Andrew Ridgeley tells the inside story of Wham!, his lifelong friendship with George Michael, and the formation of a band that changed the shape of the music scene in the early 1980s.
A memoir of a friendship as much as it is a look back on pop stardom, Ridgeley's first book is an enjoyable callback to a different, yet thanks to its preservation on videotape still instantly memorable, musical era ... Ridgeley is a charming writer, and a good chunk of Wham!: George Michael and Me feels like warmly remembered narration of the photos — casual and professional — that pepper the book ... While the book is focused on Michael, it isn't an explosive tell-all — but that makes it a more enjoyable read. Ridgeley's motivations for writing the book seem as rooted in telling his side of the Wham! story as they are in reminding readers of Michael's songwriting genius, often overlooked by pop-averse critics and taken for granted by listeners who gorged on the hooky riches of the '80s. Written in sepia hues that allow Wham!'s floodlight-illuminated musical triumphs to glow even more brightly, it's a loving tribute to a friend and a more innocent pop era.
Those in search of salacious tidbits will be disappointed. The nearest Ridgeley comes to dropping any bombs is carping about Michael’s obsession with his hair ... What emerges instead is a tender, admiring tribute to Michael, whom Ridgeley repeatedly calls his best friend. The tone is affable and light on analysis ... for fans of ’80s pop, it’s an engaging, breezy read ... Some of Michael’s fans will likely wish that this memoir was more revealing, but others will be grateful that their idol had a steadfast friend like Ridgeley.
... breezy, nostalgic ... Ridgeley vividly portrays the pandemonium of excited fans and tabloid frenzy ... This fond memoir of friendship and fame will appeal to fans of Wham! and 1980s pop.
