For the first time, Andrew Ridgeley - one half of one of the most famous bands in the world - tells the inside story of Wham!, his life-long friendship with George Michael and the formation of a band that changed the shape of the music scene in the early eighties.
In 1975 Andrew took a shy new boy at school under his wing. They instantly hit it off and their boyhood escapades at Bushey Meads School built a bond that was never broken. The duo found themselves riding an astonishing rollercoaster of success, taking them all over the world. They made and broke iconic records, they were treated like gods, but they stayed true to their friendship and ultimately to themselves. It was a party that seemed as if it would never end. And then it did, in front of tens of thousands of tearful fans at Wembley Stadium in 1986.
Andrew's memoir covers in wonderful detail those years, up until that last iconic concert: the scrapes, the laughs, the relationships, the good and the bad. It's a unique and one-and-only time to remember that era, that band and those boys.
Back in the day I was a big Wham! fan. Within the realm of my rabid teenage devotion, they came second only to Duran Duran. Their infectious pop music was a balm to the angsty teen years and my crush on George Michael was strong. So learning that surviving Wham! member Andrew Ridgeley had written a book about his years with George had me gladly taking a trip down memory lane.
Ridgeley’s memoir focused heavily on the early years of his friendship with George – pre-Wham!, pre-success. From their meeting at age 12, the forming of their first band, and the highs and lows of seeking stardom, the emphasis was always on the close bond and enduring friendship he shared with George. While he was quick to acknowledge George’s incredible talent – his voice, his songwriting – he also seemed to be seeking validation. He was obviously the driving force behind the band in the early years – he pushed to start the band, he was constantly working for greater recognition and a record deal – but once success came he seemed to relinquish almost all creative control to George. He didn’t seem resentful exactly, but it was hard to reconcile his feelings of not having a more dynamic role in the band after he was the one who had chosen that route.
There was quite a gap of time that was a bit glossed over from George’s solo success just after the break-up of Wham! to his death in 2016. I guess that was to be expected, though, since they were no longer living in each other’s pockets at that point.
I listened to the audiobook and also had the Kindle version and it was the perfect way to read this one. I enjoyed listening to Andrew narrate the book himself, telling his story in his own words. And seeing all the photos in the Kindle version, many of them candid snapshots not seen before, was a lot of fun. Overall, Ridgeley delivered a book that was a wonderful tribute to his friend George, someone with whom he shared a remarkable experience. Filled with warmth and humor and admiration, Wham!, George Michael & Me was a good dose of nostalgia and definitely worth reading.
