Careless Whispers: The Life & Career of George Michael

by Robert Steele

Here is a riveting account of the highs and lows of the life and career of one of pop music's top solo artists.

Covers the formation of Wham! in the early 80s with friend Andrew Ridgley, their success with hits including "Young Guns (Go For It)," "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" and "Club Tropicana" and their split in 1986.

Details Michael's huge success as a solo artist with albums including Faith and Listen Without Prejudice and his high profile legal battle iwth Sony which cost him millions of his own money.  Covers his personal life and the drug and sex scandals that eventually led him to be sent to prison in 2010 following a car crash.

Includes commentary by those best placed to observe his career - such as former Wham! manager Simon Napier-Bell.
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Music

372 pages, Hardcover

First published November 4, 2011

About the author

As a writer and editor in the independent publishing industry, Robert Steele has worked in the genres of popular culture and cinema. As a writer on pop culture, he has provided new chapters for the updates of books including Rock ‘n’ Roll Babylon by Gary Herman and Marc Bolan: Born to Boogie by Chris Welch and Simon Napier-Bell, as well as producing biographies of teen movie idols such as Orlando Bloom.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️= Good
Hardback.
This was an informative book… maybe a little too informative at times. I certainly learnt an awful lot!
I’ve always had a great deal of time for George, and in this book the caring and vulnerable sides of his personality came through. Yes, he made mistakes but usually held his hands up and apologised.
I’m unsure if everything in this book is true, but I did feel that the author focused a little too much on his sexuality . It kind of trivialised everything else that he achieved. As I say though, it MIGHT have consumed his whole life and he MAY always have been searching for fulfilment. Only George knew this.

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was shocked and extremely saddened by the death of the amazing George Michael. He was an incredibly talented songwriter, singer and producer, and an extremely generous soul. The lyrics to most of his songs are all based on personal experiences, so if you want to get to know George, listen to his songs. While this biography was good, it did drag on a bit. I'm glad I read it though. RIP George. You are missed.

[Angela(Angie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one--I had not heard of the TV show Eli Stone that George was on until reading about it in this book, so I'm off to go find that. Also, I loved hearing about George's obsession with Eastenders, and that Eastenders appreciated him back by including a character who was obsessed with George. It wasn't as sweet of a book as the Andrew Ridgely one, but the author of this one impressed me when he mentioned that he named his daughter Georgina because he and his wife are such fans.

[Gorka Larrañeta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Correcta y rigurosa exposición de los hechos; aunque se hecha de menos más análisis de la obra en profundidad

[Iris Mentus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly touching and sensitive

You will enjoy this book and will find yourself pleasantly surprised at all the detail provided into the inner workings of George Michael. I loved all the fascinating insights into his songwriting process and prep for tour dates as well as the more difficult to read, sorbid aspects of his private life. All in all this book gives a balanced and fair portrait of a gentle, kind, loving, giving but flawed man. However, learning this does not diminish his star power or talent in any way. It just makes the reader ache for George...and wish that somehow it all could have changed at the end and his life have been miraculously saved....RIP George Michael!!!
Your music and your voice will live on forever....

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a HUGE George Michael fan and when I received this book as a gift, I was skeptical that I'd learn anything new. However, I did learn some new things, most particularly about George's music. In fact I was lead to search for some of his recordings previously unknown to me. If you are a fan, this is worth a read.

[soph]

Hey Amanda!

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unauthorised biography of pop star George Michael. Because I’m curious about the psychology of creativity, I like to read the life stories of various pop culture figures prominent during my youth. Most of this one was new to me, but that’s only because I don’t follow the tabloids and didn’t know more than scant details before reading. Yet this story was not complete. Despite an engaging writing style, the author interviewed very few of Michael’s associates, and neglected to make contact with his subject at all, compiling his source material third-hand from press reports, media intereviews, the 2005 documentary film A Different Life, and other people’s books. While these provide a good place to start, the lack of original material or insight does not make this biography compelling. The timeline ends in 2011, when it was first published. Re-released in 2017, presumably to cash in on Michael’s death in December 2016, it's strange that there are no additional chapters covering the intervening five years or the final days, to bring a sense of closure to the story. Steele is clearly a competent writer and I might read more of his work but he’s going to have to pick up his game if he wants to impress.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book, especially if you're a fan. Learned a lot more about the man and his music. Such a tragedy that we lost him so early. Highly recommend.

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loads of information but I felt like I was reading a thesis. DNF for me, I just couldn't which is rare. Felt like the author was waffling on to add pages to his book.

[Kristien · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, well written but with some mistakes. This book ends with George Michael's Symphonica tour.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who grew up as a big Wham! fan and then went on to be just as big a fan of George himself as a solo artist I was heartbroken when he passed away. This sublime singer who wrote some of the most beautiful songs in my lifetime was also someone whose life was peppered with demons professionally & personally. This book does a fabulous job at relating George’s life, including the good and the not so good. The author is obviously a fan of George’s work but also at times doesn’t hold back at telling it like it was. There are lots of snippets within the book taken from interviews over the years as well as statements taken from family & others who knew George well. I really enjoyed it but in a way I also found it so very sad. The loss of such a wonderful talent, taken far too soon will never be easy to take. Oh George, you have definitely been loved.

[Mora Theresya]

history about George Michael. SIng Careless Whisper