Top of the Pops

Wham! was an English pop duo formed in Bushey in 1981, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They achieved significant commercial success during the 1980s, selling more than 30 million certified records worldwide from 1982 to 1986. The group was associated with the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the United States, with singles such as 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go', 'Careless Whisper', and 'Everything She Wants' reaching the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their 1984 Christmas single 'Last Christmas' has become a recurring holiday season staple, with all proceeds donated to charity. Influenced by funk and soul music, Wham! presented themselves as disaffected youth, and their 1983 debut album, Fantastic, addressed issues such as unemployment and teen angst in the UK. Their second album, Make It Big, released in 1984, was a worldwide success, reaching number one in both the UK and the US. In 1985, Wham! undertook a ten-day visit to China, the first by a Western pop group, which was regarded as a significant event in fostering friendly relations between China and the West. The duo disbanded in 1986.