The pop star would have turned 60 on June 25.
In 2012, George Michael performed at a charity gala in Paris. PDO
British singer George Michael (1963–2016) was one of the most successful musicians of all time. In June, he would have celebrated his 60th birthday.
Michael’s music career was overshadowed by various hiccups and addictions that saw him in the headlines for his non-musical achievements. Michael was first arrested in 1998 when he showed his penis to an undercover police officer in a public restroom.
In 2006, he sought company from strangers and had sex in a London park. In the same year, he was arrested for drug possession.
George Michael officially started his solo career in 1987. PDO
Michael was later convicted of drug possession and driving under the influence. In 2010, he also crashed while intoxicated, which is why he spent some time in prison.
The musician admitted that he smokes a lot of cannabis and misuses sleeping pills, but he is known to have used at least GHB in his last years.
Benefactor
The public knew about the support the musician gave to sexual minorities, as well as fundraising for HIV and AIDS research. Michael also raised money to support terminally ill children and their parents.
Only after Michael’s death did his generosity take on new dimensions. When he was alive, the musician did not make a fuss about the support he gave to charity.
In 2011, George Michael toured with a symphony orchestra on his Symphonica Tour. PDO
Several charities revealed that the star supported them. Among others, cancer patients received support. The helpline for children and young people, Childline, received millions of pounds from Michael over the years, according to the organization.
Many private individuals, whose plight Michael learned about, also received help. A contestant on a competition show said on TV that she needed £15,000 for fertility treatments, which Michael anonymously paid for. It later emerged that the musician had also paid for another woman’s fertility treatments.
George Michael also tipped a debt-ridden nursing student a hefty £5,000 when he served him at a restaurant.
Fabulous success
George Michael rose to prominence as a young man in Wham! -as another member of the band. In five years, the pop band left its mark on British music history. The band’s second album Make It Big (1984) was a success, of which esp Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Freedom became hits.
The album also released an absolute gem of barracks classics, Careless Whisperwhich launched Michael’s solo career.
Kasari was George Michael’s golden age, but great success continued in the 1990s. PDO
Michael’s first solo album Faith (1987) was a success and even in the 1990s he was one of the most successful solo artists in the world.
Although George Michael rarely released albums, he toured hard. The 25 Live tour also reached Finland. In 2007, he performed his only concert in Finland at Hartwall Areena.
On Christmas Day in 2016, Michael died of a heart attack caused by, among other things, myocarditis and fatty liver.
A journalist and non-fiction writer has also recently been published in Finnish of James Gavin comprehensive biography George Michael: The Life (Bazaar).
July 5th on Netflix will be released Chris Smith’s (Jim and Andy, Fyre: The luxury festival that went down) new document Wham!which tells the story of a pop band.
George Michael performed on the 25 Live tour also in Helsinki in 2007. Picture from the Budapest concert from the same tour. PDO