The estate of George Michael is pursuing legal action against his former best friend, Andros Georgiou, for charging fans to view online footage of the late singer recording a lost album. Georgiou, 63, claims the late star would be 'turning in his grave' over the lawsuit, which was prompted by the release of his film Trojan Souls – The Greatest Album That Was Never Made. The film contains nearly 90 minutes of recordings from 1992 and 1993, showing Michael in the studio.
A website launched last month hosts the film, charging £4.99 for 48-hour access. Distributor Tribe Media also offers a £19.99 VIP tier with previously unheard recordings of unreleased songs by the Wham! star. The estate filed a case at London's Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court, alleging breach of rights. Georgiou said he had 'no idea' about the lawsuit until contacted by a newspaper.
Georgiou Defends Film Release
Georgiou labelled the estate's move 'a case of sheer greed'. In a statement, he said: 'First and foremost – my brother in arms, my best friend, George Michael to you, Yog to me – would turn in his grave knowing what Russells (the estate's lawyers) are attempting – and spending his money to do it.' He added that the film was shot by him with Michael's 'full approval' and was a home video that had been leaked over 30 years ago. Because it kept resurfacing on YouTube and social media, he decided to release it himself, as others were already profiting.
Georgiou shot the footage in Japan during Michael's Faith tour using a camcorder given by Sony. The album Trojan Souls was set to feature duets with stars including Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Janet Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bryan Ferry, Seal and Sade. However, Michael lost interest after his then-partner Anselmo Feleppa's health declined; Feleppa died in March 1993, and Michael never completed the record.
Background of Friendship and Legal Claim
Georgiou and Michael were second cousins whose fathers moved from Cyprus to the UK together in 1953. They co-founded Aegean Records in 1996 but fell out after Michael's 1998 arrest in a Los Angeles public toilet. Although estranged, they planned to reconcile, and Georgiou said they spoke by phone in the final weeks of Michael's life. Georgiou added: 'Yes, we fell out, but we loved and cared for each other deeply, and I find the baseless claims and the constant attempts to erase me from history both disrespectful and, frankly, a bit desperate.'
Michael died of natural causes at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, on Christmas Day 2016, aged 53. The legal claim is brought by Robobuild Limited and Big Geoff Overseas Limited, holding companies that managed Michael's royalties and tours, against Georgiou and Tribe Media. Metro has contacted lawyers for George Michael's estate for comment.
