George Michael News

In the past few weeks, quite a few musicians have been talking about George Michael’s influence. Here are a few of the comments:

Elton John opens up about George Michael’s shock death:

I haven’t had the chance to play “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” in England since George died.

It is such a big part of him and a big part of me.

Losing him was one of the most devastating things that had happened to me for a long long time.

Ronan Keating has revealed the heartbreak he felt in December when his friend and mentor George Michael died.

I got to know George 20 years ago and I grew up listening to George Michael.

 
He was my musical mentor and he’s the reason I’m a singer today… He’s always been a hero of mine.
 
It’s still very raw for me that he’s gone, I still can’t believe it.

Alison Moyet has paid tribute to George Michael performing his song “Jesus to a Child” on BBC Radio 2.

Chatting to Jo Wiley, Moyet said she wasn’t close friends with George Michael, but they used to bump into each other regularly, and at one point she was lined up to sing some backing vocals for a project of his.

“He was just such a kind and unpretentious person,” Moyet said.

Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste described George Michael’s influence:

While George Michael was and will remain one of the biggest pop stars in the world, he enabled me and gave me the strength to be a teeny tiny gay indie public figure, and for that, I am so grateful for George Michael and all he has given me and the world.

Mike Brown recalls his 120 gigs with George Michael and describes him as “amazing” in the studio. It’s about 40 minutes into the interview. (Thanks, Sebastian!)

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Geri Horner’s new single, “Angels in Chains”, came from her grief after George Michael died on Christmas day.

“I didn’t know quite what to do with my feelings so I put it in a song, which became ‘Angels In Chains’,” she said. “I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to work on this record with Chris Porter and the same team George had hand picked for his own projects. I am first and foremost a George Michael fan, so to be in the same studio with these amazingly gifted artists who have put their stamp on so many of my favorite records was a real privilege for me.”

She worked with George Michael’s extended musical family: Chris Cameron (Michael’s musical director), guitarist Phil Palmer and back up singers Shirley Lewis, Lucy Jules and Jay Henry for her tribute single.

She added: “This is our way of saying goodbye to our friend and music idol, and I hope George’s fans enjoy this as much as we have making it.”

“I am a George fan. I was a George Michael fan from the beginning. That was first. And so I want to share that with other George Michael fans,” Geri Horner also said.

The track is intended as a “beautiful, healing message” to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. In the process I found how healing making this record had been not only for me but also for everyone involved,” she said. “This is our way of saying goodbye to our friend and music idol, and I hope George’s fans enjoy this as much as we have making it.”

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Bonhams in London will be auctioning off some iconic George Michael items on June 28, 2017.

George Michael: The black leather biker jacket worn in the ‘Faith’ video, 1987

George Michael: The black leather biker jacket worn in the ‘Faith’ video,

1987, labelled La Rocka! Di Londres, front left breast pocket with white BSA logo, back with chromed studs and pale orange rhinestones, lettered in white Rockers Revenge and with green and gold wreath and red and white BSA logo, the lower left sleeve signed by George in silver marker, accompanied by a poster of George Michael wearing an identical jacket (2)

FOOTNOTES

• Donated by George to a Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy charity auction hosted by Christie’s South Kensington, Sunday 31st January 1993 (Lot 35), held at the HMV shop, Oxford Street, London. Sold with a letter from Christie’s Archives, 2016.

George Michael: A pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses 

George Michael: A pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, with brown leather bound frames, with a letter concerning the provenance from George Michael’s office

FOOTNOTES

• The vendor acquired these sunglasses from a Starlight Charity auction ‘Night Of The Stars Ball’ in 2003. The letter from Michael’s PA states that they were worn in his music video for ‘Faith’ however these can not be matched to those seen in the video.

George Michael: A jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier worn in the video for ‘I Want Your Sex’, 1987

George Michael: A jacket by Jean Paul Gaultier worn in the video for ‘I Want Your Sex’, 1987, in dark navy blue, collarless, double-breasted with decorative, diamond-shaped metal Gaultier buttons to front and cuffs, two hip and one breast pockets, single inside pocket, black/purple lining to shoulders, labelled Jean Paul Gaultier Homme Pour Gibo

FOOTNOTES

• Donated by George to one of Elton John’s Out Of The Closet charity sales.

Wham!: An autographed copy of the album ‘Fantastic’, CBS Records, 1983

Wham!: An autographed copy of the album ‘Fantastic’, CBS Records, 1983, signed by both George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in black ink on the front cover, accompanied by a copy of their single ‘Bad Boys’, and a letter concerning the provenance from the BBC (3)

FOOTNOTES

• The vendor of this lot won these items on the 17th October 1983 after writing into a Wham! competition at the BBC.

George Michael: Handwritten notes relating to his lawsuit with Sony, circa 1992

George Michael: Handwritten notes relating to his lawsuit with Sony, circa 1992, comprising a yellow, lined notepad with five pages written by George in blue and black ballpoints, with many deletions/amendments, reading: …who quite frankly, have little understanding of the creative process. With C.B.S….I felt that I was believed in…as…a long-term artist…whereas Sony…appear to see artists as little more than software…They do not understand that musicians do not come in regimented shapes and sizes…but…are individuals who…change and evolve along with their audiences. Sony…obviously view this as a great inconvenience…they have developed…hard sell, high profile sales techniques…which, in the short-term at least, are very lucrative for them, and the simple truth is that if George Michael, or any other artist for that matter, doesn’t wish to…conform to…Sony’s…current ideas, there are…plenty of hungry…young acts who will., the ‘Expert Perforated Pad’, 5in x 8in (13cm x 20.5cm)

FOOTNOTES

• Provenance: Andros Georgiou, George Michael’s cousin and former head of Aegean Records, George’s record label.

George Michael: A black leather coat worn at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony

George Michael: A black leather coat worn at the 1994 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony, three-quarter length, one inside pocket with zip, one breast and two hip pockets, single vent, with faux fur-covered collar, labelled John Richmond Man, with the original ‘Out Of The Closet’ sales tag

FOOTNOTES

• Originally purchased at one of Elton John’s Out Of The Closet sales. Worn by George when performing ‘Jesus To A Child’ at the MTV Europe Music Awards, held in Berlin, 24th November 1994.

George Michael: An autographed publicity photograph, 1990s

George Michael: An autographed publicity photograph,

1990s, black and white, signed by George in silver pen, 8in x 10in (20.5cm x 25.5cm)