Andrew Ridgeley Talks George Michael's Death and Creation of Wham! | Full Interview | Smooth Radio
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Wham! legend Andrew Ridgeley speaks to Smooth's Kate Garraway about how the band came together and George Michael's ongoing legacy.
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After watching so many interviews and documentaries about the birth of Wham, it is crystal clear that Andrew was the necessary catalyst that George needed to break out of his creative shell. It wasn’t Andrew’s musical ability that mattered. It was the encouragement he provided as a trusted friend and confidant. George Michael was a gift to all of us who treasure his music and his soul. Thank you, Andrew, for unlocking the miracle that was George Michael. ❤
Andrew has musical ability
He cowrote their first album and Hits
Exactly! It has always been difficult to watch/hear criticism of the gracious man who is personally responsible for WHAM! and bringing George Michael's talent to the world! You're aces, Andy!!! ❤ 🌟
@@Tawadeb Yeah sure, he "cowrote", lol
@@leykimayri Its true. They cowrote Careless whisper too. Im sure George has mentioned it
@@Tawadeb Again, George just let him be credited. What has Andrew written ever since Wham split in 1986? NOTHING. So please with the “co-written” bullsh1ts. George just let him be included so he would keep on getting money for the rest of his life, since he considered that song the best he had written up until that point. It’s also the reason why Andrew was NOT included in George’s will while he made sure to include many other of his friends: Andrew had already been receiving for decades an allowance of millions, thanks to George’s talent and kindness.
Has anyone else become obsessed with learning more about George's life after the Netflix doc. Thank you to Andrew for keeping George's memory alive and for encouraging the whole journey. We never would have had such wonderful memories that their music brought to our lives back then, throughout our lives as well as now.
Me! Deep down the George Michael rabbit hole! Loved him so much
Me… George & Andrew both!
Yes!
I've just watched the netflix film. It was brilliant. It really showed, not just how deep their friendship was, it really showed how Andrew was the catalyst to Georges whole career. He never had that respect at the time. Andrew comes across as a truly lovely man .
George was one of the best ever! But Andrew is one of the classiest men ever! He speaks so well of wham and their friendship. He's awesome!
People look at George as the star of Wham!
He actually copied Andrew a lot because Andrew was the loud and extroverted one. George was really quiet and shy. If it wasn't for Andrew's persistence in the beginning, we would never have heard of Wham! And George Michael x
Andrew is pure class. He & George were true friends. They never threw each other under the bus. ❤️😍💕😪🎄
As it should be. I agree, Andrew is a true gentleman. He always kept his mouth shut at the right time. Andrew knows much more then he lets on. Many could take a page from his playbook. All the best.
@@tryan7 the tabloids created this tragic figure George hated it
They were couple?
Amen
@@tryan7 "mouth shut at the right time"😂
RIP George Michael.
Our daughter who is 8, watches Wham & George Michael on RUclips on our tv. We will keep George Michael’s music alive.
Absolutely miss this beautiful man.
Andrew Ridgely has always been a class act and nobody will understand his loss !!! He and George bought me great happiness in my life when things were not going so well - and for that I will always be grateful.
The Netflix documentary was beautiful! I almost came to tears just watching how this group treated each other with respect! Both Andrew and George are beautiful people inside and out!
Andrew was and always will be awesome. I love this book. In the midst of some in the media STILL trying to sell a bad side of George Michael, Andrew tells a story of friendship, fun an d kindness. I'm glad he wrote this book. It's heartfelt and respectful. I've always thought he was great. Nice to see him out and about again.
Very classy and touching words from Andrew. We all miss George too
Andrew looks so damn good! God bless George and may he RIP
Andrew has given a beautiful recollection of his friendship with George & we could feel it all watching & listening to Wham! You’re loved Andrew
One of the luckiest men. Biggest influence he was to George, was when he acted excited about how much money he could get for being unemployed, so influenced Whan Rap and been living off George's talent ever since.
I had the pleasure of meeting them on the set of wake me up before you go go filmed at the Brixton academy, George and Andrew were so welcoming, they became such icconic
Nice
Thank you Andrew as without you there wouldn't have been a Wham and there would be no GM as we knew him. Andrew is also articulate, intelligent, classy and certainly a true blue friend. I can see why he and George worked together so well both professionally and personally as dear friends as George was all those things too. Andrew took so much unnecessary ridicule as being the other guy in Wham. Let's face it, anyone standing alongside GM is going to look less as GM was a once in a blue moon talent.
I can see some of George's mannerism's in Andrew's . Andrew is a sharp dressed guy and i luv his voice and its nice to get to know him . Thankyou Andrew for all your fab stories x
I agree with you if you watch and listen to Andrw and George they were a lot alike . Calmness mannerisms and class thank you for letting us know you better Andrew.
Wham! makes me remember the best time of my life. I cherish that music & George as a solo artist because I grew with him & his music related to my life like so many others.
A Smith - I still have my WHAM! And George Michael badges! (and an original Ghostbusters badge)!
I still listen to Wham daily at the gym
dawntiwnsaid Yes. I was the happiest ever listening to Wham whilst getting ready to go out when a teen.
Andrew has aged very well! He and George were true friends and it's so sad how GM died so young 😔
My heart really bleeds for this man. He obviously misses one of his best friends.
...as we all do as well. Wham were terrific. Many great memories listening to them. Well done Andrew. A true friend and a true gent and so nice of you to come and talk about those days.
REALLY, you really think he was a true friend , George was The one Who was the real friend , he made sure Andrew had enough money to live for the rest of his life without ever having to work , so now he writes a book and still makes money off George after he passes , while George is not here to defend himself !!!!!!
Don t agree with you
@@debbiemoody2590 Sorry , but it’s the truth , he was never around when George was alive , now all of a sudden he writes a book , anything you need to know about George is in his documentary, so why would he write a book !
@@louisescutti1998 It sounds more like you're jealous of Ridgeley than that you have any reason to think he wasn't a friend to Michael.
@@AssociationAdmirer
Well said.
I couldn't agree more.
Comes across as such a stand up dude.
He clearly couldn’t stand Piers Morgan either and that sets it in stone for me. Great guy Andrew
I will not forgive Piers for his unkind words and actions to Andrew it was not enough to bully him during the interview but then to go off on him on Twitter for not giving you the show you wanted George is a personal issue for him George and his friendship and Andy"s grief over George is not for Piers or any other media to exploit for ratings I wanted Piers fired still do
What did Piers do to Andrew?
@@abunchahooey Andrew had appeared for an interview with the intent of raising awareness of a charity for whom he completed a charity cycle for the week previous. Piers seemed to keep steering the conversation towards George and his opinions on him rather than letting Andrew speak about what he had gone there to speak about
@@Jaymullhat's so rude when interviewers do that. It was a group chat and should have been treated as such. I'm sure George was aware of his rudeness too. Andrew is very classy and dearly misses George. I can tell.
I honestly still can't take it in that George is gone 😭
Me either.
Me neither!
Same here😪😪😪
me too i won't accept he is gone he is not gone he is with me in my heart he is a part of my soul
me too ...
With Andrews's tribute he gave to George shortly after his death, he handled himself with such class. He held himself together well❤
Great interview!!! It's very nice to see a REAL friend, talking about George! I love Andrew's book. It's a real homage to a dear friend and the full story of Wham!!! The best band of the 80s!
What a lovely guy Andrew is, such a massive wham!/George Michael fan ....... I make sure i listen at least once a day to this music.
If you was George's friend , then you are mine!!
Love the book by the way!
Andrew was such a beautiful guy. Loved Wham and George Michael, Andrew still has that boyish smile. Totally beautiful. George was too good for this world.
Especially George, very handsome man
It is good of Andrew to tactfully answer questions about George, post Wham. I just ordered the book and look forward to reading an account from someone who actually knows, how the alchemy of the two created gold.
Yep he talks beautifully about George and doesn't disparage him in any way and clearly knew him best ...nice guy
I bought the book and read it in the space of 2 days, I thought they'd be more of an insight than I had expected and maybe more of his involvement during George's solo career. Nice to see lots of photos I've never seen before though.
Andrew was a huge reason we got the George Michael we got! I give him that credit... Love u George ❤️
❤
Rhonda. Absolutely right. Not sure we would have heard of George without Andrew's input into Wham.
We got wham too!
It didn’t matter what Andrew did , I like Andrew, but it was George who had all the talent , without George there wold be no wham , when he left wham it was all over !!!!!!
God, I miss George.
Same.
Me too. :(
Same here. :/ whenever i hear his songs on the radio, i'm lost. It hurts.
Betting so does Andrew.
As do I. He is unforgettable.
Wham was an amazing group...the songs sound even better then when I listened in the '80s!! I miss George SO much and I loved George and Andrew together! Amazing songs...they live on....
I love Andy, George Michael and wham!
❤❤❤
Mr Andrew Ridgeley dresses with such class
Look. U mind ur business ok I reportt u
What are you talking about deirdre, all i said is Andrew Ridgeley dresses with such class, have you gone nuts 😂😂
@@deirdremyers6226 who is pp deirdre
I hate his suits, bad 70's big winged collar/tablecloth tartan print
His ties are fabulous
Deirdre Myers
What on earth are you talking about?
Soul mates! I wish everyone had such a great friend to support them
I won a Wham! shirt at the mall in Texas. That had to be one of the happiest moments in my young life.
Andrew, a legend always..George missed 😢
Andrew Ridgeley
I love your book Wham! George & Me...
Pure Class 👏👏👏
Same. Love the book
“One last question... do you miss him?” Why would anyone ask this? It seems hurtful and demeaning to the whole friendship he spent 10 mins talking about. What an insensitive question. 😤🤬
Yes, trying to elicit an emotional response so they can make clips of him in tears. Gotta get those clicks.
It’s a normal question to ask dude chill out
Andrew has always been MY favorite ❤😘
THEY ARE/WERE BOTH SUCH CLASSY AND FINE HUMAN BEINGS! ❤️ SO UNLIKE THOSE WEIRD CHARACTERS NOWADAYS...
Very well spoken, and keenly intelligent man. A delight to listen to.
Brilliant watch. Still to this day an incredibly dignified respectful and lovely genuine man ..... Real class act
10:27 nah, 50 isn't old... I'm 40, and I know that I'll be 50 in the blink of an eye because my thirties progressed at light speed. Time is insane.
It really is insane.
I never believed time would be as weird as all of the people older than me always claimed it was. It is, but no one ever said that time would speed up AND slow down.
His grief and loss is exhibited when he handles the pen.
I'm inclined to agree with you@Yvonne Lumpkin.
The book is must for all Wham and GM fans . Sharing memories of their togetherness from Andrew himself gives not just a beautiful glimpse of their unblemished friendship but also how respectful they were for each other. There was no place for vanity . It's a rare friendship nowadays. The book has amusing moments of their growing up days.
But the most poignant part is when Andrew comes to know of GM's demise and when George is laid to rest . It is heartbreaking.
The music & spirit of Wham! and the music & spirit of George Michael are worlds apart, so yeah, there couldn't have been Wham! without Andrew.
i always liked andrew and its great to see him still healthy and happy
What a beautiful long lasting friendship!
Credit to both Andrew and George for their mutual understanding. They created something amazing together, accepted with wisdom when time had come to separate and they both went on to create a life that was meaningful for them. Both are worthy of full respect
Andrew has gone from looking like a young hooligan to looking like a very distinguished elder statesman. Well done mate!!!🥰🥰🥰
HE NEVER LIKED LIKE A HOODIGAN. HE WAS AND STILL HANDSOME.
I went to Wham the final, a fantastic day but sad too that they were breaking up.
George was my age, everything about Wham reminds me of my youth, miss George terribly and still find it hard to comprehend he died.
I too was at Wham! The Final, it was incredible and I have very fond memories of meeting George two to three times...
Bam Charalambous you’re lucky to have met him! Such a shame about his sister too.
I like the songs and voice of Michael George. He is humble guy.
You can see the sadness in his eyes when the host talks about George´s death at 0:14 and 9:46
Andrew Ridgeley almost looks like an aristocratic aesthete now. You can imagine him drifting around a stately home admiring his art collection. :-)
He's so posh!
He’s probably lower middle class / middle class his dad worked for cannon and his mum was a teacher but he went to a comprehensive
@@jneal21 who cares about class , he is Andrew !
Darren T Yh I know but u said he was a posh and I was saying he wasn’t
@@jneal21 No, that wasn't Darren, it was me who said Andrew was posh now. I get what you're saying, though - he started off lower middle class. I think he must have slowly transformed into a refined aesthete as he got older. But that's OK, I think it suits him. He was made for the role.
Merry Christmas ! Greetings from lreland ! Andrew is so refreshingly humble! A super band and two great guys!
I watched WHAM! In China when it was released on VHS in my youth, you guys seemed to have such fun, but you could tell that you were the mischievous one lol.
You’ll likely never read this comment Andrew, but thank you so much for the great music and performances. WHAM! could never have been, without you. 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
George was blessed to have such a true friend in his corner
You would never guess if you passed him in the street that he could have been the driving force of a chart topping 80's duo! Imagine how much fun those lads had back then? Such a shame George didn't make it.
Oh, my gosh!! I haven't seen Andrew for years and he's grown into such a classy man. I love seeing him again. I look forward to reading his book.
Truly looking forward to getting this book. Andrew is such a sweet man.
Thank you for the great music and memories. We miss you George.
Thank you Andrew Ridgeley for that heart felt interview!
George Michael music will live on forever and ever and ever amen❗
Love Andrew in interviews, always. A true class act and real true best friend and companion to George, even after his untimely tragic passing so young. Adore Wham! and the music and its superstars from the 80’s. Would love to get his book. 👑⚜️💎🏆😍🥰😘🤩 🌟 ✨
It was Andrew that pushed George forward actually, if there was no Andrew there would be no wham or George Michael. Also he did play guitar and vocals on many tracks which is great in itself. Andrew is Wham, George will always love him :-)
👏👏👏👏👏👏 thank you for saying that about Andrew.
@@kristibradford302 I know George has acknowledged that Andrew was the driving force at first, No Andrew & the world would have not got George Michael. A great deal to thank Andrew for.
@@kevinparker461 yes . Because people seem to think that because a person is quiet and doesn't say much they're not doing anything to contribute to the group or not about anything and that's simply not true. Many groups have a front man . Look at hall and oats , and tears for fears , and simply red and others. They all have lead singers . But that doesn't mean that the other members are not doing anything. In whams case the driving force was Andrew. It was Andrew's idea to begin wham in the first place. He took the lead in getting things up and running. He pushed them all . He did background vocals and played base bass guitar , and helped write the lyrics to some of the songs , and so forth. People need to recognize that there is a lot that takes place behind the scenes that we the public dont know about. But George and the other band members have acknowledged Andrew as the driving force behind wham . George has even said that if there was no Andrew he wouldn't be in the music industry and there would be no wham . Georges father even said that Andrew was a leader and not a follower and Andrew took the initiative to get things going and to get George moving.
@@kristibradford302 - Absolutely spot on that. If I may add . . . that the British press are poisonous snakes and once they have decided that they don't like someone (whatever that reason may be) they collectively go all out to trash/belittle that person . . . which they did with Andrew, post-Wham !
Devon35 Yes. Andrew gave George the confidence to perform. George always said that. Andrew was instrumental in Wham's success.
This guy is a class act....
THOMAS PRIMROSE the more I listen to him the more impressed I am.
They both were Wham forever❤️❤️❤️
Classy, articulate, and a great friend to George.
Andrew is a lovely man. My parents lived 7 doors down from his parents and one year my best friend and I went trick or treating and we knocked on their door and Andrew answered and he invited us both in to the living room and gave us a fiver each. His parents had wham gold discs on the wall of their hallway. He was really kind to us. This was in 1991 I think
What a journey they must have had together , much respect for Andrew and he makes a great radio DJ.
What a beautiful man x
Back in the day I had the biggest crush on Andrew. My best friend Annette and I loved WHAM She use to fix her hair like George's and I must say she could've passed as George's sister.
The perfect gentleman in the person of Andrew. Wham was a killerrrrrr band!!!! Unforgettable!!!!!!!
Can't believe it was only 4 years. The impact Wham! had in the music industry made it felt like they were there for so much longer than 4 years.
I was 10 when George Michael passed away so, I didn't know anything about him but now he's my my favourite singer and I love him a Lot. Andrew was a valuable friend for George I think. I love wham too cause one of the best pop duos of all time even though they spilt up 😔
I was 11
Thank you Andrew what a great friend love and light to you AMEN
Andrew looks great at his age. Comparing him and George, you really see what a life of hedonism and self indulgence can actually do to a person. RIP George, thanks for the music.
Andy is such a nice person and а great friend!! Protecting George all the time!! Love Wham!!❤ Everything would have been different without Andy!!❤
Love Andrew, friend til the end.
Had the biggest crush on Andrew
50 is not old , you are right Andrew! I'm 49. He even said he doesn't feel old😎
So lucky to have seen Wham! perform at Hollywood Park in ‘85.
They didn’t play many shows. Great memories.
It was a very sad day when George died. One of the most talented artists from the UK. A massive loss!
Very classy man,with great dress sense.Liked his tie with the aircraft (F15s) design.Seems a long time ago now since Wham!Miss those days...
George said him self that there would be no wham with out Andrew
i was just looking at the thumbs down,how could anyone dislike this interview,no harm or malis just a truely great interview from a friendship that has never twained even in death.................
Rumour has it the thumbs down came from the police in 🇺🇸 and staff at snappy snaps ....
People seem to forget that Andrew released his own brilliant album in 1990 - ' Son of Albert. ' He wrote most of the songs and it is a genuinely brilliant rock album.
He cowrote Whams early hits including Careless Whisper.
And their first album
Уважаю Эндрю, за его порядочность и сохранение любви и памяти Джорджу! Иметь такого друга, это здорово! 🙏 Молодежь 80х лучшая...✌
Never had much to look at mr. Ridgley before but comes across as a great. Guy.. Loved wham and everything george did....# Miss the music
WITH THAT ITALIAN/EGYPTIAN LINEAGE ANDREW WAS ALWAYS HOT!!! ESPECIALLY WITH THE MULLET HAIRSTYLE HE SHOULD HAVE WENT INTO MODELING/OWNING ITALIAN CLOTHES LINE SINCE HE ALWAYS ROCKED THE SUIT LOOK. 💞
Andrew was gorgeous and still is
Love Andrew so much in his own right!! ❤️💯
I also come from a Greek background so I understand George’s focus on academics and his reluctance to enter the world of entertainment. I just don’t think he was cut out for the limelight alone and wish he and Andrew had remained together. 💙🎶💥💙
George absolutley was cut out for the limelight as an artist on his own, he just had his demons
Agree. Andrew had a better understanding of G. Michael. Even his partners didn't fully understand
Lynn Bullard I understand Andrew’s family has Egyptian roots, so both ‘boys’ were immigrants in the UK so probably had a strong connection there. I’m interested in reading Andrew’s new book which may help us better understand the issues George was dealing with in his solo career.
@@15gilsonrd agreed, its a great story, a lot of George's interviews (particularly in the early days) highlights that second generation dynamic and the influence of his British mother and his Dad's greek Cypriot background and the interplay between the two cultures, especially in the early days. In the book Andrew mentions his father is of Italian and Yemeni heritage and was born in Egypt.
Lynn Bullard Your so right , Andrew understand George , I feel he never had the right people around him and in the end he definitely had the wrong person in his life , I do wonder if things could have been different... George needed the right kind of love and care such a tragic end .
I am just a fan of Goerge, never met him. But i really miss him, his music, his talent. A philantrophist also, helping lots of poeple silently. He has a very nice voice and sings with his heart. I listen to his music all the time since my childhood and when he died i just feel so sad. A piece of my happiness since childhood is gone.
Is Goerge that Romanian folk singer I heard about?
Tanya Ramos I agree , George was class all the way, he was gorgeous with the most beautiful voice in the world and a brilliant song writer , he had it all , miss him forever !!!!!!!
i love george and andrew SO MUCH, truly such a tragedy that george passed i cant even begin to imagine how andrew felt in that moment. platonic soulmates honestly
I always had a crush on Andrew. I like his smile.
Andrew was always my favorite..
I love George for his solo work..But I always luv Andrews swag !!
I wish I could watch this video but I will just end up sobbing....I love and miss George Michael so much! 😥
Do watch. It is a beautiful tribute.
@@imanamusic2011 Ok I will do. Tyvm ❤
Thank you Andrew for being his friend. To many people leeched off of him . He was an absolutely great human being. People need to remember that. Everyone makes mistakes and hopefully they learn from them. George did. Love you.
I doubt anyone leeched more off George than Andrew
@@leykimayriWrong.
@@lauriedee7862 I’m not
Listened to the audio version of Andrews’s recent book - Intersting stuff !
Link?
audible from amazon
He’s Handsome 😉 Life has a way with destiny.
A wonderful classily dressed man and articulate.
But I really loved Andrew's song "Red Dress" 1990 it was so much underated
I completely agree! I had not heard the album until 2023, but Red Dress is awesome.
It all started with the WHAM! Rap
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Andrew co wrote Careless Whisper, Club Tropicana, Wham Rap
Yes!!!
My fav song is wham rap so Andrew definitely played a part
I always appreciated Andrew Ridgely, but that appreciation has escalated in the time since we lost Georg Michael. What Andrew says about the difficulty in flying solo underlines why I am myself a musician that's long resisted pursuing a solo "career".