Paul & George

Tragic singer’s ‘ bucket list’ wish to team up with Macca

GEORGE Michael died before fulfilling his greatest wish – to perform again with his old pal Sir Paul McCartney.

The singer had told friends he was desperate to record a new track with the Beatles star. A friend said: “George was a massive fan of The Beatles and he loved Paul. They had worked together on lots of occasions and he had told friends he was desperate to work with him again.

“George had been in the studio a lot before his death – constantly thinking about music and what he could do next.”

George, 53, was found dead at home on Christmas Day. He and Sir Paul were famously pictured alongside each other at the 1985 Live Aid concert finale. In 2005, he joined Paul on stage to perform Drive My Car during the Live 8 gig at Hyde Park in London.

The pair also collaborated on a new version of Heal the Pain, for George’s greatest hits collection Twenty Five.

After George died, Sir Paul, 74, said: “George Michael’s sweet soul music will live on. Having worked with him on a number of occasions, his great talent always shone through and his self-deprecating sense of humour made the experience even more pleasurable.” George’s funeral is expected to happen imminently – a small, family affair as he is buried next to his mother at Highgate Cemetery in North London.

Days ago Channel 5 had to defend a documentary on George after his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley dubbed it “insensitive, contemptuous and reprehensible”. Channel 5 said it was “a measured account” of the star’s life and death.