13/07/23

Netflix

This will surprise a lot of people but Wham! were not really one of the bands I followed back in their heyday. Oh, I was aware of them – indeed, it was hard to miss them in the four years of the 1980s that marked their meteoric rise to stardom and their unexpected demise.

This account, cleverly assembled from a mixture of archive footage, Top of the Pops appearances and the many scrapbooks collated by Andrew Ridgeley’s mum, has been herded into shape by director Chris Smith and the result makes for entertaining – and occasionally thought-provoking – viewing.

This is the story of two young schoolkids, the aforementioned Andrew and his best pal Georgios Kyriacos Panayioto (a name that would soon be changed to George Michael). The boys got into all the usual childhood scrapes but also developed a determination to be pop stars, an ambition led by Andrew and ably supported by George. Together they wrote some songs. We get to hear the originals, recorded on cassette tapes and, while they’re rough and ready, there’s already the spark of a hummable melody in there. Now all they need is a record company…

When Wham Rap! first hit the scene in 1982, it didn’t exactly set the charts alight – but the boys’ determination knew no bounds and it wasn’t long before the duo were toothily gracing every teen pop magazine in existence. They also drafted in backing singers Dee C. Lee (later replaced by Pepsi) and Shirley to broaden their appeal and, together, the four of them made a series of exhausting public appearances at clubs up and down the UK. And, as each of those early songs was given a thorough reworking and some decent production values, the hits began to flow like honey.

But as we’re watching, something quickly becomes apparent. One of the duo has a talent that easily outpaces the other. A talent for songwriting, performing and producing. And there can really only be one logical conclusion…

What connects most powerfully in this true account of male friendship, is that Andrew has to be one of the most benign and forgiving human beings in history, willing to grant his best friend artistic freedom, even if it means turning his back on the megastardom he’s enjoying himself. There are plenty of people willing to criticise George for some of the things that happened to him after he went solo, but Andrew isn’t one of them. Having led his friend into the limelight, he doesn’t hesitate to set him free. We could all do with learning that lesson.

Wham! wisely concerns itself with the years 1982 to 1986, finishing up with the band’s massive farewell tour. There were plenty of other successes awaiting George Michael further down the line – and some much darker times too – but this film doesn’t go there. What’s on the screen is cheering, celebratory and occasionally heartwarming stuff, which – of course – only makes the ensuing tragedy all the more heartbreaking. It surprises me to admit that this documentary makes me appreciate the band more than I ever did when they were at the height of their success.

You don’t have to be a Wham! fan to enjoy this extraordinary true story but, that said, if you happen to be one anyway, then it’s win-win.

4 stars

Philip Caveney