George Michael Biography

As a solo star George had the difficulty of trying to change his image from hedonistic playboy to serious artist. He had already dipped his toe in the water with 1984's solo hit Careless Whisper (guilty feet have got no rhythm) and 1986's ballad A Different Corner, a UK No.1, which showed the more introspective, thoughtful side of pop's hairiest Greek crooner. In a further bid to change his image from Club Tropicana regular to serious artist George teamed up with soul legend Aretha Franklin in 1987 for the duet I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me). The song topped the charts in the US and the UK. But George's real emergence as a solo star came later that year with his debut solo album Faith. Out went the tennis shorts and shuttlecocks and in came leather, shades and his now trademark designer stubble.

His solo proper debut single, 1987's skeletal, Prince-like funker, I Want Your Sex, courted controversy with a saucy video involving honey, high heels, stockings and other essentials for a really filthy weekend in Hastings. The song earned itself a BBC ban and the righteous indignation of the lesser guitar strummin' idol, DJ Mike Read. The boot tappin' strum 'n' roll of his next single Faith was more wholeheartedly received and the resulting album, Faith, topped the charts in the UK and US spawning four US No 1 singles (Faith, Father Figure, One More Try, Monkey) and earned Michael a 1987 Grammy for Best Album. Faith established Michael as a global superstar and demonstrated his consummate songwriting ability, equally adept at ballads and blue eyed funk workouts.

But Michael recoiled from his massive success and tired of the spotlight, took three years to return with the 1990 album, Listen Without Prejudice, a more introspective, soul-baring affair compared to the fake-funk perviness and raunch rock of Faith. Michael refused to feature a picture of himself on the album's cover and refused to publicise the record with interviews, feeling the music should speak for itself. The album, a UK No.1, spawned just two major hits, the ballad Praying For Time and the more upbeat Freedom 90, subsequently covered by Robbie Williams as his debut single.

A duet with Elton John on Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me revived his UK chart fortunes, reaching No. 1 in December 1991 and also topping the US charts. In 1992, the Sunday Times announced his arrival as one of the richest men in the UK. Although Michael, with some help from Queen and Lisa Stansfield, topped the UK charts with the Five Live EP in summer 1993, a court clash with his record label Sony dominated his activities in the following two years.

Listen Without Prejudice had sold less well than the all-conquering Faith leading Michael to complain that his label, Sony, had done little to promote his new direction, still wanting to present him as a leather lovin', shades wearin' sex symbol against his wishes. Michael slapped a restraint of trade action against Sony but the case was eventually thrown out of court in 1994 when the judge sided with Sony. Michael vowed never to record for Sony again, effectively gagging himself as an artist. The debacle was resolved in 1995 when Sony released Michael from his contract in a buyout from David Geffen's newly formed Dreamworks label and Virgin Records. The buyout was rumoured to cost the two companies over £20m with George bagging a £30m advance for two albums. The first, 1996's Older was another broody, angst laden affair, informed by the death of his Brazilian lover from Aids. The album's first single, the tender ballad Jesus To A Child topped the UK charts, as did follow up single, Fastlove.

In 1997 Michael announced the formation of his own label, Aegean Records but the label would close a few years later with no major successes.

On April 7 1998, Michael was arrested for "lewd behaviour" in a toilet cubicle at the Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, California. Michael later confirmed his long-rumoured homosexuality and was sentenced to perform community service. It was an extraordinary way for such a private individual to announce his homosexuality to the world. Ridiculed in subsequent tabloid headlines ("Zip me up before you go-go,") Michael bounced back with an excellent single, Outside, with an accompanying video depicting mock scenes from the arrest with George dressed as an LA cop. The police officer who arrested George, Marcello Rodriguez, wasn't happy and sued Michael for distress, unsuccessfully.

Meanwhile a greatest hits package, 1998's Ladies And Gentlemen was a worldwide success although fans were baffled by 1999's millennial covers album, Songs From The Last Century featuring a jazzy, wine bar interpretation of The Police's Roxanne, among others.

Michael returned to the charts in March 2002 with the one-off single "Freeek!", which was accompanied by a risqué, trussed up, latex 'n' rubber lovin' £1m video. He courted controversy again a few months later, baiting US President George W. Bush and PM Tony Blair with Shoot The Dog. The single's poor chart showing (only reaching number 12) and the reaction to the single in the US where critics branded him a "past-his-prime pop pervert", indicated Michael's commercial star was on the wane.

But 2004 album Patience signalled a reversal in his fortunes. Full of the attention to songwriting and tender ballads that had marked his greatest solo successes, the album spawned hit single Amazing and went on to sell over 200,000 copies in its first week. But Michael also announced that from now on, he won't be needing the money thanks very much and that he will cease to release commercial material. "My music will be available to download from a website and I'd like fans to contribute money to charity instead via the site," said Michael. "I'm a rich man and as a pop star I'm paid too much money for what I do."

Discography