Wham - netflix doc

[Forestdweller11]

Anyone watched it? Any good?

I saw George on the Fame tour and Andrew made a guest experience. Must be around 30 years ago now and I still remember it like it was yesterday. George had the most fabulous voice and incredible song writing talent. So sad that there willnever be anymore new music from him .

I wonder what would have happened if Wham hadn't appeared on TOTP that day? It was hard for acts to make it big in those days without appearing on TV and TOTP was the biggest show.

I think Culture Club also appeared on TOTP last minute to full in for another act and that appearance pushed them right up the charts.

It's hard to explain to kids nowadays just how huge TOTP was. I remember chatting with friends about who had been on at school the next day and being excited if our favourites had a poster in Smash Hits.

It was such a different world. No social media and constant promotion in your face. Like pp said I totally missed the concerts of my favourite artists simply because I didn't know they were happening. Imagine that nowadays!

I wonder what would have happened if Wham hadn't appeared on TOTP that day? It was hard for acts to make it big in those days without appearing on TV and TOTP was the biggest show.

Especially given the sneering attitude of the music press. I remember this well - a handful of self-regarding men (almost exclusively), dictating what was and wasn't cool. You were made to feel embarrassed about liking anything that didn't have their approval. Fame via YouTube (10 years ago) or TikTok now has its downsides, but at least it's more democratic.

Haven't RTFT, so don't know if this has already been covered, but the Wham documentary reminded me what a cock John Peel was. And how unperceptive: sneering at Club Tropicana when anyone with half a brain could have recognised it as an instant pop classic, with roots in 70s disco and funk.

I don't know why John Peel ever did TOTP - he's so condescending and mightier than thou

I don't know why JP's penchant for young girls seems to keep getting swept under the carpet

so good, I'm gonna watch it again🤩

I loved it. I was swept back in time completely. Saw them in Brighton at the height of the shuttlecock era. They encapsulated the can do of youth, it was contagious and the backing track to my teens.

What I didn't realise was the depth and honesty of their devotion to one another. I found that incredibly moving. They were so lucky to have found each other. Losing George must have been devastating to Andrew and Shirley.

Loved Andrew's mums scrapbooks.

What a beautiful story of friendship. Made me see Andrew Ridgley in a totally different light…and of course the amazing George - what a gorgeous story of love and support. I wonder how close Andrew and GM were at the end? I can’t recall if Andrew went to his funeral.

Another attendee of the Club Fantastic shuttlecock tour, in the uber glam surroundings of the Swansea Top Rank! Loved this documentary, great to learn more about Andrew and their relationship, it was funny and moving.

I know!! There should be more information about his sleazy behaviour. Just because he died before facing justice doesn’t mean his memory should go unsullied. At least the John Peel stage has gone from Glasto.

I don’t think George and Andrew cared that a middle aged man thought their music was shit, they were living the life ❤️❤️❤️❤️

John peel was sarcastic about most musicians tbh! Especially on top of the pops. I wasn't aware of any allegations against him ;( but nothing surprises me if that is true

At least wham! were guitar led and wrote their own lyrics.

Shortly before George's untimely death on December 25, 2016, Andrew revealed the pair played Scrabble.
"He’d beaten me the week before, and I was exacting my revenge," the singer recalled.
"It took us right back to just… the essence of our schoolboy friendship and one-upmanship. It was a game that stimulated him, and me also."

this is the article : https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/george-michael/andrew-ridgeley-friendship-last-meeting/

Yes, he was always so miserable. Much preferred it when Bruno Brooks was presenting.

I always thought that Andrew wrote Careless Whisper and that why he got such huge royalties. Did they re write history a bit for the doc?

I had a Saturday job in Woolworths on the record counter in 1982/83. What a time to be alive. I rocked that nylon overall, and got to play all my favourite records.

I was in the front row at the Lyceum on the Fantastic tour and was getting rather squashed. Andrew asked me if I was ok.
That's been my claim to fame for 40 years, so now I'm totally outed.
The children of the 90s and 00s in this house know every word to Wake Me Up and I still treat them to my excellent rapping skills occasionally.

@trulyunruly01 I'm in awe! I'd be totally dining out on that story, even after 40 years .

George wrote the lyrics and they wrote the melody together I believe.

I absolutely loved it! I was a massive Wham fan even if I was only about 8 at the time.

Ah right,thanks. I also seem to remember Andrew saying he could live off the royalties forever just from that one song alone!

Bit late to the party but we watched it today. I cried at the end. I saw Wham at Wembley Arena December 1984 - unfortunately couldn’t hear much as it was wall-to-wall screaming - good times though

Just watched. I put it off as I worried I'd find it sad but it was so joyful.
What a lovely friendship they maintained and the way Andrew just couldn't hide his pride in his friend.

My sister had a poster of George with the lyrics to Careless whisper down the side, out of smash hits on her wall for years.

I hadn't appreciated how hard it must have been to be Andrew Ridgeley. I'd be very very surprised if there was no resentment or jealousy at all - it would be a totally natural human reaction. I hope he's had a good life.
I will forever be gutted about George Michael - the world is poorer without him!

2016 was the year it all went to shit wasn't it? George, Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Glen Frey, Rock Parfitt, Greg Lake, Keith Emerson.
Maybe they all got out when the going was good. We seem to have been on a downward spiral since then.

And Prince!

I think the early years are the fun ones. Bombing round the country in a transit with your bestie playing small clubs and enjoying the fans.
Then the big tours, especially American tours are relentless and pressured and so many bands split during or after. That it might have been as much a relief for Andrew to step away.