Book Review: ‘What!, George Michael & Me’ By Andrew Ridgeley

It all started in 1975 when Andrew Ridgeley met Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (later to be know as George Michael) and the rest as they say is history. They became fast friends for live and remained that way even after Wham broke up and until the day he got that fateful phone call about his best friend having died on Christmas. The band only lasted for six years in the early 80’s but they made their mark with the music and personalities (mostly George).

This is the story of how they met, became a band, found mega-success and why it ended when it did. Andrew knew he wanted to be in a band from a young age. He recruited George and other friends and the first band The Executive they were in started to have some minor success playing in and around London. Andrew would take their music around to record companies and get rejection after rejection. As a live band they tight but that soon ended when some of the members decided they want to do other things.

Andrew and George listened to the music of the time and started writing songs that fit and Wham! was born. They were able to secure a record deal and started doing the normal things new bands do. Playing small clubs, press and their big breaks were getting on the popular music shows in London at that time. That was their big breaks and soon they started taking off.

Andrew goes into full detail about how everything worked with the band including stories about how George would take hours on his hair, to get it to look just right. Also how George was a perfectionist about the stage show, the look and everything else associated with recording, touring, the band and how the singles albums sold. George also became the main songwriter.

Andrew just went with the flow of George and details the events leading up to their Live-Aid performance, meeting rock royalties and their final show just six years after the band was formed. Andrew talks about his life post George, George’s success as a solo artist and when he got that call about his best friend.

Throughout the book there are great pictures (lots of them) and great stories about life on the road, how the band had one personality and how they were different people away from the band. This is the story from Andrew Ridgeley’s point of view and it’s one great look at the personal and profession sides of being in the music business and trying to live a personal life (and he talks about George’s struggles with his sexuality) and everything that goes with it good and bad.

You can pick up What! George Michael & Me in stores now from Dutton.