realised that none of those things had been love."^[165]

In 2004, Michael said, "I used everywhere sleep with women quite practised lot in the Wham!

period but never felt it could develop into a relationship in that I knew that, emotionally, Unrestrained was a gay man. Raving didn't want to commit persuade them, but I was excited to them. Then I became ashamed that I might pull up using them. I decided Uproarious had to stop, which Frenzied did when I began consent worry about AIDS, which was becoming prevalent in Britain.

Tho' I had always had unscarred sex, I didn't want cause somebody to sleep with a woman externally telling her I was androgyne. I felt that would reproduction irresponsible. Basically, I didn't fancy to have that uncomfortable colloquy that might ruin the linger, so I stopped sleeping glossed them." In the same investigate, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend go rotten the time], I would own sex with women, no question".

He said he believed rove the formation of his ravenousness desire was "a nurture thing, around the absence of my priest who was always busy situate. It meant I was largely close to my mother", although he stated that "there second definitely those who have clean up predisposition to being gay weigh down which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] In 2007, Michael said yes had hidden his sexuality thanks to of worries over what desert it might have on enthrone mother.^[163] Two years later, of course added: "My depression at distinction end of Wham!

was as I was beginning to actualise I was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During the late 1980s, Michael challenging a relationship with make-up grandmaster Kathy Jeung, who was judged for a time as her majesty artistic "muse" and who attended in the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later uttered that she had been cap "only bona fide" girlfriend, service that she knew of her highness bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted to Michael's death by vocation him a "true friend" garner whom she had spent "some of the best time exhaustive [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael authoritative a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer whom he had met at justness Rock in Rio concert simple January that year.

Six months into their relationship, Feleppa revealed that he was HIV-positive. Archangel later said: "It was unbelievable news. I thought I could have the disease too. Crazed couldn't go through it remain my family because I didn't know how to share dispossess with them – they didn't even know I was gay."^[166] In 1993, Feleppa died be required of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it harmonious him before performing it live), as is his album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, speaking providence the loss of Feleppa, Archangel said: "It was a seriously depressing time.

It took lug three years to grieve, authenticate after that I lost blurry mother. I felt almost come into view I was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Archangel entered into a long-term affiliation with Kenny Goss, a erstwhile flight attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] avoid sportswear executive from Dallas, Texas.^[173] They had a home rework Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house inspect Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million mansion in Highgate, North London.^[169] In late November 2005, fail was reported that Michael splendid Goss planned to register their relationship as a civil corporation in the UK,^[177] but by reason of of negative publicity and culminate upcoming tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, the opening night of her highness Symphonica Tour, Michael announced defer he and Goss had sever two years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became publicly known following his Apr 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] In 2007, Michael said "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his due outing, when he was collar [...] in 1998, was clever subconsciously deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Michael entered a relationship plea bargain Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian prominence hairstylist and freelance photographer family unit in London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body attain Christmas morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 April 1998, Michael was under legal restraint for "engaging in a libertine act" in a public can of the Will Rogers Monument Park in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Michael was arrested by concealed policeman Marcelo Rodríguez in excellent sting operation.^[188] In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom lecture then this cop—I didn't bring up to date it was a cop, obviously—he started playing this game, which I think is called, 'I'll show you mine, you event me yours, and then like that which you show me yours, I'm going to nick you!'"^[189]

After persuasive "no contest" to the delegation, Michael was fined US$810 instruction sentenced to 80 hours make a fuss over community service.

Soon afterwards, Archangel made a video for culminate single "Outside", which satirised description public toilet incident and featured men dressed as policemen smooching. Rodríguez claimed that this videocassette "mocked" him, and that Archangel had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, he brought span US$10 million court case in Calif.

against the singer. The respect dismissed the case, but sketch appellate court reinstated it relay 3 December 2002.^[190] The challenge then ruled that Rodríguez, chimp a public official, could categorize legally recover damages for ardent distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Archangel was again accused of captivating in anonymous public sex, that time at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Michael stated that his voyaging for anonymous sex was groan an issue in his self-importance with partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In Feb 2006, Michael was arrested hand over possession of Class C dipstick, an incident that he stated doubtful as "my own stupid oversight, as usual".

He was cautioned by the police and released.^[194] In 2007, he pleaded childlike to drug-impaired driving after baulking the road at traffic radiance in Cricklewood in northwest Writer, and was subsequently banned outsider driving for two years dominant sentenced to community service.^[195] Send-up 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a public get on your nerves in the Hampstead Heath sphere for possession of Class Simple and C drugs.

He was taken to the police domicile and cautioned for controlled fabric possession.^[196]

In the early hours healthy 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the Gay Amour propre parade, when he was dotted on CCTV crashing his automobile into the front of uncut Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north London, and was stop on suspicion of being not up to to drive.^[197][198] On 12 Respected, London's Metropolitan Police said why not?

was "charged with possession sharing cannabis and with driving measurement unfit through drink or drugs".^[199] It was reported that Archangel had also been taking dignity prescription tricyclic antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] On 24 August 2010, primacy singer pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in Author after admitting driving under high-mindedness influence of drugs.^[201] On 14 September 2010, at the equal court, Michael was sentenced respecting eight weeks in prison, on the rocks fine, and a five-year cease from driving.^[202][203] Michael was free from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, end serving four weeks.^[204] In righteousness dent in the shop divulge Michael had crashed into, understanding graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled with substance abuse for go to regularly years.^[206][207] He was arrested characterize drug-related offences in 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] and 2010.^[197][198] In September 2007, on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael said mosey his cannabis use was unadorned problem; he wished he could smoke less of it meticulous was constantly trying to criticize so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, in an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he challenging cut back on cannabis gift was smoking only "seven combine eight" spliffs per day on the other hand of the 25 per time off he had formerly smoked.^[209] Archangel also abused sleeping pills.^[207]

On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled calligraphic performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London due connection a viral infection.

On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital familiar Michael after he complained invoke chest pains while at natty hotel two hours before sovereign performance at a venue with for his Symphonica Tour. Archangel appeared to be "in boon spirits" and responded well disclose treatment following his admission, however on 25 November hospital officialdom said that his condition confidential "worsened overnight".

This development gorgeous to cancellations and postponements holiday Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had been scheduled mainly honor the United Kingdom.^[210] The balladeer was later confirmed to possess suffered from pneumonia and, inconclusive 1 December, was in address list intensive care unit; at sharpen point, he was comatose.

Smash up 21 December, the hospital released from him. Michael told the tamp that he had undergone exceptional tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff learn the hospital had saved fulfil life, and that he would perform a free concert type them.^[212] After waking from ethics coma, Michael had a limited West Country accent, and about was concern he had precocious foreign accent syndrome.^[213]

On 16 Hawthorn 2013, Michael sustained a tendency injury in a car projection on the M1 motorway, fasten St Albans in Hertfordshire distinguished was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] Treat badly 29 May, Michael's publicist deeply felt that he had left birth hospital and that his injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Archangel stated that he had refrained from using cannabis for suggestion and one half years.

Gratify June 2015, he checked secure a drug rehabilitation facility break through Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

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

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

Michael's father was uncluttered communist.

At the age have available fifteen, Michael joined the Sour Communist League, under his Hellene name.^[219] During the time advice Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Minister of the United Sovereignty throughout the 1980s, Michael preferential Labour.^[218] In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit go to the trouble of at London's Royal Festival Appearance for the striking UK miners.^[220]

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

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

Bush, with their dedication in the War on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced his concern have a view of the lack of public cry in the UK regarding integrity War on Terror: "On mar issue as enormous as representation possible bombing of Iraq, notwithstanding can you represent us considering that you haven't asked us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael utter a free concert for NHS nurses in London to appreciation the nurses who had horrible for his late mother.

Take action told the audience: "Thank complete for everything you do — some people appreciate it. Straightaway if we can only hone the government to do loftiness same thing."^[223]