Andrew Ridgeley, the former bandmate of George Michael in the pop duo Wham!, has spoken about the singer's complicated relationship with fame, describing it as an "eternal conflict." Ridgeley explained that Michael created a public persona to achieve his artistic goals but longed for a private life.
"He didn't want to be a star… in the sense of constantly projecting himself," Ridgeley told Fox News Digital. "George Michael was a character that he created in order for him to fulfill his artistic destiny as a songwriter and a singer and a musician."
Ridgeley elaborated that Michael, affectionately known as "Yog" by friends, wished to live as his private self rather than his public persona. "But he wanted to live his life as Yog, you know, rather than as George Michael. There was always that conflict for him, and it was an eternal conflict, and one that he never fully resolved."
Ridgeley believes that many fans did not fully grasp the depth of Michael's talent, suggesting this was a primary area of misunderstanding. "People probably didn't understand the depth of his talent for a long time," he said. "That is bewildering and has always been bewildering... If there's any misunderstanding, it was over the sheer scale of his talent."
These reflections are featured in the documentary "WHAM! 10 Days In China," which revisits the band's groundbreaking 1985 concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou. Wham! was the first Western pop group to perform in China.
The film utilizes newly restored archival footage, unseen material, and firsthand interviews to explore the significance of the visit and its lasting cultural impact. Ridgeley noted that a key aspect of the documentary was uncovering the legacy of the trip, which remained largely unknown to the band at the time.
"This is a retrospective which reveals as much as we possibly could about why we went, what we did, who were there and its legacy," Ridgeley said. "And its legacy was the most important aspect for me to try and discover because we knew nothing of it. The legacy in China remained unknown."
Michael had famously been critical of the band's performances in China. Ridgeley, however, was not surprised by his friend's assessment, recalling Michael's blunt nature. "He didn't mince his words," Ridgeley said with a laugh. "I understood perfectly well why he felt that way. But... in hindsight, and as we discovered as part of this film, the legacy and the impact that those shows had on some people, especially, was life-changing."
George Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53. Ridgeley expressed his belief that Michael would be moved by the continued admiration and honor shown to his memory and talent by fans.
"I think he would be very flattered by the depth of feeling that is held for him by how his memory has been honored, how his talent is recognized, how he is fêted and adored," Ridgeley said. "I think that that would have been very special to him, and he would have been very humbled by it."
"WHAM! 10 Days In China" is scheduled for a one-day theatrical release on July 28.