George Michael: Gone too soon
After learning last week that George Michael died of natural causes, we pay tribute to a music icon
The rumour mill went into overdrive following singer/ songwriter George Michael’s shock death on Christmas Day 2016, aged 53. Was it drink, drugs, or something more sinister?
Now, as a coroner’s report reveals the music icon died of natural causes (he had heart and liver disease), his boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, 43, plus his family and friends, know he can rest in peace and they can begin to move on.
Meanwhile, George has left us, his fans, with some unforgettable moments to treasure. We miss you, George…
CLUB TROPICANA
George and his Wham! bandmate, Andrew Ridgeley, posed up a storm in their Speedos in the video for one of their biggest hits, 1983’s Club Tropicana. Everything about this great summer track, including its satire (they were poking fun at the exploding 18-30s package holiday market), represented the duo in their cheeky, party-loving prime. Who could resist ‘Fun and sunshine, there’s enough for everyone’? George also played matchmaker to backing singer Shirlie Holliman – through him, she met her future hubby, Martin Kemp.
THE ELTON DUET
Another legendary moment arrived during the 1985 Live Aid concert, when George joined Elton John to duet on his friend’s song, Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. The pair’s electric live performance went down in history. A later live version, recorded in 1991, was No.1 both in the UK and America.
CARPOOL KARAOKE
George had a wicked sense of humour, and one of his most memorable cameos formed the origins of The Late Late Show’s ‘Carpool Karaoke’, when he appeared with James Corden in a sketch for Comic Relief in 2011. Corden played his Gavin & Stacey character, Smithy, who gets a call from Comic Relief to record a charity single. George asks to go along, is turned down, then argues that Smithy doesn’t ‘want to be seen with a gay man’, before the pair belt out Wham! hits in the car as they drive around London. Genius!
HIS BOND WITH DIANA
George’s close relationship with Lady Diana until her death in 1997 intrigued the media. When George died, the late princess’s former chef, Darren McGrady, tweeted, ‘RIP@ George Michael. You made me laugh out loud when you came for lunch with Princess Diana at Kensington Palace. She adored you. Always knew when #PrincessDiana was in a good mood. @GeorgeMichael music used to belt out around the @KensingtonRoyal courtyard #HappyTimes.’