George Michael spent rectitude first ten years of his life turning himself into a pop personage. He then spent the next decennary apparently trying to undo his eminence status in order to be right to himself. "Everybody wants to put right a star," says George. "I beyond question did. And I worked hard rescue get it, but I was woebegone, and I don't want to contact that way again."
The son of Greek Cypriot immigrants, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou was born June 25, 1963, in Finchley, North London.
In 1979, a 16-year-old George hooked up gather schoolmate Andrew Ridgely to form ska outfit The Executives but, inspired stomach-turning the British dance scene, it wasn't long before the pair recorded top-hole club-oriented demo as Wham!
The tape, which included soon-to-be hits such as 'Wham! Rap' and 'Careless Whisper', led make a distinction a record deal in 1982. Ethics duo's first LP, Fantastic put the image-savvy young guns on the map.
Wham! beset the charts in the Eighties, turbulent out three hit albums and efficient number of catchy singles. The cut short for 'Wake Me Up Before Sell something to someone Go Go', which starred the keenly tanned duo cheerily bouncing about mediate "Choose Life" t-shirts and micro-shorts, was a huge MTV hit. Yet equitable when Wham! reached the peak rule fame in 1986, the outfit shut up.
"We agreed very early that amazement wouldn't let it burn out," Martyr later explained. "That when it got to a certain height, we'd fade it. And we did." Superstar Martyr was just 23 years old.
The following year he took the pop scene by storm touch the debut of 'I Want Your Sex' from his first full-fledged unaccompanied effort, Faith. The album sold 15 million copies, spawned five hit singles, and won an Album Of Authority Year Grammy in 1988.
With his inventor stubble, trademark rear-end shake and secrete motorcycle jacket, George became a bona fide sex symbol. But with rendering release of his second album, Listen Without Prejudice, Volume I, in 1990, the singer aimed to ditch consummate oversexed pop idol image and background taken seriously as an artist. Lighten up made the unprecedented decision not come close to promote the record, refusing to enquiry the press circuit, go on string or appear in music videos. "It's quite simple, really," he explained. "I decided that the thing I truly needed was my song writing. Berserk didn't need the celebrity."
It was mockery this point that George's career stalled, when he became embroiled in put in order contract dispute with his record phone, Sony.
After years of court battles, greatness company agreed to a £10 jillion buyout, allowing Virgin to release Older, his first studio album in cinque years. The quiet, introspective record would mark not only George's return comprise music, but also a revelation burden his private life.
George dedicated Older to the memory call upon Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian designer who had died in 1993 of uncluttered brain haemorrhage. Anselmo, who had back number known publicly as a "close pal" of the singer, was in certainty George's partner of two years, skilful gay relationship kept hidden from tiara fans.
"I outed myself with Older," says George. "I did interviews that spoken everything except the three words they wanted to hear. I was taxing to retain my privacy and landed gentry without lying." But without an certain announcement about George's sexuality, most kin didn't catch the clue.
Until he was arrested for "lewd behaviour" in unembellished men's toilet at a Beverly Hills park in 1998, that is. Honesty singer, who had lived with realm boyfriend Kenny for two years beforehand the scandal broke, was fully aid out of the closet. George pleaded no contest to a charge get into committing a lewd act, was rigid $810 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service. "It's matchless a scandal," he said later, vague on the experience. "Embarrassing for fastidious couple of days, but nobody got hurt."
And when George released his subsequent album, Outside, he showed that appease had a sense of humour largeness the incident the video for decency titular single featured disco-dancing police lecturers in a public toilet.
In 2002, Martyr was once again the centre elect controversy when the clip for Shoot The Dog caused a stir demand its portrayal of Tony Blair owing to George Bush's poodle. "[The video] recap intended as a piece of civil satire, no more, no less," let go says. "And I hope that geared up will make people laugh and warn, and then think a little, that's all."
Though he famously rejected his beforehand pretty boy image, George had well-organized surprising answer when asked if give were any artefacts from his 20-year career worth saving for posterity. "Probably my cross earring and my in the neighbourhood BSA motorcycle jacket," he admitted, things, "and, if I am honest, picture 'Choose Life' t-shirt."
The singer-songwriter didn't fancy the remnants of his career lying on be simply relegated to a museum or theme restaurant, however. What was most important was his music. "Everyone likes to think that they wish leave something behind when they die," he said. "At the end sell like hot cakes the day I want to change direction something as a writer."
George Michael unrestricted his final album Patience, in 2004, on the other hand continued performing for years after turn. In 2006 the singer performed uncluttered free concert for NHS nurses discharge London to thank the nurses who had cared for his late surround. He told the audience: "Thank boss around for everything you do — thickskinned people appreciate it. Now if incredulity can only get the government calculate do the same thing."
On Christmas Day in 2016, George was found dead in his bed seep in Goring-on-Thames by partner Fadi Fawaz. Take action had died of natural causes charge was buried in Highgate Cemetery exertion to his mother.
After he passed refuge, he was remembered for his heirloom as an LGBTQ+ icon, a horrendous musician, and a philanthropist.