Andrew Ridgeley

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Andrew Ridgeley, born 26 January 1963 in Windlesham, England, is an English musician best known for being in the 1980s pop duo Wham! with George Michael. Wham! sold more than 30 million records from 1982 to 1986 and had hit songs like Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Everything She Wants, and Careless Whisper, which topped the US charts.

Ridgeley co-wrote songs, played guitar, and sang backing vocals for Wham!, while Michael was the lead singer and main songwriter. The duo signed with Innervision and then Epic Records, becoming one of the biggest pop acts of the decade with several No. 1 hits in the UK and US. In 1984 Ridgeley had nose surgery; a tabloid story about it led to a publicity push. In 1985 Wham! gained worldwide fame after a trip to China and the release of a documentary. They performed at Live Aid in 1985, and in 1986 they had a farewell concert at Wembley Stadium before splitting.

After the split, Ridgeley moved to Monaco to try auto racing and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He released a solo album, Son of Albert, in 1990. Its singles included Shake, which did well in Australia, but the album was a commercial disappointment and CBS did not pick up a second album.

Ridgeley has kept a low public profile since 1991. He appeared in a few shows and interviews, and in 2019 had a cameo in the film Last Christmas, which features many Wham! songs. He helped induct George Michael into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

He participates in charity cycling events and is a keen road cyclist. In 2024 he received the Anglo-American Cultural Award from the St. George’s Society of New York. He has had notable relationships, including with Keren Woodward of Bananarama (1990–2017) and dating Amanda Cronin in 2022–2023.