Wham! star Andrew Ridgely has ruled out a return to the stage as it “just wouldn’t be the same” without George Michael by his side.
Faith hitmaker George passed away on Christmas Day 2016, aged 53, and Andrew, who scored hits including Wake Me Up (Before You Go), Club Tropicana, and holiday staple Last Christmas with his pal, told the Daily Mirror a solo comeback for him isn’t on the cards.
“It’s an amazing privilege to perform for an audience paying to hear the music that you’ve recorded,” he said. “I am not sure that ever really leaves one completely. But it’s not for now.”
The singer went on to call performing on stage a “young person’s game”, insisting: “I don’t think I could do Wham! stuff on my own. I just wouldn’t want to. It just wouldn’t be the same.
“There are people much better placed to make music than me.”
Following George’s death, the three remaining Wham! members – Andrew and backing singers Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque and Shirlie Kemp – reunited to pay tribute to their friend at the BRIT Awards in 2017.