When George Michael died unexpectedly on Christmas at age 53, celebrities from all edges of the world publicly and immediately expressed their sorrows. James Corden noted that he inspired Carpool Karaoke. Brian Wilson wished love and mercy to his loved ones. But one notable person stayed quiet. Now Andrew Ridgeley -- always the more reclusive half of the smash pop duo Wham!
In the new page memoir Wham! George Michael and Me: A Memoir , Ridgeley, now 56, forgoes the standard story-of-my-life details to focus on his decade of friendship with the music icon. The pair became fast friends, bonding over a mutual love of David Bowie and Elton John. Just six years later, they formed Wham! With their catchy hooks and sugar-coated melodies that embraced a youthful spirit, Wham!
It quickly became clear, however, that the charismatic lead singer was not only the star of the show, but one of the biggest talents in the business.
Michael achieved icon status; Ridgeley, recognizing his creative limitations, briefly took up professional motor racing and released a minor-selling album of his own before exiting the business for good.
They stayed in touch peripherally. What happened in between? His Greek father was a strong character and narrow-minded about the world, determined that his son become a success. He discovered years later that he was color blind, which affected his style.
