Childhood and Education Journey of George Michael in Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of George Michael, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
George Michael was a highly successful English singer, songwriter, and record producer, considered a pop culture icon and one of the best-selling music artists ever. Known for his creative songwriting, vocal talent, and distinctive visual style, he achieved fame as part of Wham! and later as a solo artist with hits like "Careless Whisper" and the album *Faith*. His career spanned several decades, marked by both critical acclaim and commercial success. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
1937: Birth of Lesley Angold
In 1937, Lesley Angold (born Harrison), George Michael's mother, was born. She later passed away in 1997.
1958: Birth of Yioda
In 1958, Yioda, one of George Michael's two sisters, was born.
1960: Birth of Melanie
In 1960, Melanie, one of George Michael's two sisters, was born. She later passed away in 2019.
June 1963: George Michael's Birth
In June 1963, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, known professionally as George Michael, was born. He later became a celebrated English singer-songwriter and record producer.
September 1984: Wham! Benefit Concert for Striking Miners
In September 1984, Wham! performed at a benefit concert at London's Royal Festival Hall for the striking UK miners, showing their support for the working class.
November 1984: Joined Band Aid for "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
In November 1984, George Michael joined Band Aid and sang on "Do They Know It's Christmas?" for famine relief in Ethiopia.
December 1984: "Do They Know It's Christmas?" Number One
In December 1984, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" became the UK Christmas number one, holding George Michael's own song, "Last Christmas" by Wham!, at No. 2.
April 1985: Wham!'s Tour of China
In April 1985, Wham!'s tour of China marked the first visit to China by a Western popular music act, generating worldwide media coverage.
1985: Live Aid Performance with Elton John
In 1985, George Michael sang with Elton John at Live Aid, the Band Aid charity concert, further contributing to famine relief efforts.
June 1986: Wham! Officially Separates
In June 1986, Wham! officially separated after releasing a farewell single, "The Edge of Heaven", and a farewell compilation album, The Final, plus a sell-out concert at Wembley Stadium. "The Edge of Heaven" reached No. 1 on the UK chart.
1986: Prince's Trust Charity Concert
In 1986, George Michael performed "Everytime You Go Away" alongside Paul Young at the Prince's Trust charity concert held at Wembley Arena.
1988: Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute
In 1988, George Michael performed "Sexual Healing" at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium in London, alongside various other singers.
1991: Release of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"
In 1991, George Michael released the single "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," and the proceeds were divided among 10 different charities for children, AIDS, and education.
1991: Relationship with Anselmo Feleppa began
In January 1991, George Michael established a relationship with Anselmo Feleppa, a Brazilian dress designer. Later that year, Anselmo discovered he was HIV-positive.
April 1992: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
In April 1992, George Michael wore a red ribbon at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, showing support for HIV/AIDS awareness.
1993: Anselmo Feleppa's death
In 1993, Anselmo Feleppa, George Michael's partner, died of an AIDS-related brain haemorrhage.
1996: Relationship with Kenny Goss began
In 1996, George Michael began a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss.
1997: "Candle in the Wind 1997" Overtakes Sales Record
In 1997, Elton John's "Candle in the Wind 1997" surpassed "Do They Know It's Christmas?" as the biggest-selling single in UK chart history, after being released in tribute to Princess Diana, whose funeral Michael attended with Elton John.
April 1998: Arrest for public lewdness
In April 1998, George Michael's homosexuality became publicly known following his arrest for public lewdness.
April 1998: Arrest in Beverly Hills restroom
On 7 April 1998, George Michael was arrested for "engaging in a lewd act" in a public restroom of the Will Rogers Memorial Park in Beverly Hills, California.
1998: Coming Out as Gay and Arrest
In 1998, George Michael came out as gay and was arrested for public lewdness, leading to increased media attention on his personal life.
1998: George Michael discusses his sexuality on Parkinson
In 1998, not long after he was outed for his sexuality, George Michael said on Parkinson that he became confident he was gay when he fell in love with a man.
1999: Michael discusses bisexuality in The Advocate interview
In 1999, George Michael stated in an interview with The Advocate that falling in love with a man ended his conflict over bisexuality.
1999: Rodríguez brought a US$10 million court case in California
In 1999, Marcelo Rodríguez brought a US$10 million court case in California against George Michael, claiming that the "Outside" video "mocked" him.
2000: Equality Rocks Concert
In 2000, George Michael performed in Washington, D.C. as part of Equality Rocks, a concert to benefit the Human Rights Campaign, an American LGBT rights group.
December 2002: Appellate court reinstated the case
On 3 December 2002, the appellate court reinstated a US$10 million court case against George Michael, which was initially dismissed, but the court then ruled that Rodríguez, as a public official, could not legally recover damages for emotional distress.
2002: "Shoot the Dog" Release
In 2002, George Michael released the single "Shoot the Dog," a song critical of the relationship between the UK and US governments and their involvement in the War on Terror.
2003: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Appearance
In 2003, George Michael paired up with Ronan Keating on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and won £32,000 for charity, and supported the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity campaign.
2004: Michael discusses past relationships and sexuality
In 2004, George Michael discussed his past relationships with women and his evolving understanding of his sexuality, explaining his decision to stop sleeping with women due to concerns about AIDS and his emotional connection to men.
November 2005: Planned civil partnership
In late November 2005, it was reported that George Michael and Kenny Goss planned to register their relationship as a civil partnership in the UK, but postponed their plans.
2005: Patron of Swan Lifeline Charity
From 2005 until his death, George Michael was a patron of the Swan Lifeline charity, inspired by the swans in the river at the end of his garden in Highgate.
2005: Release of "A Different Story" Documentary
In 2005, the documentary A Different Story was released, covering George Michael's career and personal life.
February 2006: Arrest for drug possession
In February 2006, George Michael was arrested for possession of Class C drugs.
July 2006: Accusation of public sex at Hampstead Heath
On 23 July 2006, George Michael was accused of engaging in anonymous public sex at London's Hampstead Heath.
2006: Start of the 25 Live Tour
Beginning in 2006 and continuing until 2008, George Michael earned £48.5 million from the 25 Live tour, showcasing his enduring popularity and appeal.
2006: Free Concert for NHS Nurses
In 2006, George Michael performed a free concert for NHS nurses in London to thank them for caring for his late mother and to advocate for government appreciation.
2006: Arrested for drug-related offences
In 2006, George Michael was arrested for drug-related offences, marking a challenging period in his life.
2007: Guilty plea for drug-impaired driving
In 2007, George Michael pleaded guilty to drug-impaired driving in Cricklewood, London, and was banned from driving for two years and sentenced to community service.
2007: Michael discusses his sexuality
In 2007, George Michael said "that hiding his sexuality made him feel 'fraudulent', and his eventual outing, when he was arrested [...] in 1998, was a subconsciously deliberate act."
2007: Michael discusses the effects of hiding his sexuality
In 2007, George Michael said he had hidden his sexuality because of worries over what effect it might have on his mother.
2007: "Peace Tour" with John Lennon's Piano
In 2007, George Michael sent John Lennon's "Imagine" piano on a "peace tour" around the United States, displaying it at sites of violence, and devoted his Sofia concert to Bulgarian nurses prosecuted in the HIV trial in Libya.
June 2008: Michael Discusses Jewish Ancestry
In June 2008, George Michael told the Los Angeles Times that his maternal grandmother was Jewish, but she hid her background during World War II.
June 2008: Thrilled by Legalisation of Same-Sex Marriage
On June 17, 2008, George Michael expressed his excitement regarding California's legalisation of same-sex marriage, calling it "way overdue."
September 2008: Arrest for possession of drugs
On 19 September 2008, George Michael was arrested in a public convenience in the Hampstead Heath area for possession of Class A and C drugs.
2008: Earnings from the 25 Live Tour
Between 2006 and 2008, George Michael earned £48.5 million from the 25 Live tour, demonstrating his continued success as a performer.
2008: Michael reflects on loss of Feleppa
In 2008, George Michael reflected on the loss of Anselmo Feleppa, describing it as a terribly depressing time followed by the loss of his mother.
2008: Arrested for drug-related offences
In 2008, George Michael was arrested for drug-related offences, compounding his struggles with substance abuse.
December 2009: Reduced Cannabis Use
In December 2009, George Michael stated in an interview with The Guardian that he had reduced his cannabis consumption to "seven or eight" spliffs per day, down from 25.
July 2010: Arrest for crashing car
In the early hours of 4 July 2010, George Michael was arrested on suspicion of being unfit to drive after crashing his car into a Snappy Snaps store in Hampstead, north London.
August 2010: Charged with drug possession and driving under the influence
On 12 August 2010, George Michael was charged with possession of cannabis and with driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
September 2010: Guilty plea and sentencing for driving under the influence
On 24 August 2010, George Michael pleaded guilty at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court in London after admitting driving under the influence of drugs, and on 14 September 2010, he was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine, and a five-year ban from driving.
October 2010: Release from prison
On 11 October 2010, George Michael was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk after serving four weeks of his sentence.
2010: Anonymous IVF Treatment Donation
In 2010, George Michael anonymously paid for a woman's IVF treatment after seeing her talk about her problems conceiving on an episode of This Morning.
2010: Arrested for drug-related offences
In 2010, George Michael faced another arrest for drug-related offences, continuing his battle with substance abuse.
August 2011: Split from Kenny Goss announced
On 22 August 2011, the opening night of his Symphonica Tour, George Michael announced that he and Kenny Goss had split two years earlier.
October 2011: Cancelled Performance Due to Viral Infection
In October 2011, George Michael cancelled a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London due to a viral infection, marking a setback during his Symphonica Tour.
2011: George Michael's Coma
In 2011, George Michael fell into a coma during a bout with pneumonia, but he recovered.
February 2012: Surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards
In February 2012, George Michael made a surprise appearance at the 2012 Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London after leaving the hospital, receiving a standing ovation and presenting Adele with the award for Best British Album.
October 2012: Final Concert of Symphonica Tour
On 17 October 2012, George Michael performed the final concert of the Symphonica Tour at London's Earls Court, which was also the final concert of his life.
2012: Relationship with Fadi Fawaz began
In 2012, George Michael began a relationship with Fadi Fawaz.
2012: Birth of Child Funded by George Michael
In 2012, a woman gave birth to a girl after George Michael anonymously paid for her IVF treatment in 2010, following her appearance on This Morning.
May 2013: Car Accident on M1 Motorway
In May 2013, George Michael sustained a head injury in a car accident on the M1 motorway near St Albans and was airlifted to hospital.
July 2014: Reported as Celebrity Investor
In July 2014, George Michael was reported to have been a celebrity investor in a tax avoidance scheme called Liberty.
2014: Refrained from Cannabis Use
In 2014, George Michael stated that he had refrained from using cannabis for one and one half years, showing progress in his battle with substance abuse.
June 2015: Entered Drug Rehabilitation Facility
In June 2015, George Michael checked into a drug rehabilitation facility in Switzerland, continuing his efforts to overcome substance abuse.
2015: Net Worth Listed at £105 Million
According to the Sunday Times Rich List 2015, George Michael's net worth was estimated to be £105 million, reflecting his financial success.
2016: Death at Age 53
In 2016, George Michael passed away in bed at his home in Goring-on-Thames at the age of 53, marking a significant loss in the music world.
2016: Kathy Jeung reacts to Michael's death
In 2016, Kathy Jeung reacted to George Michael's death by calling him a "true friend" and reminiscing about the "best time" of her life with him.
2016: Death of George Michael
On Christmas Day in 2016, George Michael died of heart disease at his home in Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.
2016: Fadi Fawaz found Michael's body
On Christmas morning 2016, Fadi Fawaz found George Michael's body.
January 2017: Anonymous IVF Treatment Donation Revealed
In January 2017, a woman revealed with Michael's family's permission that in 2010 George Michael anonymously paid for her IVF treatment after seeing her on This Morning. She gave birth to a girl in 2012.
February 2017: Grammy Awards Tribute
At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on February 12, 2017, Adele performed a slow version of "Fastlove" as a tribute to George Michael.
March 2017: Funeral Held
Due to delays in determining the cause of death, George Michael's funeral was held on March 29, 2017. He was buried at Highgate Cemetery in north London, next to his mother and sister.
March 2017: Cause of Death Determined
In March 2017, a coroner attributed George Michael's death in 2016 to natural causes, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver disease.
2017: Temporary Memorial Garden Created
In the summer of 2017, a temporary informal memorial garden was created outside George Michael's former home in The Grove, Highgate, tended by fans for approximately eighteen months.
March 2019: Art Collection Auctioned
In March 2019, George Michael's art collection was auctioned in England for £11.3 million, with the proceeds donated to philanthropic organizations he supported during his lifetime.
2020: Mural Commemorating Michael in Brent
In 2020, George Michael was commemorated with a mural in his native borough of Brent, celebrating his contributions to music, entertainment, and LGBTQ+ culture.
2021: Financial Settlement with Kenny Goss
In 2021, following legal proceedings, the trustees of George Michael's estate reached a financial settlement with his former partner, Kenny Goss.
June 2022: Kate Bush surpassed the UK chart record
In June 2022, Kate Bush surpassed the UK chart record with "Running Up That Hill", which took 37 years to reach number one.
February 2024: Royal Mint Unveils Collectable Coin
In February 2024, the Royal Mint unveiled a collectable coin featuring George Michael wearing his trademark sunglasses, honouring his legacy.
Mentioned in this timeline
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer songwriter...
Oprah Winfrey is a highly influential American talk show host...
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins known professionally as Adele is a...
Stevie Wonder born Stevland Hardaway Morris is a highly influential...
California is a U S state on the Pacific Coast...
Whitney Houston nicknamed The Voice was a highly acclaimed American...
Trending
48 minutes ago Luka Don?i? Reveals Body Transformation After Intense Offseason Training: 'Body Looks Better'
3 hours ago Affordable Housing's Profitability, Sustainability, and Scalability: Developer's Bet and Portland's Preparation
4 hours ago Bev Priestman Hired by Wellington Phoenix After Spying Ban Controversy
4 hours ago High-Speed Chase Ends in Santa Monica: Stolen Truck Driver Apprehended After Pursuit
4 hours ago Haleiwa Housing Project Sparks Controversy: Residents Petition Against Expansion in Hawaii
3 hours ago Al Calderon Joins Zachary Quinto in NBC's 'Brilliant Minds' Season 2
Popular
John Michael Ozzy Osbourne is a prominent English singer songwriter...
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
Candace Owens is an American political commentator and author known...
Hulk Hogan born Terry Gene Bollea is a retired American...
Charlie Kirk is a prominent American conservative activist author and...
Adam Schiff is an American politician and lawyer currently serving...