History of George Michael in Timeline
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.
1981: Formation of Wham!
In 1981, George Michael formed the duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley.
1983: Wham!'s First Album Reaches No. 1
In 1983, Wham!'s first album Fantastic reached No. 1 in the UK and produced a series of top 10 singles.
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.
December 1984: Release of "Last Christmas"
In December 1984, Wham! released the single "Last Christmas".
1984: Release of "Careless Whisper" (Wham! Album)
George Michael had his third consecutive solo number one in the UK with the song, after 1984's "Careless Whisper", which was actually from the Wham! album Make It Big.
1984: Success of "Careless Whisper"
In 1984, George Michael experienced success with his solo single "Careless Whisper", contributing to rumors of an impending breakup of Wham!.
1984: Band Aid Recording
In 1984, George Michael performed on the original Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
1984: Participation in Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas?"
In 1984, George Michael took part in Band Aid's UK number-one single "Do They Know It's Christmas?".
1984: Radio Academy named him the most played artist
In 1984, the Radio Academy named George Michael the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.
1984: Most Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy stated that between 1984 and 2004, George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio, highlighting his enduring popularity in the UK.
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.
July 1985: Performance at Live Aid
On July 13, 1985, George Michael sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London.
1985: Ivor Novello Award
In 1985, George Michael received the first of his three Ivor Novello Awards for Songwriter of the Year.
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: Release of "A Different Corner"
George Michael had his third consecutive solo number one in the UK with the song, after 1986's "A Different Corner".
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.
October 1987: Release of Faith single
In October 1987, George Michael released the single "Faith", a few weeks before the album of the same name. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
1987: Release of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
In 1987, George Michael released "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", a duet with Aretha Franklin, which scored number one on both the UK Singles Chart and the US Billboard Hot 100.
1987: Release of "Faith"
In 1987, George Michael released his debut studio album, Faith, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
1987: Release of "Faith" Album and "I Want Your Sex" Single
In late 1987, George Michael released his debut solo album, Faith. The first single released from the album was "I Want Your Sex", in mid-1987. The song was banned by many radio stations in the UK and US, due to its sexually suggestive lyrics.
1988: "Faith" Becomes Best-Selling Single
In 1988, "Faith" became the best-selling single in the US.
1988: Grammy Award for "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)"
In 1988, George Michael and Aretha Franklin won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance – Duo or Group with Vocal for the song "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)".
1988: World Tour and Brit Awards
In 1988, George Michael embarked on a world tour and was joined on stage by Aretha Franklin in Los Angeles. He also received the first of his two awards for Best British Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for Faith.
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.
1989: MTV Video Music Awards
On September 6, 1989, George Michael received the Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
August 1990: Release of "Praying for Time"
In August 1990, George Michael released "Praying for Time" as the first single from Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. The song reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
September 1990: Release of "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1"
In September 1990, George Michael released his album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, which reached No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart and peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200.
October 1990: "Fantasy" featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single
In October 1990, the song "Fantasy" was featured on the "Waiting for That Day" single in the United Kingdom.
1990: Release of "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1"
In 1990, George Michael released the album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1, which sold millions of copies.
1990: Desire to Change Promotion Strategy
In 1990, George Michael told his record company Sony that, for his second album, he did not want to do promotions like the one for Faith.
1991: "Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1" Wins Brit Award
At the 1991 Brit Awards, George Michael's album Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 won the award for Best British Album.
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.
1996: Release of "Older"
In 1996, George Michael released the album Older, which sold millions of copies.
1996: Album Older Dedicated to Anselmo Feleppa
In 1996, George Michael's album Older, was dedicated to Anselmo Feleppa.
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.
1997: Death of Lesley Angold
In 1997, Lesley Angold (born Harrison), George Michael's mother, passed away. She was born in 1937.
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: Release of "Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael"
In 1998, George Michael released the album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, which sold millions of copies.
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: Release of "Songs from the Last Century"
In 1999, George Michael released the album Songs from the Last Century, which sold millions of copies.
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.
2004: Release of "Patience"
In 2004, George Michael released the album Patience, which sold millions of copies.
2004: Radio Academy named him the most played artist
In 2004, The Radio Academy named George Michael the most played artist on British radio during the period 1984–2004.
2004: Most Played Artist on British Radio
The Radio Academy stated that between 1984 and 2004, George Michael was the most frequently played artist on British radio, highlighting his enduring popularity in the UK.
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: Release of "Twenty Five"
In 2006, George Michael released the album Twenty Five, which sold millions of copies.
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: Continuation of 25 Live Tour
In 2008, George Michael continued his 25 Live tour.
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: Final Concert at Earls Court
In 2012, George Michael performed his final concert at London's Earls Court.
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.
March 2014: Release of Symphonica Album
On 17 March 2014, the album Symphonica was released, becoming George Michael's seventh solo No. 1 album in the UK.
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.
2015: Ranked in Billboard's Greatest Artists
In 2015, Billboard ranked George Michael 45th in their list of the "Greatest Hot 100 Artists of All Time,", acknowledging his impact on popular music.
2015: Completion of the song "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)"
In 2015, George Michael completed the song "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)", which was later released on the Last Christmas soundtrack album in November 2019.
November 2016: Announcement of Freedom documentary
On 2 November 2016, George Michael's management team announced that a second documentary on his life, entitled Freedom, was set to be released in March 2017.
December 2016: Death of George Michael
In December 2016, George Michael passed away. He was an English singer-songwriter and record producer, and one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
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.
March 2017: Documentary Freedom set to be released
In March 2017, it was planned to release a second documentary on George Michael's life, entitled Freedom, as announced in November 2016 by his management team.
September 2017: Release of "Fantasy" Single
On 7 September 2017, George Michael's estate released the single "Fantasy", which he wrote and produced, featuring a new version reworked by Nile Rodgers.
September 2017: Release of the single "Fantasy"
On 7 September 2017, after George Michael's death, the single "Fantasy", featuring Nile Rodgers, was released.
October 2017: Music video for Fantasy was released on Vevo
On 18 October 2017, a music video for the song "Fantasy" was released on Vevo.
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.
November 2019: Release of Last Christmas soundtrack album
On 8 November 2019, the official soundtrack album for the Emma Thompson-written film Last Christmas was released by Legacy Recordings, featuring 14 Wham! and solo George Michael songs, including the previously unreleased song "This Is How (We Want You to Get High)" completed in 2015.
2019: Named Greatest Artist of All Time by Smooth Radio
In 2019, George Michael was named as the greatest artist of all time by Smooth Radio, further cementing his legacy in music history.
2019: Death of Melanie
In 2019, Melanie, one of George Michael's two sisters, passed away. She was born in 1960.
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.
January 2021: "Last Christmas" reached number one in the UK
In January 2021 (chart week ending date 7 January 2021), more than 36 years after its initial release in 1984, "Last Christmas" finally reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.
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.
June 2022: Release of Freedom Uncut documentary film
On 22 June 2022, the documentary film Freedom Uncut was released, featuring narration by George Michael, who had been working on the film with David Austin shortly before his death.
September 2022: Release of remastered and expanded version of Older
On 30 September 2022, a remastered and expanded version of the album Older was released, comprising the original album, the Upper disc, and three bonus CDs.
October 2022: Older Charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100
On 7 October 2022, the album Older charted at number 2 on the UK Official Albums Chart Top 100.
May 2023: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On May 3, 2023, George Michael was selected as an inductee to the 2023 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to music.
November 2023: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony
In November 2023, George Michael was formally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Andrew Ridgeley presenting his induction.
2023: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2023, George Michael was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing his significant contributions to music and pop culture.
2023: "Last Christmas" became the UK Christmas number one for the first time
In 2023, the song "Last Christmas" became the UK Christmas number one for the first time.
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.
2024: "Last Christmas" hit number one again at Christmas
In 2024, "Last Christmas" hit number one again at Christmas, making it the first song to top the Christmas chart in consecutive years, and become only the third song to top the festive chart more than once.
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