Michael’s life uncovered

On Christmas Day 2018 it will be exactly two years since the untimely death of singer George Michael. The book reveals the story of two extraordinary lives – the private man and the public legend.

Born Georgios Panayiotou, he adopted the name George Michael and biographer Smith has gone back to the neighbourhoods of North London to trace Michael’s astonishing journey of a sensitive yet determined youngster who grew up to become one of Britain’s greatest pop stars.

The author explores Michael’s relationship with his high-achieving Greek-Cypriot father, the unconditional love he received from his mother, his teenage relationships with girls and his tragic love affair with a man.

Smith reveals Michael’s despair at losing the two people who mattered most to him, how he turned to drugs, his notorious “coming out” and how he ended up in a jail cell.

Who can ever forget his huge hit, Careless Whisper?

The lyrics say much of Michael’s genius: “Guilty feet have got no rhythm,” was written when he was just 17.

The book is honest and moving and in the end is a celebration of George Michael’s music and a lasting tribute to a brilliant artist.

I would recommend this book, not only to George Michael fans, but to anyone interested in pop music of the last three decades or so. –