Almost 40 years after Wham!'s final ever gig in 1986, a new Netflix documentary is taking a look at the duo's rise to mega-stardom.
Best friends George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley took the globe by storm, selling more than 30 million records worldwide in just four years, including hits 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' and 'Last Christmas.' The documentary, titled Wham!, features unheard interviews and never-before-seen footage from George and Andrew's personal archives.
The pair were still teenagers when Wham! began to take off in 1982, having formed the duo while at school in Bushey, Hertfordshire. After their split just four years later in 1986, both singers went on to have solo careers.
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While Andrew released his first and last solo album in the 90s, George continued creating and releasing music for years to come. The troubled star had spent years trying to overcome drug abuse issues - and had a number of legal run-ins.
His album Symphonica was released around two and a half years before his death. George was found dead at home in Oxfordshire on Christmas Day 2016 by his partner Fadi Fawaz. He was 53 years old when he died. Many found it haunting that the star died on December 25, considering one of Wham!'s biggest hits was a Christmas classic.
Initially, his toxicology report came back inconclusive. But star's death was attributed to heart problems and a fatty liver.
Mr Niel-Asher, who treated George, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, at his North London home just three weeks before he died, told how he believed the singer had accepted his mortality.
World-renowned osteopath Simeon, who treated George for 30 years, previously told The Mirror: "When I last saw him he was in good spirits. It was a beautiful last session. We had a really weird conversation, it was interesting and it was strange.
"Sometimes people know they are going to die and they get everything in order. I wonder if there was a bit of that going on, like he somehow knew.
"It was strange to think he might have known he was going to die or had some kind of inkling. That happens. Some people know they are going to die and I've seen it before. In many ways I thought he was waking up andsaw him coming alive again, maybe the last flash of the candle."
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Despite the intense session, Simeon says they laughed and George didn't mind being teased about his increased weight. Referring to Elvis' favourite snack, Simeon said: "He kind of reminded me a bit of Elvis before he died, you know? He got really big. I said to George, 'Have you got any peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?'
"What can I say? He was big but he was beautiful. In the last few months I saw this rebirth, this kind of optimism come back, this sparkle in his eye."
George planned a follow-up appointment with Simeon but died as the physician was preparing to fly back to London. Simeon added: "I was waiting for a call to see him again. So his death hit me hard, I only found out on the news. We became good friends and it was a tremendous therapeutic relationship."
Earlier this month, former bandmate Andrew told how George's death left a "void" in his life. He became close friends with George – who he affectionately called "Yog" – when they met at school aged 12.
He said: "When I found out [George had died] it was a moment of disbelief. I think that's a very good way of putting it. I think anyone finds it difficult to comprehend when someone they’re so close to passes away, it’s an inconceivable moment. It leaves a void in your life.
"I’d love to just sit and have a sit-down lunch again, to chat and play Scrabble with Yog again."
Wham! is now available to stream on Netflix.
