On 1st December 1993 on World AIDS Day, George Michael played a benefit concert in front of the late Diana, Princess of Wales at London’s Wembley Arena. Princess Diana was Britain’s Patron of the National AIDS Trust, and the Concert of Hope was televised worldwide.
The AIDS benefit concert also featured KD Lang and Mick Hucknall (lead singer of Simply Red), with David Bowie acting as the host for the evening. With a sold-out crowd of 12,000 people who had paid a generous ticket price (pounds 35), the Concert of Hope did much to raise funds as well as an awareness of the disease.
George Michael spent much of his life campaigning for a cure for HIV/ AIDS. The Concert of Hope was reportedly his idea, and he did it while in the midst of the litigation from what he regards as a restrictive recording contract with Sony Music. George filed the lawsuit against Sony on October 30, 1992, and the ruling was issued on June 1, 1994. And in between, he had helped bring this concert to fruition.
Photos from Concert of Hope:
Princess Diana shown here chatting with George Michael before the start of the Concert of Hope at Wembley Arena in London to mark World AIDS Day December 1, 1993. To the immediate left of George Michael is singer K.D.Lang of Canada, and to the right Mick Hucknall of Simply Red. Photograph: Pool/Reuters
Photos of the Tour Programmes of Concert of Hope:
Tracklists
George Michael
- Father Figure
- Killer
- Papa Was A Rolling Stone
- One More Try
- Love’s In Need Of Love Today
- Freedom’90
Mick Hucknall
- Thrill Me
- If You Don’t Know Me by Now
- The Right Thing
- Stars
- Come to My Aid
K.D. Lang
- Constant Craving
- Just Keep Me Moving
- Wash Me Clean
- Lifted by Love
- Crying
Cast and Crew
Below are the cast and crew of The Concert of Hope:
- Director: Mike Mansfield
- Host: David Bowie
- Artists: George Michael, K.D. Lang, Mick Hucknall
- Producer: Hilary Stewart
- Executive Producer: Rod Gunner
- Music Director: Chris Cameron
- Publicist: Lisa Caceci
Videos
Watch George Michael perform at the Concert of Hope:
Watch Mick Hucknall’s performance at the Concert of Hope:
Video backstage at the Concert of Hope where the artists – George Michael, KD Lang, Mike Hucknall and David Bowie – met with Princess Diana
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- Wham! In China (Part 2), Smash Hits Magazine (1985)
- George Michael on Queen & David Bowie (2007)
I am truly amazed at this man. No one can say that he had anything but a huge positive influence on this world. Artist, philanthropist, caregiver, selfless man, and undoubtedly a wonderful son and brother. We need the likes of him in our world now more than ever. Thank you, George, for all that you gave to us during your lifetime, short as it was. You will be forever remembered and loved.