# George Michael dead.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 25, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619 "2016-12-25T23:08:43Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/61 "2016-12-27T15:07:58Z")
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> His [wife](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keren_Woodward)
I heard an interview with her and the very same question was asked, “What does Andrew Ridgeley do now?” Her response was, “He plays golf and drinks beer, a lot of beer.”
God, that guy has it made.
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/62 "2016-12-27T16:17:15Z")
If Ridgely drinks a lot of beer [it doesn’t show](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/09/28/article-1216592-069C6EBC000005DC-910_468x655.jpg). He appears to be in really good shape too: [cyclist](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClkpM28WIAAYu7w.jpg), [hiker](http://thephilosophersmail.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/PM-280214-ridgeleyF.jpg), [soccer player](http://img.thesun.co.uk/aidemitlum/archive/00898/SNN2913A-280_898143a.jpg).
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/63 "2016-12-27T16:46:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#):
>
> Hasn’t everyone who ever died on this planet died from heart failure? Really!
The only thing every person dies from is cerebral hypoxia, i.e. lack of oxygen to the brain. People with brain death can donate their hearts & stuff all the time.
I kinda feel bad for Andrew Ridgeley and how he was treated by the pop star machine of Wham! Their career trajectory seemed so deliberately manipulated to make George the breakout star, while Andrew was treated as dead wood. The only song he co-wrote, “Careless Whisper”, was released as a _George Michael solo single_ fer Cripe’s sake! On the other hand, he still gets 50% of the royalties so I’m sure he’s crying all the way to the bank.
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### Author:  [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/64 "2016-12-27T16:57:55Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> The only thing every person dies from is cerebral hypoxia, i.e. lack of oxygen to the brain. People with brain death can donate their hearts & stuff all the time.
>
> I kinda feel bad for Andrew Ridgeley and how he was treated by the pop star machine of Wham! Their career trajectory seemed so deliberately manipulated to make George the breakout star, while Andrew was treated as dead wood. The only song he co-wrote, “Careless Whisper”, was released as a _George Michael solo single_ fer Cripe’s sake! On the other hand, he still gets 50% of the royalties so I’m sure he’s crying all the way to the bank.
He didn’t co write anything - doesn’t have the ability. GM offered him an income for life through the royalties.
Ridgeley was a school mate, they did their thing and then grew up. I don’t think you have to “feel bad”, he’s had and is having a great life. Most pointedly, away from the media spotlight.
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### Author:  [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/65 "2016-12-27T17:01:06Z")
From what I’ve read, Ridgeley was the vision, Michael was the musical talent. Ridgeley sort of made George Micheal who he was by creating the style and sound of Wham. But, yeah, beyond that, he was not a musician or singer or writer.
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### Author:  [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)
#### Post date: [December 27, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/66 "2016-12-27T17:25:19Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#):
>
> From what I’ve read, Ridgeley was the vision, Michael was the musical talent. Ridgeley sort of made George Micheal who he was by creating the style and sound of Wham. But, yeah, beyond that, he was not a musician or singer or writer.
They remained friends through all of it. That’s pretty damn cool.
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### Author:  [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/george-michael-dead/775619/67 "2017-01-01T18:57:55Z")
Lots of stories have emerged of his generosity since his death - mostly carried out anonymously.
> **[The philanthropic acts of George Michael: from £5k tips to nurses' gigs](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/dec/26/the-philanthropic-acts-of-george-michael-from-5k-tips-to-nurses-gigs)**
>
> After the pop superstar’s death, stories are emerging that reveal his many acts of kindness and generosity
IMO he was a hugely talented writer and singer, who gave away the rights to Last Christmas and Careless Whisper among others as acts of huge magnanimity. That he struggled with addiction and became less productive is a crying shame - that he died is um, upsetting.
For years up to and including last night, I would introduce a song in the third half of our set (I know) by saying ‘We’re now going to play for you the Greatest Pop Song Ever Written - can you guess what it is?’ And people make suggestions, we start playing the intros to Teen Spirit or Can’t Touch This or whatever, then we launch into a 50% faster version of Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - the song I have said here previously, I want played at my funeral.
I’m 54 so between Prince and GM in age.
Very sad.
MiM
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