The 40th anniversary of Wham! debut Fantastic album to be celebrated on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds

Next month, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the release of Wham!’s debut album, Fantastic, this July, and what would have been George Michael’s 60th birthday on 22 June, Radio 2 and BBC Sounds Celebrates George Michael.

WHAM! The Fans’ Story celebrates one of the most loved British pop duos of all-time, Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael – AKA Wham!. Their first hit, Young Guns (Go For It), stormed the chart at the end of 1982 and Wham! mania would go on to achieve global pop domination. Despite releasing just two studio albums and calling it a day with Wham! The Final at Wembley Stadium in June 1986, their pop legacy lives on to this day and their string of smash hits remain airplay staples all over the world.

Buy Fantastic here: https://amzn.to/3HvjlEK

The show features Wham!’s Andrew Ridgeley, plus their backing singers Shirlie Kemp and Pepsi DeMacque, who each reflect on those happy days. Also appearing are the group’s pop contemporaries including Nik Kershaw, Deniece Pearson of Five Star, plus a whole host of artists who were inspired by Wham!, including Claire Richards of Steps, Mark Feehily of Westlife, B’Witched’s Lindsay, Sinead and Edele, Louise, Michael Ball, Gary Davies (who interviewed the band on Radio 1 in the 80s), Rylan and others. This will be an hour packed with nostalgia, fascinating insights and a packed with the best pop hits ever created (Saturday 17th June, 1-2am and on BBC Sounds for 30 days). A Mostest Production.

Also on BBC Sounds is another chance to hear Your Ultimate George Michael Top 40 featuring a countdown chart of his favourite releases as voted for by Radio 2 listeners to mark 40 years since Wham!’s first entry, Young Guns (Go For It) in the UK singles chart in 1982; George Michael at the BBC, featuring George in conversation and performing across the years at the BBC, including his BBC Radio Theatre performance from 1996 – An Audience with George Michael (both BBC Audio productions); and George Michael: Older at 25 featuring Melanie C looking back at his Older album to mark its 25th anniversary, featuring Russell T Davies, James Blunt, Bananarama, Shirlie Kemp, Ed Sheeran, Jack Savoretti and more (A Mostest production).