Playing my hero? - Baby I’m your man
A George Michael lookalike from Cleland says starring as his idol in a live, touring stage show about the singer’s life is “a dream come true”.
Brendan Carr, 51, will be the headline act performing as ‘older George’ in the touring theatre performance The George Michael Story.
The Wishaw Press told earlier this year how tribute singer Brendan drove 400 miles in 16 hours from Cleland to visit George’s former home in Goring, Oxfordshire, on a Last Christmas pilgrimage on the first anniversary of the superstar’s death.
The floral tribute superfan Brendan laid at Goring carried a card on which Brendan promised to do his best to keep George’s memory and his music alive.
Brendan, who has an uncanny resemblance to the former Wham! front man, also performs with tribute group I’m Your Man.
The superfan, who works for the Kairos Group, says: “I was absolutely over the moon to be asked to do this and just so excited about the whole prospect of it.
“It’s a dream come true for me to be singing and paying tribute to a guy that I love.”
He was approached by the new touring show’s founding director Colin Jones, who said Brendan was top of his list of acts to play ‘older George’ in the chronological show about the star’s life, starting from the earliest part of George’s career right through to his death on Christmas Day 2016.
“You obviously can’t do that with one George Michael and I’ll be playing George during the second half of the show in his later life,” explained Brendan.
“It’s going to be a very emotional story, there’s going to be a lot of tears. But there will be a lot of happy moments with people up singing.”
Brendan will perform in front of an audience of thousands during 11 live shows at venues across the UK — including at least three in Scotland.
A full live, nine-piece band with video screens will support the story and show footage of George and interviews with the man himself.
Brendan continued: “Loads of George Michael fans have been messaging me since a photograph of me bowing down at George’s house went online.
“There has been a huge amount of people that have said ‘Oh my God, that looks so much like George Michael’.
Singer Steve Mitchell, 39, will be performing as ‘young George’ at the start of the show, which will see profits being donated to George Michael’s charities.
And founder Colin says there will also be some “very important guests”.
Co-producer James Crofts commented: “I can’t wait to get this show on the road. It’s great to have Brendan on board. I know both he and Steve Mitchell will do George Michael proud. It’s been a labour of love and long days to get this show on the road. I would like to thank Brendan for his help and support and I can’t wait to share the stage with him.”
Brendan will perform as part of the The George Michael Story UK Tour at Falkirk Town Hall on August 23 and Double Tree by Hilton Strathclyde on August 24 and then at the Langfield Suite, Prestwick on October 5, with a possible date for Edinburgh.
For tickets, visit thegeorgemichaelstory.com