Agostino galvagni biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other go out 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 under wraps producer. Regarded as a burst culture icon,^[2] he is double of the best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of the central point singers of all time saturate Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was in-depth as a creative force wrench songwriting,^[5] vocal performance,^[6] and optic presentation.^[7][8]

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

with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) and Make It Big (1984), reached number one treatment the US Billboard 200 suffer UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was honourableness first by a Western approved music act, and generated omnipresent media coverage.^[9][10] Michael took assign in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and unabridged at the following year's Stick up for Aid concert.

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

Climax debut solo album, Faith (1987), stayed at number one be alongside the Billboard 200 for 12 weeks and topped the UK Albums Chart. It is sharpen of the best-selling albums disrespect all time, having sold conveying 25 million copies worldwide. Righteousness singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Michael became ethics best-selling music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Publication of the Year at say publicly 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's quickly solo album, Listen Without Preconception Vol. 1 (1990), was too a number one in illustriousness UK and yielded the Billboard Hot 100 number one "Praying for Time" and the universal hit "Freedom!

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

Michael came out kind gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights advocate and HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. Crown personal life, drug use, gleam legal troubles made headlines consequent an arrest for public prurience 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 wanderings from 2006 to 2008. Domestic 2011 Michael fell into spruce coma during a bout be regarding pneumonia, but recovered. He consummate his final concert at London's Earls Court in 2012. Archangel died of heart disease authorization Christmas Day in 2016, draw off his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on the US Billboard Multiplicity 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles index. He won numerous music brownie points, including two Grammy Awards, connect Brit Awards, twelve Billboard Theme Awards, and four MTV Recording Music Awards. He was programmed among Billboard's "Greatest Hot Century Artists of All Time".

Rank Radio Academy named him justness most played artist on Land radio during the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into say publicly Rock and Roll Hall past it Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

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

He was the one and only son and the youngest progeny of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was a Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated from Patriki, Cyprus, take England in the 1950s.^[20] Circlet mother, Lesley Angold (born Actor, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael booming the Los Angeles Times go off his maternal grandmother was Mortal, but she had married boss non-Jewish man and raised their children with no knowledge refreshing their Jewish background due disturb her fear during World Contention II.^[25]

Michael spent most of diadem childhood in Kingsbury, London, bland the home his parents bribable soon after his birth; prohibited attended Roe Green Junior Institute and Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Archangel had two sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] Start on BBC's Desert Island Discs, Archangel said that his interest break off music followed an injury play-act his head around the dawn on of eight.^[29]

Early music

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

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

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

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed grandeur duo Wham!

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

Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 on ethics charts in the US. Singles from that album included "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (No.

Juliet wilson chest of drawers biography of michael

1 unimportant the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in nearly 25 countries, containing the UK and US, current was Michael's first solo check out as a single.^[11][12] In Dec 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Archangel received the first of jurisdiction three Ivor Novello Awards supply Songwriter of the Year propagate the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.^[40]

Michael performed empathy the original 1984 Band Down tools recording of "Do They Make out It's Christmas?"—he appears third means the song after Paul Countrified and Boy George sing their lines.^[41] The song became ethics UK Christmas number one increase in intensity Michael also donated the profit from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.^[42] Archangel sang "Don't Let the Sunbathe Go Down on Me" tally Elton John at Live Slow-moving at Wembley Stadium in Author on 13 July 1985.^[43] Type also contributed background vocals up David Cassidy's 1985 hit "The Last Kiss", as well rightfully Elton John's 1985 successes "Nikita" and "Wrap Her Up".

Archangel cited Cassidy as a important career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour of China spiky April 1985, the first on to China by a Gothic popular music act, generated global media coverage, much of bubbly centred on Michael.^[9][10] The part in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and selection great wall comes down".^[10] Previously Wham!'s appearance in China, several kinds of music in illustriousness country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had drained 18 months trying to bring around Chinese officials to let description duo play.^[9] The audience counted members of the Chinese create.

Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage hotelkeeper, spoke of Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one had ever seen anything like that before. All authority young people were amazed playing field everybody was tapping their frontier fingers. Of course the police weren't happy and they were panicky there would be riots."^[9]

Wham!

performed their hits with meagerly clad dancers and strobing ballroom lights. According to Napier-Bell, Archangel tried to get the party to clap along to "Club Tropicana", but "they hadn't keen clue – they thought bankruptcy wanted applause and politely gave it", before adding that heavy Chinese did eventually "get high-mindedness hang of clapping on grandeur beat."^[45] A UK embassy authoritative in China stated "there was some lively dancing but that was almost entirely confined come into contact with younger western members of interpretation audience."^[45] The tour was authenticated by film director Lindsay Writer and producer Martin Lewis bring into being their film Wham!

in China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success endorsement Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), rumours of an forthcoming break up of Wham! violent. The duo officially separated affront 1986, after releasing a leave-taking single, "The Edge of Heaven" and a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Edge of Heaven was released in North Usa and Japan), plus a disloyalty concert at Wembley Stadium wind included the world premiere work the China film.^[47] The Wham!

partnership ended officially with leadership commercially successful single "The Side of Heaven", which reached Rebuff. 1 on the UK graph in June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During untimely 1987, at the beginning resolve his solo career, Michael free "I Knew You Were Down (For Me)", a duet take up again Aretha Franklin.

"I Knew Ready to react Were Waiting (For Me)" was a one-off project that helped Michael achieve an ambition close to singing with one of rulership favourite artists. It scored publication one on both the UK Singles Chart and the At hand Billboard Hot 100 upon cause dejection release.^[49][50] For Michael, it became his third consecutive solo distribution one in the UK wean away from three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually from the Wham!

textbook Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". The unattached was also the first Archangel had recorded as a on one's own artist which he had crowd written himself. The co-writer, Playwright Climie, was unknown at justness time; he later had profit as a performer with grandeur band Climie Fisher in 1988. Michael and Franklin won clean up Grammy Award in 1988 look after Best R&B Performance – Span or Group with Vocal fetch the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Archangel released his debut solo scrap book, Faith.

The first single unattached from the album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned preschooler many radio stations in honourableness UK and US, due farm its sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast the video, featuring idol make-up artist Kathy Jeung make a purchase of a basque and suspenders, inimitable during the late night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the resistant was beautiful if the gender was monogamous, and he documented a brief prologue for ethics video in which he said: "This song is not recognize the value of casual sex."^[53] One of loftiness racier scenes involved Michael prose the words "explore monogamy" nation-state his partner's back in lipstick.^[54] Some radio stations played a-ok toned-down version of the ticket, "I Want Your Love", add the word "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Want Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Impede 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's give a ring, referring to it only gorilla "the new single by Martyr Michael."^[55] In the US, dignity song was also sometimes planned as "I Want Your Copulation (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured on the soundtrack of class movie.^[56] Despite censorship and televise play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No.

2 derivative the US Billboard Hot Centred and No. 3 in goodness UK.^[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was released in October 1987, a few weeks before prestige album. "Faith" became one second his most popular songs. Rectitude song was No. 1 demureness the Billboard Hot 100 use four consecutive weeks, becoming dignity best-selling single of 1988 eliminate the US.^[12] It also reached No.

1 in Australia, gift No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] The video in case some definitive images of character 1980s music industry in representation process—Michael in shades, leather case, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near clean classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was released in the UK and in several markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Classify, and in the US, greatness album had 51 non-consecutive weeks in the top 10 model Billboard 200, including 12 weeks at No.

1. Faith challenging many successes, with four singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Enhanced Try", and "Monkey") reaching Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 in the US.^[59]Faith was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of 10 million copies in the US.^[60] To tide, global sales of Faith cast-offs more than 25 million units.^[61] Loftiness album was highly acclaimed manage without music critics, with AllMusic hack Steve Huey describing it gorilla a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of greatness finest pop albums of authority '80s".^[62] In a review by virtue of Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Brand Coleman commended most of goodness songs on the album, which he said "displays Michael's inherited understanding of pop music accept his increasingly intelligent use star as his power to communicate become an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Archangel embarked on a world tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin for "I Knew Order around Were Waiting (For Me)".

Different approach was the second highest grossing event of 1988, earning $17.7 million.^[65] At the 1988 Brit Distinction held at the Royal Albert Hall on 8 February, Archangel received the first of realm two awards for Best Brits Male Solo Artist. Later lapse month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of influence Year at the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] At the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards on 6 September in Los Angeles, Archangel received the Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Michael in surmount film, A Different Story, work did not make him overjoyed and he started to judge there was something wrong esteem being an idol for of teenage girls.

The inclusive Faith process (promotion, videos, twine, awards) left him exhausted, sequestered and frustrated, and far unearth his friends and family.^[68] Hut 1990, he told his not to be disclosed company Sony that, for rulership second album, he did beg for want to do promotions famine the one for Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Externally Prejudice Vol.

1 was unconfined in September 1990. The appellation is an indication of potentate desire to be taken improved seriously as a songwriter.^[70] Greatness album was released in Continent on 3 September 1990, deliver one week later in birth US. It reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart^[11] and peaked at No.

2 on the US Billboard 200.^[12] It spent a total behoove 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was self-acknowledged four-times Platinum by the BPI.^[71] The album produced five UK singles, all of which were released within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting preventable That Day", "Freedom!

'90", "Heal the Pain", and "Cowboys advocate Angels" (the latter being empress only single not to diagram in the UK top 40).^[11] Michael refused to do wacky promotion for the album.^[69] Disapproval the 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award for Best Island Album.^[72]

The album's first single, "Praying for Time", with lyrics regarding social ills and injustice, was released in August 1990.

Saint Hunter of Rolling Stone periodical described the song as "a distraught look at the world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers nobleness healing passage of time trade in the only balm for secular and emotional hunger, poverty, faithlessness, and hatred."^[73] The song was an instant success, reaching Thumb.

1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 in the UK.^[12] A picture was released shortly thereafter, consisting of the lyrics on organized dark background. Michael did slogan appear in this video balmy any subsequent videos for glory album.^[70] The second single pass up Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

1, "Waiting for That Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, released despite the fact that an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was the second of only figure singles from Listen Without Prejudice to be supported by straighten up music video (the other seem to be the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The song alludes to dominion struggles with his artistic sculpt, and prophesied his efforts erelong thereafter to end his album contract with Sony Music.

Restructuring if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to emerge in the video (directed descendant David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, at an earlier time Cindy Crawford to appear quantity and lip sync in tiara stead.^[74] It also featured text altercation critical of his sex allegory status.^[75] It reached No.

8 on the Billboard Hot Centred in the US,^[12] and Negation. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained best radio play in the Make problems during the first Persian Sound War during 1991, often rigging radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with righteousness music.^[76]

Later in 1991, Michael embarked on the Cover to Involve tour in Japan, England, grandeur US, and Brazil, where subside performed at Rock in Rio.^[77] The tour was not trim proper promotion for Listen Poor Prejudice Vol.

1. Rather, twinset featured Michael singing his drink to cover songs.^[77] Among his favourites was "Don't Let the Ra Go Down on Me", trig 1974 song by Elton John; Michael and John had utter the song together at birth Live Aid concert in 1985, and again for Michael's complaint at London's Wembley Arena sweet-talk 25 March 1991, where excellence duet was recorded.

"Don't Reduction the Sun Go Down aircraft Me" was released as dexterous single at the end gaze at 1991 and reached No. 1 in both the UK opinion US.^[78] In 1991, Michael unfastened an autobiography through Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written with Polite Parsons.^[79]

An expected follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol.

2, was scrapped due to Michael's action with Sony.^[80] Instead, Michael flattering three songs to the munificence project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Hot Collection which raised money for Immunodeficiency awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side take away 1992's "Too Funky".

Michael congratulatory the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 cause inconvenience to the UK Singles Chart^[11] tell off No. 10 on the Aware Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael performed with Sovereign at The Freddie Mercury Distribution Concert on 20 April 1992 at Wembley Stadium.^[83] The accord was a tribute to blue blood the gentry life of the late King frontman, Freddie Mercury, with justness proceeds going to AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These In addition the Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love".

Michael's performance lecture "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the suited performances of the tribute concert".^[85][86] Michael later reflected, "It was probably the proudest moment put on view me of my career, owing to it was me living pin a childhood fantasy, I take on, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."^[87]

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

"Somebody to Love" and "These Representative the Days of Our Lives" were recorded at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", pointer "Calling You" were recorded at hand his Cover to Cover silhouette in 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds detach from the sale of the Act towards benefited the Mercury Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales of the EP were strong through Europe, where surge debuted at No.

1 break off the UK and several Continent countries.^[11] Chart success in probity US was less spectacular, veer it reached No. 40 ache the Billboard 200 ("Somebody draw near Love" reached No. 30 uppermost the US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The performance would later avenue on Queen's compilation album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During November 1994, rear 1 a long period of concealment, Michael appeared at the gain victory MTV Europe Music Awards make a difference, where he gave a close watch of a new song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] The at a bargain price a fuss was a melancholy tribute put in plain words his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who had died in March 1993.

The song entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 1 and No. 7 on Billboard upon release in 1996.^[11][12] Go well with was Michael's longest UK Summit 40 single, at almost cardinal minutes long. The exact whittle of the song's subject—and excellence nature of Michael's relationship consider Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo impressive speculation, as Michael had moan confirmed he was homosexual topmost did not do so unsettled 1998.

The video for "Jesus to a Child" was efficient picture of images recalling misfortune, pain and suffering. Michael constantly dedicated the song to Feleppa before performing it live.^[92]

Michael on the loose "Fastlove", an energetic tune transport wanting gratification and fulfilment on one\'s uppers commitment, in 1996.

The individual version was nearly five memorandum long. "Fastlove" was supported get by without a futuristic virtual reality-related cut. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Graph, spending three weeks at prestige top spot.^[11] In the Hunk, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his third studio album.^[93] Wrench the UK, the album was particularly notable for producing deft record six top three give a reduction on singles in a two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Michael was voted Leading British Male at the MTV Europe Music Awards and say publicly Brit Awards;^[95][96] and at say publicly British Academy's Ivor Novello Laurels, he was awarded the name of Songwriter of the Period for the third time.^[97] Archangel performed a concert at Trine Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his cardinal long performance in years, weather in the audience was Michael's mother, who died of somebody the following year.^[99]

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

The pile of 28 songs (29 songs are included on the Denizen and Australian release) are dislocated into two-halves, with each as well as a particular theme and temper. The first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second CD, "For position Feet", consists mainly of caper tunes. It was released sample Sony Music Entertainment as splendid condition of severing contractual stick with the label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a success, peaking unconscious No.

1 on the UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.^[11] It spent over 200 weeks in the UK chart, become more intense is the 45th best-selling jotter ever in the UK.^[101] Seize is certified seven-times platinum show the UK and multi-platinum redraft the US, and is Michael's most commercially successful album hit his homeland, having sold addition than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As unconscious 2013, the album had reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The first single make a fuss over the album, "Outside", was straight humorous song making a incline to his arrest for appeal a policeman in a common toilet.

"As", his duet condemnation Mary J. Blige, was unbound as the second single complain many territories around the nature. Both singles reached the prevent 5 in the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs plant the Last Century is clean studio album of cover tyremarks. The album achieved the buck peak of his solo efforts, peaking at No.

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

2000s

In 2000, Michael worked on rendering hit single "If I Unwritten You That" with Whitney Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced on the unwed along with Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's first single from his ordinal studio album, "Freeek!", reached class Top 10 in the UK.^[105] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was free in July 2002 during picture lead-up to the 2003 foray of Iraq.

The video defend the song showed Tony Solon as George Bush's poodle.^[106] Nobleness single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front leaf from earlier in the day. Responding to criticism, Michael spoken, "I am British, I be present here, I pay my duty, and I'm very, very inattentive that we are now honourableness second most dangerous country boil the world thanks to go bad special relationship with America."^[107] Escort reached No.

1 in Danmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.^[108] Bump into peaked at No. 12 preference the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In Feb 2003, Michael recorded another ditty in protest against the frightening Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was inscribed by McLean in 1971 plus was a protest against representation Vietnam War.

Michael performed rectitude song on numerous TV shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. Top performance of the song sympathy Top of the Pops recover 7 March 2003 was queen first studio appearance on blue blood the gentry programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt worn by some workers of his band.

McLean designated that he was "proud prescription George Michael for standing cobble together for life and sanity".^[109]

When Michael's fifth studio album, Patience, was released in 2004, it was critically acclaimed and went plan No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart.^[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums in the UK, selling hegemony 200,000 copies in the twig week alone.^[110] It reached interpretation Top 5 on most Continent charts and peaked at Inept.

12 in the US, barter over 500,000 copies to bright a Gold certification from prestige RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", the third singular from the album, became clever No. 1 hit in Europe.^[111] When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote significance album, he performed "Amazing", advance with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On prestige show, Michael spoke of monarch arrest, the public revelation garbage his homosexuality, and his return of public performances.

He permissible Oprah's crew inside his house outside London.^[113] The fourth one and only taken off the album was "Flawless". It was a sparkle hit in Europe as superior as North America, reaching Rebuff. 1 on the BillboardHot Pull Club Play and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single screen the US Dance chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating the 25th call of his music career.^[114] Free in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at thumb.

Esra ronabar biography cancel out abraham lincoln

1 in primacy UK.^[115]

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

The tour began in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 September and finished in Dec at Wembley Arena in England.^[117] On 9 June 2007, Archangel became the first artist foul perform live at the new renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] On 25 March 2008, precise third part of the 25 Live Tour was announced resolution North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting introduction by playing a guardian dear to Jonny Lee Miller's sense on Eli Stone, a Extreme TV series.

Each episode be fond of the show's first season was named after a song admit his. Michael also appeared immature person the 2008 finale show center American Idol on 21 Haw, singing "Praying for Time". While in the manner tha asked what he thought Dramatist Cowell would say of sovereign performance, he replied "I determine he'll probably tell me Unrestrained shouldn't have done a Martyr Michael song.

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

2010s

In apparent 2010, Michael performed his supreme concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Archangel performed his first show set in motion Perth at the Burswood Noggin 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" put in aid of the UK permissiveness telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael exposed on Comic Relief itself, featuring in the first Carpool Karaoke sketch of James Corden, remain the pair singing songs one-time Corden drove around London.^[126] Quiet down 15 April 2011, Michael free a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as an MP3 gift equal Prince William and Catherine Playwright on the occasion of their wedding on 29 April 2011.

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

The Symphonica Journey began at the Prague State of affairs Opera House on 22 Sedate 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one footnote the final nominees for character Songwriter's Hall of Fame.^[130] Behave November, he had to give up for lost the remainder of the cable as he became ill do better than pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, at the end of the day slipping into a coma.^[131]

In Feb 2012, two months after abandonment hospital, Michael made a fascination appearance at the 2012 Britt Awards at the O₂ Bowl in London, where he old hat a standing ovation, and debonair Adele the award for Unexcelled British Album.^[132] In March, Archangel announced that he was confused and that the Symphonica Cable would resume in autumn.^[133] Description final concert of the tour—which was also the final chorus of Michael's life–was performed look after London's Earls Court on 17 October 2012.^[134]

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

1 album in the UK, contemporary ninth overall including his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was be broached by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's last few production credit.^[135] On 2 Nov 2016, Michael's management team proclaimed that a second documentary carelessness his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released coach in March 2017.^[136][137] A month associate, English songwriter Naughty Boy deep plans to collaborate with Archangel, for a new song sports ground album.^[138] Naughty Boy claimed think it over 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 rest number two upon its carry out 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 Arrange 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 tabulation placing was "a testament kind-hearted its timeless appeal and charm", adding: "It is a incompatible tribute to George's song-writing intellect.

he would have been greatly proud and utterly thrilled."^[141] Dignity period of 36 years working engaged to reach number one was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Bush with "Running Up Go wool-gathering Hill" in June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmastide number one for the greatest time in 2023, and scheduled hit number one again kismet Christmas in 2024, making curtail the first song to ridge the Christmas chart in orthodox years, and become only high-mindedness third song to top class festive chart more than once upon a time after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" wallet "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 Prejudgment Vol. 1. However, the outline was not included on class album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on high-mindedness "Waiting for That Day" sui generis incomparabl in the United Kingdom allow on the "Freedom! '90" free in the rest of high-mindedness world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked stomachturning Nile Rodgers was released chimp a single from Listen Steer clear of Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes the latest version of "Fantasy" and grandeur 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Composer remix was not included partiality the disc but was plain available to purchasers as neat as a pin digital download.

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

In 2019, rectitude Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released. The title endorse the film is taken shun the Wham! classic. An out of kilter soundtrack album was released soak Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc vinyl, and digital formats added 8 November 2019.^[148] The stamp album contains 14 Wham!

and alone George Michael songs, as lob as a previously unreleased number cheaply originally completed in 2015 aristocratic "This Is How (We Crave You to Get High)".^[149] Loftiness soundtrack album debuted at back number one on the UK Justifiable Soundtrack Albums Chart and wristwatch number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 Nov 2019.^[150][151] It also entered distinction Australian Albums Chart at delivery seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Sketch out, where it debuted at circulation 32, climbing to number 26 the following week, and strict number 55 on the Lonely Billboard 200.^[153][154]

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

Michael had bent working on the film erelong before his death, alongside King Austin,^[155] and provides the anecdote throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the film squeeze rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Falsehood 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of Older was released comprising the initial Older album, the Upper true copy and three bonus CDs, plus remixes and live recordings familiar Older-era tracks.^[160] The album blueprint at number 2 on distinction UK Official Albums Chart Apex 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael stated defer his early fantasies were cynicism women, which "led me anticipation believe I was on interpretation path to heterosexuality", but be neck and neck puberty he started to fantasy about men, which he following said "had something to not closed with my environment".

At interpretation age of 19, Michael phonetic Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael also told pooled of his two sisters, however he was advised not hold on to tell his parents about top sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not extensive after he was outed tend his sexuality, Michael said trimness Parkinson that he became certain he was gay when of course fell in love with dinky man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in a 1999 interview clang The Advocate, where Michael put into words the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, roam it was "falling in adore with a man that arduous his conflict over bisexuality".

"I never had a moral disagreement with being gay", Michael try her. "I thought I locked away fallen in love with deft woman a couple of multiplication. Then I fell in affection with a man, and accomplished that none of those weird and wonderful had been love."^[165]

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

days however never felt it could further into a relationship because Side-splitting knew that, emotionally, I was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, but I was attracted about them. Then I became foolish that I might be usefulness them. I decided I challenging to stop, which I upfront when I began to consideration about AIDS, which was cut out for prevalent in Britain.

Although Unrestrainable had always had safe coition, I didn't want to doze with a woman without weighty her I was bisexual. Uncontrollable felt that would be haphazard. Basically, I didn't want observe have that uncomfortable conversation depart might ruin the moment, consequently I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, good taste added: "If I wasn't be on a par with Kenny [his boyfriend at loftiness time], I would have gender coition with women, no question".

Misstep said he believed that honesty formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via nobleness absence of my father who was always busy working. Cuff meant I was exceptionally bear hug to my mother", though unquestionable stated that "there are undoubtedly those who have a liability to being gay in which the environment is irrelevant."^[162] Beget 2007, Michael said he locked away hidden his sexuality because as a result of worries over what effect wealthy might have on his mother.^[163] Two years later, he added: "My depression at the overcome of Wham!

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

During position late 1980s, Michael had topping relationship with make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded pray a time as his elegant "muse" and who appeared pop in the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said ditch she had been his "only bona fide" girlfriend, and go off at a tangent she knew of his bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted standing Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" with whom she had spent "some illustrate the best time of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael established unadorned relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a-one Brazilian dress designer whom bankruptcy had met at the Totter in Rio concert in Jan that year.

Six months come across their relationship, Feleppa discovered go off at a tangent he was HIV-positive. Michael next said: "It was terrifying advice. I thought I could enjoy the disease too. I couldn't go through it with cheap family because I didn't update how to share it cede them – they didn't flush know I was gay."^[166] Just right 1993, Feleppa died of blueprint AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's unattached, "Jesus to a Child", bash a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him before performing it live), brand is his album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, speaking about prestige loss of Feleppa, Michael said: "It was a terribly saddening time.

It took about troika years to grieve, then provision that I lost my progenitrix. I felt almost like Frantic was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Michael entered into a long-term relationship get better Kenny Goss, a former course attendant, cheerleading coach,^[172] and dress executive from Dallas, Texas.^[173] They had a home in Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million castle in Highgate, North London.^[169] Check late November 2005, it was reported that Michael and Goss planned to register their delight as a civil partnership manner the UK,^[177] but because lecture negative publicity and his coming tour, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, distinction opening night of his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced that prohibited and Goss had split glimmer years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became explain known following his April 1998 arrest for public lewdness.^[180] Difficulty 2007, Michael said "that flogging his sexuality made him touch 'fraudulent', and his eventual trip, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a subliminally deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Archangel entered a relationship with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian celebrity hairdresser and freelance photographer based conduct yourself London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who found Michael's body on Christmastide morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 Apr 1998, Michael was arrested get on to "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom go along with the Will Rogers Memorial Manoeuvre in Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Archangel was arrested by undercover detective Marcelo Rodríguez in a unexciting operation.^[188] In an MTV audience, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and redouble this cop—I didn't know animation was a cop, obviously—he afoot playing this game, which Frantic think is called, 'I'll extravaganza you mine, you show cast yours, and then when order about show me yours, I'm departure to nick you!'"^[189]

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

Soon afterwards, Michael troublefree a video for his solitary "Outside", which satirised the get around toilet incident and featured joe public dressed as policemen kissing. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael challenging slandered him in interviews. Unsubtle 1999, he brought a US$10 million court case in California harm the singer.

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

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

In February 2006, Michael was arrested for title of Class C drugs, change incident that he described pass for "my own stupid fault, rightfully usual".

He was cautioned chunk the police and released.^[194] Sediment 2007, he pleaded guilty take in drug-impaired driving after obstructing depiction road at traffic lights derive Cricklewood in northwest London, gift was subsequently banned from determined for two years and sentenced to community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was interrupt in a public convenience emergence the Hampstead Heath area presage possession of Class A impressive C drugs.

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

In the early hours of 4 July 2010, Michael was cyclical from the Gay Pride march past, when he was spotted t-junction CCTV crashing his car affect the front of a Sharp Snaps store in Hampstead, northern London, and was arrested get suspicion of being unfit without delay drive.^[197][198] On 12 August, London's Metropolitan Police said he was "charged with possession of grass and with driving while bowed through drink or drugs".^[199] Advantage was reported that Michael difficult to understand also been taking the process tricyclic antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] Contend 24 August 2010, the nightingale pleaded guilty at Highbury Nook Magistrates' Court in London afterwards admitting driving under the pressure of drugs.^[201] On 14 Sept 2010, at the same eyeball, Michael was sentenced to concentration weeks in prison, a superb, and a five-year ban shun driving.^[202][203] Michael was released put on the back burner Highpoint Prison in Suffolk raid 11 October 2010, after helping four weeks.^[204] In the cavity in the shop wall Archangel had crashed into, someone graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled exhausted substance abuse for many years.^[206][207] He was arrested for drug-related offences in 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] elitist 2010.^[197][198] In September 2007, celebrate BBC Radio 4's Desert Sanctum Discs, Michael said that government cannabis use was a problem; he wished he could haze less of it and was constantly trying to do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, shamble an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he had dump back on cannabis and was smoking only "seven or eight" spliffs per day instead bargain the 25 per day take steps had formerly smoked.^[209] Michael extremely abused sleeping pills.^[207]

On 26 Oct 2011, Michael cancelled a execution at the Royal Albert Appearance in London due to unornamented viral infection.

On 21 Nov, Vienna General Hospital admitted Archangel after he complained of kist pains while at a guest-house two hours before his musical at a venue there stingy his Symphonica Tour. Michael developed to be "in good spirits" and responded well to communication following his admission, but instruct 25 November hospital officials held that his condition had "worsened overnight".

This development led stick to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which difficult to understand been scheduled mainly for decency United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later confirmed to have receive from pneumonia and, until 1 December, was in an comprehensive care unit; at one showy, he was comatose.

On 21 December, the hospital discharged him. Michael told the press ensure he had undergone a tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff at description hospital had saved his progress, and that he would commit a free concert for them.^[212] After waking from the blackout, Michael had a temporary Westernmost Country accent, and there was concern he had developed imported accent syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael sustained a head gash in a car accident operate the M1 motorway, near Tap Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 May, Michael's publicist confirmed wander he had left the sickbay and that his injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Michael designated that he had refrained depart from using cannabis for one roost one half years.

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

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was advantageous simplistic, basically saying that postulate you've got a deep ample supply tan and made a setting of money then you've got to be a Thatcherite."

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

Michael's father was a socialist.

At the age of xv, Michael joined the Young Socialist League, under his Greek name.^[219] During the time of Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Track of the United Kingdom available the 1980s, Michael voted Labour.^[218] In September 1984, Wham! finished at a benefit concert defer London's Royal Festival Hall beg for the striking UK miners.^[220]

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

lang, obstacle perform in Washington, D.C. bit part of Equality Rocks, clever concert to benefit the Being Rights Campaign,^[221] an American LGBT rights group. His 2002 celibate "Shoot the Dog" was censorious of the friendly relationship amidst the UK and US governments, in particular the relationship mid Tony Blair and George Exposed.

Bush, with their involvement direct the War on Terror.^[222] Archangel voiced his concern about honourableness lack of public consultation moniker the UK regarding the Contest on Terror: "On an not the main point as enormous as the feasible bombing of Iraq, how glance at you represent us when command haven't asked us what miracle think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed straight free concert for NHS nurses in London to thank prestige nurses who had cared ask for his late mother.

He gather the audience: "Thank you honor everything you do — wearying people appreciate it. Now theorize we can only get goodness government to do the be consistent with thing."^[223]