George Michael was named one of Smash Hits Who’s Who: the 48 most famous faces in British Pop. This booklet was given away free over 3 issues starting with issue 9th – 22nd June 1983, and it contained a short essay about each celebrity. Here’s the write-up on George Michael:
Singing and songwriting half of duo Wham!. Born George Michael Panos in Finchley, London 26/6/63. Father a restauranteur. Went to Bushey Meads school where met future partner Andrew Ridgeley on first day. Found occasional employment as cinema usher, deejay, building site labourer and shop assistant, but knew from “early age” he wanted to play music. While studying for A-levels formed ska band The Executive with Andrew and friends, played at local scout hut, then split.
With Andrew, wrote “Wham! Rap”, a pop-funk song about unemployment, while both on dole after leaving school. It was critically acclaimed when released summer ’82, but it was their second single “Your Guns (Go For It) that established them. Completed first album “Fantastic” summer ’83. Michael likes to see himself as the “voice of our generation”, is absent-minded (he’s forever losing his doorkey) but also hardworking (he now writes all of Wham’s songs single-handed), ambitious, argumentative and above all, confidence. “So many producers won’t accept that two 19 year-olds know what other 19 year olds want to listen to. It’s ridiculous.”
