Andrew Ridgeley still deeply misses his late best friend and Wham! bandmate George Michael, who died 10 years ago this Christmas Day at age 53 from heart and liver disease. The 63-year-old spoke to the Mirror about the pain of losing someone so close, especially while promoting the new documentary film 'Wham! 10 Days in China', which features unseen footage of the duo as young heartthrobs.
Ridgeley Praises Michael's Talent and Character
Ridgeley described Michael as “a deeply caring chap” and called his loss irreplaceable. “For me, to have lost the best friend that I ever had is difficult, but irreplaceable [is] a childhood friend with whom you’ve spent your formative years and become an adult with and gone through youth. It’s a big loss,” he said. He added that Michael was “possibly one of the finest singer songwriters that has ever set foot on the earth, makes it doubly poignant.”
Documentary Captures Historic China Tour
The documentary, 'Wham! 10 Days in China', includes footage of George and Andrew in communist China in 1985, where they became the first Western pop act to perform there. The film shows them preparing for concerts, meeting Chinese fans, visiting the Great Wall, and attending a state dinner. It also captures their performances in Beijing and Guangzhou, where they played hits like 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' and 'Freedom'. The trip was originally a publicity stunt to boost their American success, but the documentary highlights its lasting impact on Chinese audiences hearing Western music for the first time.
“I don’t think we had any idea of the impact or legacy that Wham!’s tour there would have achieved,” Ridgeley said.
No Regrets Over Wham! Split
The band split in 1986, a year after their China success. Ridgeley expressed no regrets, saying it was necessary for Michael to pursue a solo career. “It was something George had to move on from. And we had achieved everything we had set out to achieve in spades,” he explained. “We wanted to be the biggest pop act in the world. We pretty much were by the time June 28 1986 rolled round. There wasn’t a great deal left for us to do as Wham!, but there was a whole lot for George to do as a solo artist.”
Ridgeley dismissed any notion of guilt on Michael’s part, emphasizing their mutual understanding. “No, I don’t think he did, and neither should he. It was a mutual thing and we both understood he needed to do that. We were friends, we still saw each other, it wasn’t like Wham was the end of our friendship, it was just the end of the chapter in our friendship.”
Documentary Release
'Wham! 10 Days in China' hits cinemas on July 28.
