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George Michael

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A singer, songwriter and producer of Greek-Cypriot and English origin, and lead singer of the British pop duo Wham!

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  • Origins, family and early years (1963–1974):
  • 25 June 1963: Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou was born in a rented house on Church Lane, East Finchley (north London).
    • Father: Kyriacos ‘Jack’ Panayiotou (born 12 April 1937), who emigrated by ship from Patriki (Cyprus) in 1953. Initially a waiter, he bought the Angus Pride restaurant in Edgware in 1968 and changed his professional name to Jack Panos.
    • Mother: Lesley Angold Harrison (born 24 December 1938), an English dancer, worked in various places (including a fish and chips shop, where the distinctive, lingering smell remains a vivid memory for George).
    • Sisters: Yioda (born 12 January 1958) and Melanie (born 22 October 1960). Later, both would accompany him on tour: Melanie as a hairstylist and make-up artist, and Yioda managing his wardrobe and clothing.
  • Home and early education: The family initially lived above a launderette, then bought a semi-detached house in Burnt Oak/Edgware (4,000 pounds in 1969). George attended Roe Green Infants & Juniors (Princes Avenue, Kingsbury) and Kingsbury High School.
  • Family dynamics: His parents worked tirelessly (“work was their religion”), leaving little room for physical affection or openly expressed praise. His father, an authoritarian and conservative man, wanted a ‘macho’ son and tried to shield George from what he considered to be ‘false musical dreams’, even telling him he had no vocal talent. His mother was the rock of stability in the boy’s life.
  • Childhood and early musical passions: At the age of 6, he met David Austin (David Mortimer), born on 14 July 1962, whose mothers knew each other. The two began writing and recording songs on a Revox tape recorder (such as ‘The Music Maker of the World’ or covers of Elton John and The Sweet), laying the foundations for a lifelong friendship and collaboration.
  • The move, puberty and secondary school years (1975–1978):
  • 1975–1976: The family moved to Radlett (Hertfordshire), into a spacious house on Oakridge Avenue. As the house required a whole year of renovation, they stayed temporarily above the restaurant in Edgware. Eating steak and chips and ice cream almost every day, George quickly went from being a skinny 11-year-old boy to a chubby 12-year-old teenager. With puberty came his first insecurities about his weight, his very frizzy hair and his thick-rimmed metal glasses.
  • September 1975 (Bushey Meads School): As a new pupil at the school, George is assigned a mentor: Andrew Ridgeley (born 26 January 1963). Around the same time, he also becomes friends with Shirlie Holliman (born 18 April 1962).
    • First meeting: During a game of ‘King of the Wall’ at break time, George pushes Andrew off the wall. Andrew initially sees him as a ‘wimp’ with joined eyebrows (‘like seagull wings’), but their shared passion for music (Elton John, Queen, David Bowie, Motown) binds them together irrevocably. Andrew affectionately nicknames him ‘Yog’ (derived from the Greek pronunciation of the name Georgios).
  • Artistic exploration:
    • George takes violin lessons (without much success), and at the age of 12 he finally gets a drum kit.
    • He attends his first big concert (Elton John at Earls Court) and becomes an avid reader (he loves the Narnia series).
    • He tries his hand at busking on the London Underground, playing Queen’s ‘’39’’.
    • He worked as a DJ at the Bel Air restaurant (Northwood), as well as at various parties, schools and clubs in Bushey, Stanmore and Watford. Although he was earning his own money, his dream was to perform on a big stage.
  • The Executive and the transition to success (1979–1981):
  • Summer 1979: The ska band The Executive (influenced by 2 Tone / The Specials) is formed: George (vocals), Andrew Ridgeley (guitar/keyboards), Paul Ridgeley (drums), David Austin and Andrew Leaver (guitar), alongside occasional contributions from Jamie Gould and Tony Bywaters. They rehearsed at St Peter’s Church Hall (Bushey Heath).
  • 5 November 1979 (Bonfire Night): Their first public concert takes place at Bushey and Oxhey Methodist Church Hall, where they perform the original song ‘Rude Boy’, a ska version of ‘Can’t Get Used to Losing You’ (Andy Williams) and an arrangement of Beethoven’s ‘Für Elise’.
  • 1980: The band played a gig at Harrow College (supporting The Vibrators) and recorded a demo, but financial and organisational disagreements (a fictitious gig promoted by Austin) led to the band’s break-up. Sadly, guitarist Andrew Leaver later died at a young age from cancer; Wham!’s first album would be dedicated to him.
  • 1981: George and Andrew decided to continue together as a duo.
  • The arrival of Florence Marina, the formation of Wham! and their rise to fame (1982–1983):
  • 15 May 1982 (A pivotal encounter):
    • At 19, feeling overwhelmed by band and friends' problems, George visited Radlett Children’s Home (Napsbury Lane / Shenley / Radlett, opened in 1967 by Hertfordshire County Council), near Napsbury and Highfield hospitals, or Barnardo’s and The Children’s Society homes.
    • There he meets Florence Marina, born on 19 July 1964. Her biological parents, of Romanian origin, had abandoned her at birth, and at 1.5 years she was brought to the UK.
    • Turning 18, Florence had to leave the care home with nowhere to go. Shy and traumatised by abandonment, preferring to suffer in silence and weeping daily, she deeply impressed George. Having fallen in love, he takes her to live in his London flat, while grappling with his sexual orientation and how to confess to her.
  • The formation of Wham! and name change:
    • The name came spontaneously in a club when Andrew shouted ‘Wham! bam!’.
    • They record a 10-minute demo in Andrew’s bedroom. After meeting Mark Dean at the Three Crowns pub in Bushey Heath, they sign with Innervision in 1982. Georgios officially becomes George Michael.
  • Wham!’s image and line-up:
    • Concept: energy, colourful outfits and dynamic choreography.
    • Backing vocals: Shirlie Holliman and Dee C. Lee. When Dee left for The Style Council (marrying Paul Weller), Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque (born 10 December 1958) replaced her, forming Pepsi & Shirlie.
    • Extended line-up: Tommy Eyre, Andy Richards, Mark Fisher (keyboards); Deon Estus (bass); Hugh Burns (guitar); Trevor Murrell, Danny Cummings (drums); David Baptiste (saxophone); Leroy Osbourne, Janet Mooney, Janey Lee Grace (vocals); Paul D’Oliviera, Colin Graham, Paul Spong (trumpet); Gary Crowley (DJ).
  • Music releases (1982–1983):
    • ‘Young Guns (Go for It)’ shot up charts following a Top of the Pops appearance.
    • July 1983: Debut album Fantastic hit No. 1 in UK.
    • ‘Club Tropicana’ (1983) was filmed at Pikes Hotel in Ibiza (dear to Freddie Mercury), showing George and Andrew as pilots and girls as flight attendants.
  • Global superstar and inner turmoil (1984):
  • Make It Big success:
    • Signing with Epic/Columbia gave George total creative control. Make It Big reached No. 1 in UK and US.
    • ‘Careless Whisper’ (written at 17 on a bus) reached No. 1 in 25 countries.
    • ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ became a smash hit.
    • ‘Last Christmas’: Written alone in his childhood bedroom in February 1984 after football with Andrew, recorded solo in August 1984 in a Christmas-decorated studio. It reached No. 2 in UK (behind Band Aid, which George joined), donating royalties to Ethiopian famine relief.
  • Identity revelations:
    • Early teenage fantasies were about women, but during puberty he developed fantasies about men.
    • At 19, George confided his bisexuality to Andrew, a sister and friends, who advised waiting to tell his parents.
    • Beneath his sex symbol image, George remained shy, aware of the gap between public image and true self, while becoming a pragmatic industry professional.
  • Relationship with Florence (1984):
    • Florence turns 20. Though trauma and abandonment bring daily tears, George’s love (received from age 21) is her main support. George provides her security and happiness while navigating his identity and superstar pressures, keeping their future open.

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