Wham! was an English pop duo that came into existence in 1981. Widely loved for their music and their performances, they both were doing really well in their lives individually and additively.
After their time together, the duo – George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley split up in the year 1986. Post this, things didn’t remain the same for the two, and the one who had to shoulder the worst repercussions was Andrew Ridgeley. We’ll discuss its impact on him and what he is doing now.
The breakup story
Popular among the masses as the ‘Wham! ‘ duo, Michael and Andrew, were doing really great for youngsters that they were. During the 1980s, more than 30 million certified records were in their name. ‘Fantastic’ was their debut album, which then paved the path for many more hits to come.
They both were fire on stage, and no one could have imagined being separated from one another. However, this could not be achieved as George Michael had some other plans.
He did not plan to stay in the spot that he was in and decided to take up a different direction. Since it was all decided by Michael, there was no point in arguing over some negotiation by Andrew.
Moreover, trolling Andrew at times, people mocked his voice. They said that he did not exist without Michael, and his voice was not even as good as his.
It was extremely offensive and hurtful at the same time. However, he went on fighting with all of this as he started a new life after they broke up. The road was never easy for him. But it was evident that he wasn’t ready to give up.
What happened to Andrew Ridgeley’s post ‘Wham!’ split up?
Born in 1963, the English singer Andrew Ridgeley was quite a sensation during the time of the Wham! He was active with Michael in the duo between 1981 – 1986. But, after they split up, life was harsh for Andrew. Their final concert was at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Although he tried his solo career after that, it failed miserably. It could not even make it to the chart in the UK. He even tried taking up small roles in acting, but it didn’t work out for him either. Post this, and he even tried his hands at Formula Three Racing.
The duo performing (Credits: Rolling Stone)
However, success did not come his way. They both had been planning their reunion shows, but it never happened. This was not it! Another sad instance followed Andrew’s life. Michael passed away in 2016, making everybody emotional. He has talked about him in his book ‘Wham!: George and Me’.
Andrew and Michael’s journey together was a complete rollercoaster, filled with moments of all kinds. After the split, Andrew did not get as much acceptance and recognition as an individual artist as Michael did.
However, he never gave up and always took up one thing or the other. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to Michael’s family after his demise. They truly were close friends and made ‘Wham! ‘ a duo to remember.
