Shirlie Kemp recalls the final time she saw "beautiful" and "compassionate" George Michael
1 October 2021, 12:11
Shirlie Kemp reveals she saw George Michael only weeks before his untimely passing in a new joint autobiography from the former Wham! backing singers.
Shirlie Kemp recalls the final time she saw George Michael in a new joint autobiography written with fellow Wham! backing singer Pepsi Demacque-Crockett.
Only weeks before his tragic passing on Christmas Day in 2016, Shirlie visited George and asked him if he had enjoyed his life and liked being famous, and he said “yes”.
“I knew George as a friend way before Wham!, way before fame." she goes on to say.
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"He was adorable and his sense of humour, he could laugh at himself. It was his empathy and his wit. To be that compassionate but that hilarious was a beautiful combination.”
It comes as a surprise to many who believed George to be struggling in the days leading to his death, but his kindness for others always came first.
Kemp's recollection of her final moment with George Michael comes to light in Pepsi & Shirlie: It's All In Black And White, the new book from the former Wham! backing singers.
Read more: Astonishing night 'furious' Stevie Nicks was turned away from Wham! concert
As Wham!, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were one of the biggest selling pop groups of the 1980s.
Throughout the decade the duo sold more than 30 millions records with singles like 'Club Tropicana', 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go', 'I'm Your Man', and 'Last Christmas'.
Wham! - Club Tropicana (Official Video)
Both Shirlie and Pepsi recount their whirlwind success with Wham!, joining the band in 1983. Pepsi says: “I was actually impressed by them, really impressed."
"I thought Shirlie was the coolest and I was conscious of the fact she really wanted me to be comfortable. Meeting George and Andrew, they were doing exactly the same thing."
“I can’t even describe to you the decibel of screaming [at concerts]. We’re talking about hysteria to the point of concern."
Read more: George Michael’s isolated a cappella vocals from Careless Whisper are spine-tingling
After Wham! broke up in 1986, and George went on to become one of the world's greatest pop music icons. But he never lost sight of those that mattered most to him.
Shirlie, who married Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp in 1988, also reveals that George found a specialist brain surgeon to save Martin's life after he was diagnosed with two brain tumours in 1995.
Read more: Martin Kemp reveals how George Michael got him his EastEnders role and even picked his soap wardrobe
As the former backing singers promote their new book, Pepsi says she feels George is “wishing them well”.
“I’m quite emotional actually. I’ve been walking into the hotel foyer and every time one of George’s songs comes on." she says. "I think he’s got his fairy dust on our book, wishing us well.”
“I feel really proud of the fact I can look back on so many fond memories. It’s tainted with sadness, but that’s life.”
Pepsi & Shirlie: It’s All in Black and White by Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and Shirlie Kemp is available to purchase now.
