At the peak of their musical journey, the iconic 80s duo Wham!, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, decided to part ways. Their farewell act? A legendary concert at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986. What should have been a seamless goodbye, however, was almost derailed by an unexpected guest appearance—Duran Duran’s lead singer, Simon Le Bon.
Wham!’s Meteoric Rise and Bittersweet Farewell
Wham! dominated the music charts in the UK and the US with hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “I’m Your Man.” Despite their massive success, the duo decided to disband in 1986. George Michael, a phenomenal talent, desired to explore a more mature musical path, a direction that was incompatible with Wham!’s pop image.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, the duo behind Wham!, on stage in 1985. George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley of Wham! during a performance.
Their final concert at Wembley Stadium was a bittersweet occasion for their fans. The duo, dressed in black, hinted at their departure from their bubblegum pop image. Their setlist, however, was a nostalgic trip down memory lane, featuring hits like “Club Tropicana,” “Bad Boys,” and even “Last Christmas,” much to the delight of the 72,000 fans present.
Wham!'s farewell concert at Wembley Stadium was attended by a massive crowd of 72,000 fans. A sea of fans at Wham!’s farewell concert at Wembley Stadium.
The concert also provided a glimpse into George Michael’s future musical direction, with heartfelt renditions of “A Different Corner” and their chart-topping single, “Careless Whisper.” Adding to the star-studded affair, Elton John joined them on stage for a moving duet of “Candle In The Wind.”
An Unwanted Encore: Simon Le Bon Crashes the Party
As the concert neared its end, George Michael was informed that Simon Le Bon wanted to join them on stage. Unbeknownst to Le Bon, his surprise appearance wasn’t as welcome as he might have thought.
Duran Duran and Wham! had risen to fame around the same time, and a friendly rivalry existed between the two bands. While a joint performance might have been perceived as a friendly gesture, George Michael was far from pleased.
Wham! performing at their farewell concert at Wembley Stadium. Wham!’s final concert at Wembley Stadium marked the end of an era.
Years later, George Michael would recall the incident, stating his security guard informed him of Le Bon’s request to join them on stage. His response? A blunt, “Tell him to f**k off!” He later confessed, albeit jokingly, that he was serious about not wanting Le Bon on stage. It was their final performance as Wham!, and an impromptu guest appearance was the last thing he wanted.
Simon Le Bon's appearance at the finale of Wham!'s farewell concert was met with mixed reactions. Simon Le Bon’s surprise appearance at the Wham! concert.
The situation became even more awkward during the final song, “I’m Your Man,” when Le Bon, clearly not knowing the lyrics, joined them on stage. George Michael humorously recounted how he tried to avoid Le Bon, a scene evident in the bootleg footage of the performance.
A Farewell Marred, or Memories Untouched?
The footage from Wham!’s final concert, including Le Bon’s unexpected cameo, was featured in the 2023 Netflix documentary Wham!. While Le Bon’s appearance might not have been part of the plan, it certainly added an interesting chapter to the Wham! story.
Despite the unexpected guest appearance, Wham!’s farewell concert at Wembley remains a testament to their impact on music. Their fans remember it as a celebration of their music, a final hurrah for a duo that defined the sound of a generation.
