London - British singer George Michael,
who became one of the pop idols of the 1980s with Wham! and then
forged a career as a successful solo artist with sometimes
sexually provocative lyrics, died at his home in England on
Sunday. He was 53.
In the mid-1980s, “Wham! was one of the most successful pop
duos ever, ahead even of Simon & Garfunkel, with singles like
“"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", “"Careless Whisper", "“Last
Christmas" and "“The Edge of Heaven".
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved
son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home
over the Christmas period," his publicist said in a statement.
"The family would ask that their privacy be respected at
this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further
comment at this stage," the statement said.
British police said Michael's death was "unexplained but not
suspicious."
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou June 25, 1963 in London to
Greek Cypriot immigrant parents in a flat above a north London
laundrette, Michael once played music on the London underground
train system before finding fame with Wham!.
With a school friend, Andrew Ridgeley, he formed Wham! in
1981, a partnership that would produce some of the most
memorable pop songs and dance-floor favorites of the 1980s.
"I am in deep shock," said Elton John. "I have lost a
beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant
artist. My heart goes out to his family and all of his fans.
@GeorgeMichael #RIP."
'I Want Your Sex'
The duo had their first hit with their second release
"“Young Guns (Go For It)" (1982) before their debut release
“"Wham Rap" became a hit the following year. The 1984 album
"Make It Big" was a huge success in the United States.
"“No way could I have done it without Andrew," Michael once
said. "I can't think of anybody who would have been so perfect
in allowing something which started out as a very naive, joint
ambition, to become what was still a huge double act but what
was really...mine."
But Michael was keen to reach beyond Wham!'s teenage
audience and to experiment with other genres. Wham! announced
their split in 1986.
A pilot solo single “"I Want Your Sex" was banned by daytime
radio stations but was one of his biggest hits.
"I want your sex, I want you, I want your sex," he sang. "So
why don't you just let me go, I'd really like to try, Oh I'd
really love to know, When you tell me you're gonna regret it,
Then I tell you that I love you but you still say no!"
In the space of the next five years, Michael had six U.S.
Number One hit singles including "“Faith", "“Father Figure",
"“One More Try", "“Praying For Time" and a duet with Aretha
Franklin "“I Knew You Were Waiting For Me".
Questions about his sexuality were raised when he was
arrested in 1998 for "engaging in a lewd act" in a public
restroom of the Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills,
California.
"I feel stupid and reckless and weak for letting my
sexuality be exposed that way," Michael told CNN at the time.
"But I do not feel shame [about my sexuality], neither do I
think I should."
"I can try to fathom why I did what I did," he continued,
"but at the end of the day, I have to admit that maybe part of
the kick was that I might get found out," he told CNN.
Though he had relationships with women and once told family
members that he was bisexual, Michael, then 34, said he was gay.
"Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael," said Star
Trek actor and LGBT rights activist George Takei. "You've found
your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas, and we
shall miss you."
While Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was in power, Michael
voted for Britain's opposition Labour Party but criticised Tony
Blair's support for George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq.
"Sad to hear that George Michael has died," said current
Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. "He was an exceptional artist
and a strong supporter of LGBT and workers' rights."
Michael's death comes at the end of a year that has seen the
passing of several music superstars, including David Bowie,
Prince and Leonard Cohen. Rick Parfitt, the guitarist of British
rock group Status Quo, died on Saturday at 68.