Late Wham! star George Michael appears to ask Chinese residents to “get up and have a quick dance” in never-before-seen archive footage from the group’s historic 1985 tour in China. The duo, consisting of Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, feature in the newly released trailer for the upcoming documentary Wham! 10 Days In China, which chronicles their groundbreaking visit as the first Western pop group to perform in the country.
Historic Tour Footage Restored
The trailer offers a sneak peek of restored, newly digitised footage showing the duo navigating the tour, including concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou. Under strict guidelines at the time, they introduced live pop music to Chinese audiences, marking a pivotal moment that expanded the band’s international profile. The two-minute trailer includes archive footage and interviews with those who experienced the tour first-hand, revealing the pressure the pair felt, especially Michael, who appeared to be struggling.
“Perhaps all this sudden fame has gone to your heads,” a reporter can be heard asking the pair at a press conference, before cutting to the two standing up to leave. The film revisits the trip through the eyes of the band, their team, and Chinese audiences encountering Western pop culture for the first time.
Wham!'s Legacy and Michael's Later Career
Wham! achieved five UK number one singles and are best known for songs such as Last Christmas, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, and I’m Your Man. The group also achieved six top 10 albums, including two number ones, before their split in 1986. Michael began his solo career a year later with the release of his debut album Faith. He died on Christmas Day in 2016 and was recognised posthumously with a Fellowship of The Ivors Academy in May 2024.
Documentary Release Details
Wham! 10 Days in China will be broadcast on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer later this summer and will be released in cinemas worldwide from July 28.
