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Witness History: Wham! in China

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Wham! in China

22/03/2024 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, Wham! in China

How Wham! became the first Western pop act to perform in communist China

In 1985, Wham! became the first Western pop act to play communist China. Manager Simon Napier-Bell says it was the only time he saw George Michael have stage fright.

In 1985, the British band Wham! became the first Western pop act to play in China.

Around 12,000 fans packed into the Worker’s Gymnasium in Beijing to hear such hits as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Freedom.

Wham!’s manager Simon Napier-Bell tells Vicky Farncombe how the strangeness of the event affected singer George Michael’s nerves.

(Photo: Wham! perform in China. Credit: Getty Images)

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