George Michael inspired millions with his powerful vocals and hit songs. However, according to his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley, the global superstar struggled to embrace life in the spotlight. In an exclusive conversation with Fox News Digital, Ridgeley discussed Michael’s ongoing battle with fame before the release of the documentary “WHAM! 10 Days In China.” He described this struggle as “an eternal conflict.”
“He didn’t want to be a star in the sense of constantly projecting himself,” Ridgeley stated. “George Michael was a persona he created to fulfill his artistic destiny as a songwriter, singer, and musician.”
GEORGE MICHAEL DIED WORTH $128M, BUT FRIENDS SAY HE SECRETLY GAVE AWAY MILLIONS FOR DECADES: AUTHOR
This archival photograph shows Wham! members Andrew Ridgeley (left) and George Michael (right) posing on the Great Wall of China during the band’s landmark 1985 visit to the country. (Neal Preston)
Ridgeley further commented, “But he wanted to live his life as Yog, rather than as George Michael. There was always that conflict for him, and it was an eternal conflict, one that he never fully resolved.” Known affectionately by friends as “Yog,” Michael spent decades balancing worldwide fame with a private personal life. Ridgeley believes this struggle was not fully understood by fans.
“I don’t think he was misunderstood,” Ridgeley explained. “People weren’t appraised of all the facts for a long time, and he was a very private man.” He emphasized that if there was one thing audiences underestimated, it was the magnitude of Michael’s talent. “People probably didn’t understand the depth of his talent for a long time,” he said. “That is bewildering.”
WATCH: WHAM! BAND MEMBER ANDREW RIDGELEY REVEALS WHAT FANS NEVER UNDERSTOOD ABOUT GEORGE MICHAEL
The reflections are featured in “WHAM! 10 Days In China,” a new documentary that revisits the duo’s landmark 1985 concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou. Wham! became the first Western pop group to perform in China. The documentary explores the band’s historic visit using newly restored archival footage, previously unseen material, and firsthand interviews. It examines the cultural impact decades later.
Looking back more than 40 years after these performances, Ridgeley mentioned that one of the biggest revelations is the lasting legacy of the trip. “This is a retrospective which reveals as much as we possibly could about why we went, what we did, who were there, and its legacy,” Ridgeley stated. “The legacy was the most important aspect for me to try and discover because we knew nothing of it. The legacy in China remained unknown.”
WATCH: WHAM! BAND MEMBER ANDREW RIDGELEY REVEALS THE UNTOLD STORY BEHIND THEIR TRIP TO CHINA IN 1985
Although Michael famously criticized the band’s first performance in China, Ridgeley said he wasn’t surprised by his late friend’s reaction. “That wouldn’t have been the first time he described a show as effing horrible,” Ridgeley said with a laugh. “He didn’t mince his words.”
“I understood perfectly well why he felt that way,” he continued. “But in hindsight, and as we discovered as part of this film, the legacy and impact of those shows were life-changing for some people.”
George Michael passed away on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53. Ridgeley believes that the singer would be deeply moved by the admiration fans continue to show nearly a decade later. “I think he would be very flattered by the depth of feeling held for him, by how his memory has been honored, how his talent is recognized, and how he is adored,” Ridgeley said.
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Andrew Ridgeley sits along the Great Wall of China during a return visit to the historic landmark decades after Wham!’s groundbreaking 1985 tour. (Craig Hastings)
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“WHAM! 10 Days In China” premieres in theaters for a one-day-only release on July 28.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an entertainment reporter for Fox News Digital.
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