The late George Michael was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2023 at a recent ceremony in Cleveland. To celebrate the occasion Miguel performed “Careless Whisper” with E Street Band member Jake Clemons on saxophone,  Adam Levine performed “Faith,” while Carrie Underwood closed out the segment with a cover of “One More Try” at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 

 

 

Ahead of the performance, Michael was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame  by his childhood friend and the other half of Wham! Andrew Ridgeley. Ridgeley said: “We achieved as Wham! our burning boyhood ambition…Wham! Was the realization of everything I had ever aspired to, and the realization for George that stretching before him along a gilded and infinite path lay his destiny.”

Earlier this year, Netflix released a new documentary —aptly titled Wham!—which told the story of two childhood friends who practically became pop stars overnight. Their fame blazed bright and fast, even if critics weren’t especially kind, and they called it quits right when it seemed like they were on top of the world.

Of course, George Michael would go on to become a legend in his own right, one of the best-selling musicians of all time who made history when he came out in 1998..

Andrew Ridgeley, on the other hand, never quite found the same follow-up success as his former bandmate. After trying his hand at Formula Three motor racing, he also gave acting and his own solo music career a shot, to no avail.

Though Ridgeley has largely remained quiet in the ensuing years, his rare interview provides new insights into Wham! dazzling years of superstardom and gives the doc its structure, as he recalls making music and touring the world with his best friend.