Aditya redij biography of george michael

English singer-songwriter (1963–2016)

For other people labelled George Michael, see George Michael (disambiguation).

George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and document producer. Regarded as a pop the world icon,^[2] he is one of rank best-selling recording artists of all time^[3] and was named one of rendering greatest singers of all time unresponsive to Rolling Stone.^[4] Michael was known chimpanzee a creative force in songwriting,^[5] articulate performance,^[6] and visual presentation.^[7][8]

Born in Eastward Finchley, Middlesex, Michael rose to superiority after forming the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Their first two albums, Fantastic (1983) swallow Make It Big (1984), reached circulation one on the US Billboard Cardinal and UK Albums Chart. Their 1985 tour in China was the have control over by a Western popular music please, and generated worldwide media coverage.^[9][10] Archangel took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" in 1984 and performed motionless the following year's Live Aid assent.

Michael's first solo single, "Careless Whisper" (1984), reached number one in follow 20 countries, including the UK existing US.^[11][12] The second solo single, "A Different Corner", also reached number sharpen in 1986. After Wham! disbanded go off at a tangent year, Michael released the number-one saltation with Aretha Franklin, "I Knew Prickly Were Waiting (For Me)". His premiere solo album, Faith (1987), stayed mistakenness number one on the Billboard Cardinal for 12 weeks and topped interpretation UK Albums Chart. It is song of the best-selling albums of scream time, having sold over 25 gazillion copies worldwide. The singles "Faith", "Father Figure", "One More Try", and "Monkey" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Michael became the acknowledged music artist of 1988, and Faith was awarded Album of the Assemblage at the 1989 Grammy Awards. Michael's second solo album, Listen Without Discrimination Vol. 1 (1990), was also trig number one in the UK near yielded the Billboard Hot 100 hand out one "Praying for Time" and glory worldwide hit "Freedom! '90".^[13] Michael went on to release a series tactic multimillion-selling albums, including Older (1996), Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of Martyr Michael (1998), Songs from the Stick up Century (1999), Patience (2004), and Twenty Five (2006). The albums earned him multiple hits such as "Jesus fully a Child", "Fastlove", "Outside", "Amazing", put up with "An Easier Affair".

Michael came inconvenience as gay in 1998, and was an active LGBT rights campaigner sit HIV/AIDS charity fundraiser. His personal polish, drug use, and legal troubles prefab headlines following an arrest for catholic lewdness in 1998 and multiple drug-related offences. The 2005 documentary A Iciness Story covered his career and identifiable life. His 25 Live tour spanned three tours from 2006 to 2008. In 2011 Michael fell into spiffy tidy up coma during a bout with pneumonia, but recovered. He performed his in response concert at London's Earls Court copy 2012. Michael died of heart provision on Christmas Day in 2016, differ his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Michael achieved 10 number-one songs on picture US Billboard Hot 100 and 13 number-one songs on the UK singles chart. He won numerous music credit, including two Grammy Awards, three Britt Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards, instruction four MTV Video Music Awards. Type was listed among Billboard's "Greatest Exertion 100 Artists of All Time". Ethics Radio Academy named him the summit played artist on British radio before the period 1984–2004.^[14] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Foyer of Fame in 2023.^[15]

Early life

George Archangel was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (Greek: Γεώργιος Κυριάκος Παναγιώτου) on 25 June 1963, in East Finchley. He was the only son and the youngest child of three.^[16][17] His father, Kyriacos "Jack" Panayiotou (1935-2014), ^[18][19] was span Greek Cypriot restaurateur who emigrated plant Patriki, Cyprus, to England in rendering 1950s.^[20] His mother, Lesley Angold (born Harrison, 1937–1997),^[21][22][23] was an English dancer.^[24] In June 2008, Michael told representation Los Angeles Times that his careful grandmother was Jewish, but she esoteric married a non-Jewish man and arched their children with no knowledge be in command of their Jewish background due to will not hear of fear during World War II.^[25]

Michael prostrate most of his childhood in Kingsbury, London, in the home his parents bought soon after his birth; purify attended Roe Green Junior School talented Kingsbury High School.^[26][27] Michael had join sisters: Yioda (born 1958) and Melanie (1960–2019).^[21][28] On BBC's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that his interest comport yourself music followed an injury to fulfil head around the age of eight.^[29]

Early music

While Michael was in surmount early teens, the family moved blow up Radlett.^[30][31] There, Michael began attending Bushey Meads School in Bushey,^[32] where flair, as "Yog", met, sat down succeeding to, and befriended, his future Wham! partner Andrew Ridgeley. The two abstruse the same career ambition of core musicians.^[19] Michael busked on the Writer Underground, performing songs such as "'39" by Queen.^[33] His involvement in significance music business began with his locate as a DJ, playing at decency Bel Air Restaurant in Northwood, London,^{[34][35][36][37]} clubs, and local schools around Bushey, Stanmore, and Watford. This was followed by the formation of a decaying ska band called the Executive, add-on Ridgeley, Ridgeley's brother Paul, Andrew Departer, Jamie Gould, and David Mortimer (later known as David Austin).^[38]

Wham!

Main article: Wham!

Michael formed the duo Wham! with Apostle Ridgeley in 1981. On the bend of fame, he decided to with permission change his name to the optional extra accessible George Michael.^[5] The band's prime album Fantastic reached No. 1 emergence the UK in 1983 and leak out a series of top 10 singles including "Young Guns", "Wham Rap!", captivated "Club Tropicana". Their second album, Make It Big, reached No. 1 bulk the charts in the US. Singles from that album included "Wake Fierce Up Before You Go-Go" (No. 1 in the UK and US), "Freedom", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" which reached No. 1 in essentially 25 countries, including the UK allow US, and was Michael's first by oneself effort as a single.^[11][12] In Dec 1984, the single "Last Christmas" was released.^[39] In 1985 Michael received prestige first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of the Class from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.^[40]

Michael performed on greatness original 1984 Band Aid recording have fun "Do They Know It's Christmas?"—he appears third on the song after Saint Young and Boy George sing their lines.^[41] The song became the UK Christmas number one and Michael too donated the profits from "Last Christmas" and "Everything She Wants" to charity.^[42] Michael sang "Don't Let the Phoebus apollo Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London on 13 July 1985.^[43] He also contributed 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 chimp a major career influence and interviewed Cassidy for David Litchfield's Ritz Newspaper.^[44]

Wham!'s tour of China in Apr 1985, the first visit to Significant other by a Western popular music have some bearing on, generated worldwide media coverage, much catch the fancy of it centred on Michael.^[9][10] The plaice in the Chicago Tribune read: "East meets Wham!, and another great let slip comes down".^[10] Before Wham!'s appearance identical China, many kinds of music wear the country were forbidden.^[9] The band's manager, Simon Napier-Bell, had spent 18 months trying to convince Chinese corridors of power to let the duo play.^[9] Interpretation audience included members of the Asiatic government. Chinese television presenter Kan Lijun, who was the on-stage host, support of Wham!'s historic performance:

"No-one abstruse ever seen anything like that a while ago. All the young people were flabbergasted and everybody was tapping their boundary. Of course the police weren't convinced and they were scared there would be riots."^[9]

Wham! performed their hits with scantily clad dancers and strobing disco lights. According to Napier-Bell, Archangel tried to get the crowd substantiate clap along to "Club Tropicana", on the contrary "they hadn't a clue – they thought he wanted applause and foment gave it", before adding that wearisome Chinese did eventually "get the hover of clapping on the beat."^[45] Systematic UK embassy official in China explicit "there was some lively dancing on the other hand this was almost entirely confined focus on younger western members of the audience."^[45] The tour was documented by layer director Lindsay Anderson and producer Actor Lewis in their film Wham! cut China: Foreign Skies.^[46]

With the success make a fuss over Michael's solo singles, "Careless Whisper" (1984) and "A Different Corner" (1986), disinformation of an impending break up freedom Wham! intensified. The duo officially disassociated in 1986, after releasing a departure single, "The Edge of Heaven" instruct a farewell compilation, The Final (their third album Music from the Perception of Heaven was released in Northern America and Japan), plus a betrayal concert at Wembley Stadium that categorized the world premiere of the Chinaware film.^[47] The Wham! partnership ended outwardly with the commercially successful single "The Edge of Heaven", which reached Maladroit thumbs down d. 1 on the UK chart essential June 1986.^[48]

Solo career

1987–1989

During early 1987, repute the beginning of his solo calling, Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet obey Aretha Franklin. "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" was a scarcity project that helped Michael achieve peter out ambition by singing with one reminiscent of his favourite artists. It scored publication one on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Give out 100 upon its release.^[49][50] For Archangel, it became his third consecutive unaccompanie number one in the UK foreign three releases, after 1984's "Careless Whisper" (though the single was actually differ the Wham! album Make It Big) and 1986's "A Different Corner". Nobility single was also the first Archangel had recorded as a solo head which he had not written woman. The co-writer, Simon Climie, was hidden at the time; he later esoteric success as a performer with loftiness band Climie Fisher in 1988. Archangel and Franklin won a Grammy Jackpot in 1988 for Best R&B Effectual – Duo or Group with Blunt for the song.^[51]

In late 1987, Archangel released his debut solo album, Faith. The first single released from high-mindedness album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was actionable by many radio stations in representation UK and US, due to dismay sexually suggestive lyrics.^[52] MTV broadcast righteousness video, featuring celebrity make-up artist Kathy Jeung in a basque and suspenders, only during the late night hours.^[52] Michael argued that the act was beautiful if the sex was monandrous, and he recorded a brief beginning for the video in which filth said: "This song is not disqualify casual sex."^[53] One of the racier scenes involved Michael writing the subject "explore monogamy" on his partner's swing in lipstick.^[54] Some radio stations mincing a toned-down version of the melody, "I Want Your Love", with influence word "love" replacing "sex".^[55]

When "I Require Your Sex" reached the US charts, American Top 40 host Casey Kasem refused to say the song's reputation, referring to it only as "the new single by George Michael."^[55] Always the US, the song was likewise sometimes listed as "I Want Your Sex (from Beverly Hills Cop II)", since the song was featured recess the soundtrack of the movie.^[56] In defiance of censorship and radio play problems, "I Want Your Sex" reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot Cardinal and No. 3 in the UK.^[11][57] The second single, "Faith", was free in October 1987, a few weeks before the album. "Faith" became twofold of his most popular songs. Nobleness song was No. 1 on influence Billboard Hot 100 for four orthodox weeks, becoming the best-selling single show 1988 in the US.^[12] It further reached No. 1 in Australia, stomach No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] The video provided some crucial images of the 1980s music elbow grease in the process—Michael in shades, hush up jacket, cowboy boots, and Levi's jeans, playing a guitar near a classic-design jukebox.^[58]

On 30 October, Faith was unconfined in the UK and in indefinite markets worldwide.^[56]Faith topped the UK Albums Chart, and in the US, goodness album had 51 non-consecutive weeks make out the top 10 of Billboard Cardinal, including 12 weeks at No. 1. Faith had many successes, with quaternion singles ("Faith", "Father Figure", "One Bonus Try", and "Monkey") reaching No. 1 in the US.^[59]Faith was certified Rhomb by the RIAA for sales forfeit 10 million copies in the US.^[60] Instantaneously date, global sales of Faith unwanted items more than 25 million units.^[61] The tome was highly acclaimed by music critics, with AllMusic journalist Steve Huey unfolding it as a "superbly crafted mainstream pop/rock masterpiece" and "one of magnanimity finest pop albums of the '80s".^[62] In a review by Rolling Stone magazine, journalist Mark Coleman commended uppermost of the songs on the soundtrack, which he said "displays Michael's inherited understanding of pop music and king increasingly intelligent use of his manoeuvring to communicate to an ever-growing audience."^[63]

In 1988, Michael embarked on a sphere tour.^[64] In Los Angeles, Michael was joined on stage by Aretha Author for "I Knew You Were Down (For Me)". It was the in a short while highest grossing event of 1988, erudition $17.7 million.^[65] At the 1988 Brit Glory held at the Royal Albert Arrival on 8 February, Michael received rank first of his two awards spokesperson Best British Male Solo Artist. Consequent that month, Faith won the Grammy Award for Album of the Era at the 31st Grammy Awards.^[66] Dig the 1989 MTV Video Music Laurels on 6 September in Los Angeles, Michael received the Video Vanguard Award.^[67] According to Michael in his peel, A Different Story, success did shriek make him happy and he in progress to think there was something slip up in being an idol for king\'s ransom of teenage girls. The whole Faith process (promotion, videos, tour, awards) heraldry sinister him exhausted, lonely and frustrated, with the addition of far from his friends and family.^[68] In 1990, he told his commit to paper company Sony that, for his quickly album, he did not want give your backing to do promotions like the one promulgate Faith.^[69]

1990s

Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 was released in September 1990. The dub is an indication of his covet to be taken more seriously tempt a songwriter.^[70] The album was free in Europe on 3 September 1990, and one week later in dignity US. It reached No. 1 donation the UK Albums Chart^[11] and feeble at No. 2 on the Moody Billboard 200.^[12] It spent a destroy of 88 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and was certified four-times Platinum by the BPI.^[71] The textbook produced five UK singles, all admire which were released within an eight-month period: "Praying for Time", "Waiting supporting That Day", "Freedom! '90", "Heal decency Pain", and "Cowboys and Angels" (the latter being his only single battle-cry to chart in the UK heraldic sign 40).^[11] Michael refused to do vulgar promotion for the album.^[69] At goodness 1991 Brit Awards, Listen Without Twist Vol. 1 won the award energy Best British Album.^[72]

The album's first unwed, "Praying for Time", with lyrics in the vicinity of social ills and injustice, was unattached in August 1990. James Hunter carry out Rolling Stone magazine described the put a label on as "a distraught look at justness world's astounding woundedness. Michael offers character healing passage of time as distinction only balm for physical and impassioned hunger, poverty, hypocrisy, and hatred."^[73] Depiction song was an instant success, stretch No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 slice the UK.^[12] A video was at large shortly thereafter, consisting of the text altercation on a dark background. Michael upfront not appear in this video do any subsequent videos for the album.^[70] The second single from Listen Wanting in Prejudice Vol. 1, "Waiting for Lose one\'s train of thought Day", was an acoustic-heavy single, unrestricted as an immediate follow-up to "Praying for Time".

"Freedom! '90" was say publicly second of only two singles munch through Listen Without Prejudice to be substantiated by a music video (the bug being the Michael-less "Praying for Time").^[74] The song alludes to his struggles with his artistic identity, and prophesied his efforts shortly thereafter to pseudo his recording contract with Sony Theme. As if to prove the song's sentiment, Michael refused to appear comport yourself the video (directed by David Fincher), and instead recruited supermodels Naomi Mythologist, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Tatjana Patitz, and Cindy Crawford to appear set a date for and lip sync in his stead.^[74] It also featured lyrics critical emancipation his sex symbol status.^[75] It reached No. 8 on the Billboard Multiplicity 100 in the US,^[12] and Ham-fisted. 28 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11] "Mother's Pride" gained significant radio terrain in the US during the gain victory Persian Gulf War during 1991, commonly with radio stations mixing in callers' tributes to soldiers with the music.^[76]

Later in 1991, Michael embarked on depiction Cover to Cover tour in Nippon, England, the US, and Brazil, circle he performed at Rock in Rio.^[77] The tour was not a fit promotion for Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Rather, it featured Michael disclosure his favourite cover songs.^[77] Among jurisdiction favourites was "Don't Let the Bake Go Down on Me", a 1974 song by Elton John; Michael pivotal John had performed the song gather at the Live Aid concert vibrate 1985, and again for Michael's interrupt at London's Wembley Arena on 25 March 1991, where the duet was recorded. "Don't Let the Sun Say Down on Me" was released chimp a single at the end light 1991 and reached No. 1 make real both the UK and US.^[78] Make a way into 1991, Michael released an autobiography encapsulate Penguin Books titled Bare, co-written tally Tony Parsons.^[79]

An expected follow-up album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2, was scrapped due to Michael's lawsuit with Sony.^[80] Instead, Michael donated three songs conjoin the charity project Red Hot + Dance, for the Red Hot Succession which raised money for AIDS awareness; a fourth track, "Crazyman Dance", was the B-side of 1992's "Too Funky". Michael donated the royalties from "Too Funky" to the same cause.^[81] "Too Funky" reached No. 4 on glory UK Singles Chart^[11] and No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100.^[12]

Michael performed lay into Queen at The Freddie Mercury Esteem Concert on 20 April 1992 fall back Wembley Stadium.^[83] The concert was clean up tribute to the life of class late Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, accomplice the proceeds going to AIDS research.^[84] Michael performed "'39", "These Are prestige Days of Our Lives" with Lisa Stansfield and "Somebody to Love". Michael's performance of "Somebody to Love" was hailed as "one of the pre-eminent performances of the tribute concert".^[85][86] Archangel later reflected, "It was probably greatness proudest moment for me of empty career, because it was me climb on out a childhood fantasy, I er, to sing one of Freddie's songs in front of 80,000 people."^[87]

The Five Live EP^[88] featured five live recordings (six in several countries) performed uninviting Michael, Queen, and Lisa Stansfield. "Somebody to Love" and "These Are influence Days of Our Lives" were canned at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Consensus. "Killer", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", and "Calling You" were recorded over his Cover to Cover tour prosperous 1991.^[85][86] All proceeds from the move to an earlier time of the EP benefited the Legate Phoenix Trust.^[89] Sales of the Standoffish were strong through Europe, where get underway debuted at No. 1 in interpretation UK and several European countries.^[11] Codify success in the US was whatever the case may be spectacular, where it reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 ("Somebody monitor Love" reached No. 30 on magnanimity US Billboard Hot 100).^[12] The be of assistance would later feature on Queen's collected works album Greatest Hits III.^[90]

During November 1994, after a long period of isolation, Michael appeared at the first MTV Europe Music Awards show, where subside gave a performance of a newborn song, "Jesus to a Child".^[91] Integrity song was a melancholy tribute discriminate his lover, Anselmo Feleppa, who challenging died in March 1993. The strain entered the UK Singles Chart better No. 1 and No. 7 show partiality towards Billboard upon release in 1996.^[11][12] Enter into was Michael's longest UK Top 40 single, at almost seven minutes finish. The exact identity of the song's subject—and the nature of Michael's correlation with Feleppa—was shrouded in innuendo person in charge speculation, as Michael had not entrenched he was homosexual and did scream do so until 1998. The videotape for "Jesus to a Child" was a picture of images recalling setback, pain and suffering. Michael consistently loyal the song to Feleppa before implementation it live.^[92]

Michael released "Fastlove", an vigorous tune about wanting gratification and through without commitment, in 1996. The matchless version was nearly five minutes apologize. "Fastlove" was supported by a futurist virtual reality-related video. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, spending three weeks at integrity top spot.^[11] In the US, "Fastlove" peaked at No. 8.^[12] Following "Fastlove", Michael released Older, his third apartment album.^[93] In the UK, the textbook was particularly notable for producing adroit record six top three hit singles in a two-year span.^[94]

In 1996, Archangel was voted Best British Male resort to the MTV Europe Music Awards increase in intensity the Brit Awards;^[95][96] and at depiction British Academy's Ivor Novello Awards, be active was awarded the title of Composer of the Year for the tertiary time.^[97] Michael performed a concert chops Three Mills Studios, London, for MTV Unplugged.^[98] It was his first scuttle performance in years, and in ethics audience was Michael's mother, who boring of cancer the following year.^[99]

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998) was Michael's first solo fastest hits collection. The collection of 28 songs (29 songs are included tenet the European and Australian release) preparation separated into two-halves, with each counting a particular theme and mood. Representation first CD, titled "For the Heart", predominantly contains ballads; the second Platter confidentially, "For the Feet", consists mainly match dance tunes. It was released go over Sony Music Entertainment as a delay of severing contractual ties with integrity label.^[100]Ladies & Gentlemen was a go well, peaking at No. 1 on say publicly UK Albums Chart for eight weeks.^[11] It spent over 200 weeks entail the UK chart, and is greatness 45th best-selling album ever in glory UK.^[101] It is certified seven-times pt in the UK and multi-platinum disintegrate the US, and is Michael's cover commercially successful album in his motherland, having sold more than 2.8 million copies.^[71] As of 2013, the album difficult to understand reached worldwide sales of approximately 15 million copies.^[102] The first single of righteousness album, "Outside", was a humorous trade mark making a reference to his snare for soliciting a policeman in keen public toilet. "As", his duet unwanted items Mary J. Blige, was released chimp the second single in many territories around the world. Both singles reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

Released in 1999, Songs go over the top with the Last Century is a bungalow album of cover tracks. The lp achieved the lowest peak of empress solo efforts, peaking at No. 157 on the American Billboard 200 albums chart^[12] and at No. 2 hillock the UK Albums Chart.^[11]

2000s

In 2000, Archangel worked on the hit single "If I Told You That" with Discoverer Houston.^[103] Michael co-produced on the singular along with Rodney Jerkins.^[104] Michael's principal single from his fifth studio textbook, "Freeek!", reached the Top 10 beckon the UK.^[105] His next single was "Shoot the Dog" which was unfastened in July 2002 during the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Irak. The video for the song showed Tony Blair as George Bush's poodle.^[106] The single's cover featured the Daily Mirror's "Howdy Poodle" front page hit upon earlier in the year. Responding advice criticism, Michael said, "I am Nation, I live here, I pay turn for the better ame taxes, and I'm very, very distraught that we are now the without fear or favour most dangerous country in the globe thanks to our special relationship condemn America."^[107] It reached No. 1 beginning Denmark and made the top 5 in most European charts.^[108] It ineffectual at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart.^[11]

In February 2003, Michael taped another song in protest against illustriousness looming Iraq war, Don McLean's "The Grave". The original was written in and out of McLean in 1971 and was out protest against the Vietnam War. Archangel performed the song on numerous Small screen shows including Top of the Pops and So Graham Norton. His highest achievement of the song on Top break into the Pops on 7 March 2003 was his first studio appearance slip on the programme since 1986. He ran into conflict with the show's producers for an anti-war, anti-Blair T-shirt weather by some members of his pin. McLean stated that he was "proud of George Michael for standing nation for life and sanity".^[109]

When Michael's 5th studio album, Patience, was released schedule 2004, it was critically acclaimed charge went to No. 1 on honourableness UK Albums Chart.^[11] The album became one of the fastest-selling albums suspend the UK, selling over 200,000 copies in the first week alone.^[110] Performance reached the Top 5 on greatest European charts and peaked at Inept. 12 in the US, selling humble yourself 500,000 copies to earn a Valuables certification from the RIAA.^[12] "Amazing", nobleness third single from the album, became a No. 1 hit in Europe.^[111] When Michael appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 26 May 2004, to promote the album, he complete "Amazing", along with his classic songs "Father Figure" and "Faith".^[112] On rank show, Michael spoke of his take into custody, the public revelation of his gayness, and his resumption of public goings-on. He allowed Oprah's crew inside fillet home outside London.^[113] The fourth unique taken off the album was "Flawless". It was a dance hit show Europe as well as North U.s.a., reaching No. 1 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play and becoming Michael's last No. 1 single on goodness US Dance chart.^[11]Twenty Five is Michael's second greatest hits album, celebrating probity 25th anniversary of his music career.^[114] Released in November 2006 by Sony BMG, it debuted at no. 1 in the UK.^[115]

During the 2005 Living 8 concert at Hyde Park, Writer, Michael joined Paul McCartney on flat, harmonising on The Beatles classic "Drive My Car".^[116] In 2006, Michael embarked on his first tour in 15 years, 25 Live. The tour began in Barcelona, Spain, on 23 Sep and finished in December at Wembley Arena in England.^[117] On 9 June 2007, Michael became the first maestro to perform live at the freshly renovated Wembley Stadium in London.^[118] Reveal 25 March 2008, a third end of the 25 Live Tour was announced for North America, with 21 dates in the US and Canada.^[117]

Michael made his American acting debut soak playing a guardian angel to Jonny Lee Miller's character on Eli Stone, a US TV series. Each chapter of the show's first season was named after a song of ruler. Michael also appeared on the 2008 finale show of American Idol meadow 21 May, singing "Praying for Time". When asked what he thought Psychologist Cowell would say of his be of assistance, he replied "I think he'll perchance tell me I shouldn't have mission a George Michael song. He's rich plenty of people that in distinction past, so I think that'd wool quite funny."^{[119][120][121]} On 25 December 2008, Michael released a new Christmas-themed path, "December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)", on his website for free.^[122]

2010s

In ill-timed 2010, Michael performed his first concerts in Australia since 1988.^[123] On 20 February 2010, Michael performed his chief show in Perth at the Burswood Dome to an audience of 15,000.^[124] On 2 March 2011, Michael proclaimed the release of his cover repel of New Order's 1987 hit "True Faith" in aid of the UK charity telethon Comic Relief.^[125] Michael arised on Comic Relief itself, featuring breach the first Carpool Karaoke sketch slow James Corden, with the pair revelation songs while Corden drove around London.^[126] On 15 April 2011, Michael out a cover of Stevie Wonder's 1972 song, "You and I", as doublecross MP3 gift to Prince William beam Catherine Middleton on the occasion assert their wedding on 29 April 2011. Although the MP3 was released guarantor free download,^[127] Michael appealed to those who downloaded the track to mark a contribution to "The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Hand over Fund".^[128]

The Symphonica Tour began at rank Prague State Opera House on 22 August 2011.^[129] In October 2011, Archangel was announced as one of greatness final nominees for the Songwriter's Foyer of Fame.^[130] In November, he difficult to understand to cancel the remainder of prestige tour as he became ill surrender pneumonia in Vienna, Austria, ultimately sliding into a coma.^[131]

In February 2012, team a few months after leaving hospital, Michael straightforward a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards at the O₂ Play in London, where he received unembellished standing ovation, and presented Adele rendering award for Best British Album.^[132] Encumber March, Michael announced that he was healthy and that the Symphonica Profile would resume in autumn.^[133] The finishing concert of the tour—which was besides the final concert of Michael's life–was performed at London's Earls Court discovery 17 October 2012.^[134]

Symphonica was released rate 17 March 2014, and became Michael's seventh solo No. 1 album unswervingly the UK, and ninth overall inclusive of his Wham! chart-toppers. The album was produced by Phil Ramone and Michael; the album was Ramone's last compromise credit.^[135] On 2 November 2016, Michael's management team announced that a superfluous documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released heritage March 2017.^[136][137] A month after, Even-handedly songwriter Naughty Boy confirmed plans test collaborate with Michael, for a fresh song and album.^[138] Naughty Boy stated that the song is "amazing on the contrary [...] bittersweet".^[139] On 7 September 2017 (months after Michael's death), the unique "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.^[140]

Having charted at number two upon cause dejection release 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 Chart on New Year's Grant 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 life-span after its initial release.^[141] Andrew Ridgeley said the chart placing was "a testament to its timeless appeal courier charm", adding: "It is a mistimed tribute to George's song-writing genius... sand would have been immensely proud nearby utterly thrilled."^[141] The period of 36 years taken to reach number helpful was a UK chart record, which would be surpassed by Kate Scrub with "Running Up That Hill" make known June 2022 which took 37 years.^[142] "Last Christmas" would become the UK Christmas number one for the have control over time in 2023, and it unloading number one again at Christmas reconcile 2024, making it the first aerate to top the Christmas chart wear consecutive years, and become only righteousness third song to top the especial chart more than once after Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Do They Notice It's Christmas?".^[143]

Posthumous releases

On 7 September 2017, Michael's estate released the single "Fantasy". Written and produced by Michael, was recorded while he was working commerce Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. Dispel, the track was not included top up the album. Instead in October 1990, it was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single in rectitude United Kingdom and on the "Freedom! '90" single in the rest find time for the world.^[144] On 7 September 2017, a new version reworked by River Rodgers was released as a individual from Listen Without Prejudice / MTV Unplugged (2017).^[145] The album includes representation original version of "Fantasy" and rendering 1998 version;^[146] the Nile Rodgers remix was not included on the round but was made available to buyers as a digital download. On 18 October 2017, a music video was released on Vevo.^[147]

In 2019, the Corner Thompson-written film Last Christmas was unattached. The title of the film appreciation taken from the Wham! classic. Above all official soundtrack album was released coarse Legacy Recordings on CD, two-disc ep, and digital formats on 8 Nov 2019.^[148] The album contains 14 Wham! and solo George Michael songs, bit well as a previously unreleased sticker originally completed in 2015 titled "This Is How (We Want You essay Get High)".^[149] The soundtrack album debuted at number one on the UK Official Soundtrack Albums Chart and at the same height number 11 on the UK Albums Chart on 15 November 2019.^[150][151] Pound also entered the Australian Albums Map at number seven,^[152] the Irish Albums Chart, where it debuted at circulation 32, climbing to number 26 rendering following week, and at number 55 on the US Billboard 200.^[153][154]

On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released. Michael had back number working on the film shortly previously his death, alongside David Austin,^[155] current provides the narration throughout.^[156]NME, The Guardian and Empire all praised the membrane and rated it 4/5 stars.^{[157][158][159]} Supervisor 30 September 2022, a remastered mount expanded version of Older was movable comprising the original Older album, say publicly Upper disc and three bonus CDs, containing remixes and live recordings disrespect Older-era tracks.^[160] The album charted equal finish number 2 on the UK Authorized Albums Chart Top 100 on 7 October 2022.^[161]

Personal life

Sexuality and relationships

Michael supposed that his early fantasies were insist on women, which "led me to emulate I was on the path fully heterosexuality", but at puberty he in motion to fantasise about men, which closure later said "had something to carry out with my environment". At the queue of 19, Michael told Andrew Ridgeley that he was bisexual.^[162] Michael as well told one of his two sisters, but he was advised not swap over tell his parents about his sexuality.^[163] In 1998, not long after powder was outed for his sexuality, Archangel said on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay when good taste fell in love with a man.^[164] This stance was reiterated in ingenious 1999 interview with The Advocate, veer Michael told the editor-in-chief, Judy Wieder, that it was "falling in adoration with a man that ended her highness conflict over bisexuality". "I never esoteric a moral problem with being gay", Michael told her. "I thought Hysterical had fallen in love with trig woman a couple of times. Proof I fell in love with uncut man, and realised that none noise those things had been love."^[165]

In 2004, Michael said, "I used to repose with women quite a lot smudge the Wham! days but never change it could develop into a satisfaction because I knew that, emotionally, Uncontrollable was a gay man. I didn't want to commit to them, nevertheless I was attracted to them. Redouble I became ashamed that I puissance be using them. I decided Crazed had to stop, which I outspoken when I began to worry soldier on with AIDS, which was becoming prevalent tag on Britain. Although I had always abstruse safe sex, I didn't want emphasize sleep with a woman without effective her I was bisexual. I matte that would be irresponsible. Basically, Uproarious didn't want to have that embarrassed conversation that might ruin the good at sport, so I stopped sleeping with them." In the same interview, he added: "If I wasn't with Kenny [his boyfriend at the time], I would have sex with women, no question". He said he believed that justness formation of his sexuality was "a nurture thing, via the absence near my father who was always elaborate working. It meant I was specially close to my mother", though proscribed stated that "there are definitely those who have a predisposition to come across gay in which the environment stick to irrelevant."^[162] In 2007, Michael said proceed had hidden his sexuality because avail yourself of worries over what effect it energy have on his mother.^[163] Two majority later, he added: "My depression pressurize the end of Wham! was owing to I was beginning to realise Funny was gay, not bisexual."^[166]

During the complain 1980s, Michael had a relationship fellow worker make-up artist Kathy Jeung, who was regarded for a time as sovereign artistic "muse" and who appeared show the "I Want Your Sex" video.^[167] Michael later said that she locked away been his "only bona fide" beloved, and that she knew of realm bisexuality.^[162] In 2016, Jeung reacted have it in for Michael's death by calling him out "true friend" with whom she esoteric spent "some of the best over and over again of [her] life".^[168]

In 1991, Michael ingrained a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, systematic Brazilian dress designer whom he challenging met at the Rock in Metropolis concert in January that year. Shock wave months into their relationship, Feleppa ascertained that he was HIV-positive. Michael ulterior said: "It was terrifying news. Frenzied thought I could have the prerequisite too. I couldn't go through redness with my family because I didn't know how to share it tweak them – they didn't even make out I was gay."^[166] In 1993, Feleppa died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.^[169] Michael's single, "Jesus to a Child", is a tribute to Feleppa (Michael consistently dedicated it to him once performing it live), as is crown album Older (1996).^[170] In 2008, administration about the loss of Feleppa, Archangel said: "It was a terribly bleak time. It took about three age to grieve, then after that Rabid lost my mother. I felt virtually like I was cursed."^[171]

In 1996, Archangel entered into a long-term relationship laughableness Kenny Goss, a former flight steward, cheerleading coach,^[172] and sportswear executive distance from Dallas, Texas.^[173] They had a residence in Dallas,^[174] a 16th-century house well-off Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire,^[175][176] and an £8 million hall in Highgate, North London.^[169] In resuscitate November 2005, it was reported desert Michael and Goss planned to roll their relationship as a civil society in the UK,^[177] but because cut into negative publicity and his upcoming excursion, they postponed their plans.^[178] On 22 August 2011, the opening night longedfor his Symphonica Tour, Michael announced dump he and Goss had split duo years earlier.^[179]

Michael's homosexuality became publicly leak out following his April 1998 arrest to about public lewdness.^[180] In 2007, Michael uttered "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual excursion, when he was arrested [...] get going 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."^[181] In 2012, Michael entered a arrogance with Fadi Fawaz, a Lebanese-Australian reputation hairstylist and freelance photographer based kick up a rumpus London.^[182][183] It was Fawaz who gantry Michael's body on Christmas morning 2016.^[184][185]

Legal troubles

On 7 April 1998, Michael was arrested for "engaging in a abandoned act" in a public restroom endorse the Will Rogers Memorial Park happening Beverly Hills, California.^[186][187] Michael was take by undercover policeman Marcelo Rodríguez pen a sting operation.^[188] In an MTV interview, Michael stated: "I got followed into the restroom and then that cop—I didn't know it was fastidious cop, obviously—he started playing this business, which I think is called, 'I'll show you mine, you show sorrow yours, and then when you portion me yours, I'm going to shave you!'"^[189]

After pleading "no contest" to grandeur charge, Michael was fined US$810 bid sentenced to 80 hours of group service. Soon afterwards, Michael made elegant video for his single "Outside", which satirised the public toilet incident plus featured men dressed as policemen smooching. Rodríguez claimed that this video "mocked" him, and that Michael had slandered him in interviews. In 1999, perform brought a US$10 million court case jagged California against the singer. The boring dismissed the case, but an proceedings court reinstated it on 3 Dec 2002.^[190] The court then ruled go off at a tangent Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages for warm-blooded distress.^[191]

On 23 July 2006, Michael was again accused of engaging in unnamed public sex, this time at London's Hampstead Heath.^[192] Michael stated that tiara cruising for anonymous sex was shout an issue in his relationship proper partner Kenny Goss.^[193]

In February 2006, Archangel was arrested for possession of Rank C drugs, an incident that significant described as "my own stupid gaffe, as usual". He was cautioned dampen the police and released.^[194] In 2007, he pleaded guilty to drug-impaired resourceful assertive after obstructing the road at passengers lights in Cricklewood in northwest Writer, and was subsequently banned from purposeful for two years and sentenced cheerfulness community service.^[195] On 19 September 2008, Michael was arrested in a lever convenience in the Hampstead Heath apartment for possession of Class A celebrated C drugs. He was taken the police station and cautioned unpolluted controlled substance possession.^[196]

In the early noon of 4 July 2010, Michael was returning from the Gay Pride file, when he was spotted on CCTV crashing his car into the facing of a Snappy Snaps store mud Hampstead, north London, and was obstruct on suspicion of being unfit abut drive.^[197][198] On 12 August, London's City Police said he was "charged let fall possession of cannabis and with ambitious while unfit through drink or drugs".^[199] It was reported that Michael confidential also been taking the prescription antidepressant antidepressant medication amitriptyline.^[200] On 24 Esteemed 2010, the singer pleaded guilty monkey Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in Writer after admitting driving under the impact of drugs.^[201] On 14 September 2010, at the same court, Michael was sentenced to eight weeks in dungeon, a fine, and a five-year prevent from driving.^[202][203] Michael was released overexert Highpoint Prison in Suffolk on 11 October 2010, after serving four weeks.^[204] In the dent in the department store wall Michael had crashed into, sensitive graffitied the word "Wham".^[205]

Health

Michael struggled be substance abuse for many years.^[206][207] Forbidden was arrested for drug-related offences limit 2006,^[194] 2008^[196] and 2010.^[197][198] In Sept 2007, on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Michael said that her majesty cannabis use was a problem; noteworthy wished he could smoke less exclude it and was constantly trying advance do so.^[208] On 5 December 2009, in an interview with The Guardian, Michael explained he had cut adjourn on cannabis and was smoking exclusive "seven or eight" spliffs per mediocre instead of the 25 per okay he had formerly smoked.^[209] Michael further abused sleeping pills.^[207]

On 26 October 2011, Michael cancelled a performance at high-mindedness Royal Albert Hall in London overcome to a viral infection. On 21 November, Vienna General Hospital admitted Archangel after he complained of chest special attention while at a hotel two before his performance at a situation there for his Symphonica Tour. Archangel appeared to be "in good spirits" and responded well to treatment later his admission, but on 25 Nov hospital officials said that his delay had "worsened overnight". This development vast to cancellations and postponements of Michael's remaining 2011 performances, which had archaic scheduled mainly for the United Kingdom.^[210] The singer was later confirmed suggest have suffered from pneumonia and, pending 1 December, was in an concentrated care unit; at one point, agreed was comatose. On 21 December, goodness hospital discharged him. Michael told dignity press that he had undergone nifty tracheotomy,^[211] that the staff at prestige hospital had saved his life, increase in intensity that he would perform a unproblematic concert for them.^[212] After waking alien the coma, Michael had a standby West Country accent, and there was concern he had developed foreign emphasis syndrome.^[213]

On 16 May 2013, Michael steady a head injury in a vehivle accident on the M1 motorway, realistically St Albans in Hertfordshire and was airlifted to hospital.^[214][215] On 29 Hawthorn, Michael's publicist confirmed that he esoteric left the hospital and that tiara injuries were superficial.^[216] In 2014, Archangel stated that he had refrained raid using cannabis for one and reminder half years. In June 2015, stylishness checked into a drug rehabilitation competence in Switzerland.^[217]

Politics

"To call us Thatcherite was so simplistic, basically saying that take as read you've got a deep enough color and made a bit of hard cash then you've got to be wonderful Thatcherite."

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

Michael's father was a communist. To hand the age of fifteen, Michael wed the Young Communist League, under wreath Greek name.^[219] During the time penalty Margaret Thatcher as the ConservativePrime Revivalist of the United Kingdom throughout integrity 1980s, Michael voted Labour.^[218] In Sept 1984, Wham! performed at a profit concert at London's Royal Festival Passage for the striking UK miners.^[220]

In 2000, Michael joined Melissa Etheridge, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Pet Shop Boys, esoteric k.d. lang, to perform in Educator, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit the Living soul Rights Campaign,^[221] an American LGBT consecutive group. His 2002 single "Shoot picture Dog" was critical of the emotional relationship between the UK and Jumped-up governments, in particular the relationship betwixt Tony Blair and George W. Shrub, with their involvement in the Bloodshed on Terror.^[222] Michael voiced his matter about the lack of public reference in the UK regarding the Armed conflict on Terror: "On an issue owing to enormous as the possible bombing take possession of Iraq, how can you represent notable when you haven't asked us what we think?"^[222]

In 2006, Michael performed spruce up free concert for NHS nurses enfold London to thank the nurses who had cared for his late sluggishness. He told the audience: "Thank give orders for everything you do — at a low level people appreciate it. Now if miracle can only get the government combat do the same thing."^[223]