File:Wham_in_1984_2.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Wham!
Sign in to saveAlso known as Wham! U.K., Wham! UK, Wham UK, Wham
Wham! were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981 consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They were one of the most successful pop acts during the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986. Associated with the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US, the singles "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Careless Whisper", and "Everything She Wants" all topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Their 1984 Christmas track "Last Christmas" has become a staple of the holiday season since its release, with all proceeds from the single going to charity.
Key facts
- Musical artist.name
- Wham!
- Musical artist.image
- Wham in 1984 2.jpg
- Musical artist.caption
- Wham! in 1984. Top to bottom: Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael
- Musical artist.image_upright
- 1.18
- Musical artist.alt
- A black-and-white photograph of the members of the English pop duo Wham!, circa 1985.
- Musical artist.background
- group_or_band
- Musical artist.origin
- Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
- Musical artist.discography
- Wham! discography
- Musical artist.module
- 150px
- Musical artist.past_members
- George Michael Andrew Ridgeley
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Official name
- Wham!
- Official website
- wham.world
- Image
- Wham! circa 1984-1985 (cropped).jpg
Show 5 more facts
- inception
- 1981-00-00
- Commons category
- Wham!
- start of work period
- 1980-00-00
- social media followers
- 1970000
- end of work period
- 1986-00-00
via Wikidata · CC0
~14 min read
Article
13 sectionsContents
- History
- Formation
- Increasing success and legal disputes with Innervision
- Switch to Epic and continued success
- China (1985)
- Live Aid (1985)
- Break-up (1986)
- Post-Wham! and Michael's death
- Discography
- Filmography
- Tours or shows
- References
- External links
Wham! were an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981 consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They were one of the most successful pop acts during the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986. Associated with the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US, the singles "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Careless Whisper", and "Everything She Wants" all topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Their 1984 Christmas track "Last Christmas" has become a staple of the holiday season since its release, with all proceeds from the single going to charity.
Influenced by funk and soul music and presenting themselves as disaffected youth, Wham!'s 1983 debut album, Fantastic, addressed the United Kingdom's unemployment problem and teen angst over adulthood. Their second studio album, Make It Big, in 1984 was a worldwide success, charting at number one in both the UK and the United States. In 1985, Wham! made a highly publicised ten-day visit to China, the first by a Western pop group. The event was seen as a major watershed moment in increasing friendly bilateral relations between China and the West.