Andrew Ridgeley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew Ridgeley
|
|
|---|---|
Ridgeley in 2019
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrew John Ridgeley |
| Born | 26 January 1963 Windlesham, Surrey, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active |
|
| Labels | |
Andrew John Ridgeley (born on January 26, 1963) is an English musician. He is famous for being part of the 1980s music group Wham!. This popular duo included Ridgeley and his friend, George Michael. Wham! was one of the most successful pop groups of the 1980s. They sold over 30 million records around the world between 1982 and 1986. Their hit songs like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", "Everything She Wants", and "Careless Whisper" all reached number one in the US. In 2019, Ridgeley wrote a book about his time in Wham! called Wham! George & Me.
Contents
Early Life and Friendship
Andrew Ridgeley was born in Windlesham, Surrey, England. His mother was English and Scottish. His father was of Italian, Yemeni, and Egyptian background. Andrew has one younger brother named Paul. Andrew grew up in Bushey, Hertfordshire. He went to Bushey Meads School. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked for Canon. When George Michael started school, Andrew became his friend and helped him settle in.
Music Career Beginnings
Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael formed the music duo Wham! in 1981. Before that, they were in a short-lived group called The Executive. In Wham!, George Michael was the main singer and wrote most of the songs. He also played keyboards. Andrew Ridgeley helped write songs, played guitar, and sang backup.
They made a demo tape in Andrew's living room. It only took ten minutes to record! They showed this tape to different record companies. They first signed with Innervision Records. Later, they signed with Epic Records.
Wham! Becomes a Global Sensation
Wham! became very popular in the United States. They appeared on the TV show American Bandstand. They were the only British group in the 1980s to have three number one songs in both the UK and US charts.
In 1984, Andrew had surgery to help him breathe better. After photos of him with bandages were in newspapers, their manager made up a story. He said Andrew had been in a nightclub fight. But soon, the real reason for the bandages was shared.
Wham! had two number one songs in the UK in 1984. They were one of Britain's biggest pop groups. To become even more famous worldwide, their manager planned a special trip. In April 1985, Wham! traveled to China. They were the first Western pop group to perform there. This created a lot of media attention around the world. They played two warm-up shows in Hong Kong. Then, they performed for 15,000 people in Beijing. They also played a show in Guangzhou. A documentary film called Wham! in China: Foreign Skies was made about their visit. In 1985, Andrew Ridgeley also performed at the Live Aid charity concert. George Michael performed with Elton John at the same event.
By 1986, George Michael wanted to make music for an older audience. So, the duo decided to break up. Their last concert was called "The Final". It took place at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986. About 72,000 people came to see their farewell show.
After Wham!
After Wham! broke up, Andrew Ridgeley moved to Monaco. He tried motor racing in Formula Three. He did not have much success with racing. Then, he moved to Los Angeles to try acting. He returned to Britain in 1990.
His record label, CBS Records, released his solo album called Son of Albert in 1990. Andrew's brother, Paul, played drums on the album. The first song from the album was "Shake." It reached number 16 in Australia. The album did not sell very well. Critics also did not like it much. Because of this, CBS Records did not offer him a contract for a second album. Andrew later said he was "disappointing and depressing" about how the album was received.
On January 27, 1991, Andrew joined George Michael on stage. This was during George's concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since 1991, Andrew Ridgeley has mostly stayed out of the public eye. He appeared on a TV show called Fantasy Football League in 1994. He also gave an interview for a 2005 documentary about George Michael's life.
In 2005, Andrew and George planned to reunite Wham! for the Live 8 concert. However, Andrew decided not to participate at the last minute. In 2012, George Michael said that rumors of a Wham! reunion for their 30th anniversary were not true.
When George Michael passed away on December 25, 2016, Andrew shared his sadness on Twitter. He said he was "Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog." Andrew had a small role in the 2019 movie Last Christmas. This film featured many songs by Wham!. In 2023, Andrew Ridgeley helped induct George Michael into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Charitable Work
Andrew Ridgeley has taken part in the Dallaglio Cycle Slam several times. This is a charity bike ride that raises money for Dallaglio Rugby Works. This charity helps young people learn positive life skills through rugby. Andrew is a big fan of road cycling. In 2024, he was given the Anglo-American Cultural Award by the St. George's Society of New York.
Personal Life
From 1990 to 2017, Andrew Ridgeley was in a relationship with Keren Woodward. She is a member of the music group Bananarama. They lived together in a historic farm property in Cornwall, England. In 2022, Andrew announced he was dating Amanda Cronin. They separated in May 2023.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Son of Albert (1990)
Albums with Wham!
- Fantastic (1983)
- Make It Big (1984)
- Music from the Edge of Heaven (1986)
See also
In Spanish: Andrew Ridgeley para niños
