Andrew Ridgeley, one half of the iconic duo Wham!, has offered a revealing insight into the band's groundbreaking 1985 tour of China, an event he initially believed had 'not a cat's chance in hell' of happening. Forty-one years on, the surreal journey, which saw Wham! become the first Western pop act to perform in the People's Republic, is being revisited in a new documentary, 'Wham! 10 Days in China'. The film promises to unearth previously unseen archive footage and fresh interviews with key figures involved in the tour, capturing the extraordinary cultural moment and a nation on the cusp of significant change.
For Ridgeley and the late George Michael, the ambitious undertaking was less about cultural diplomacy and more about a shrewd commercial strategy. Orchestrated by their then-manager, Simon Napier-Bell, the tour was designed to generate such a global buzz that it would propel Wham! to top-tier status in the lucrative American market, circumventing the need for an arduous 90-date US arena tour that Michael was reportedly keen to avoid due to concerns for his voice. Ridgeley, now 63, confirms the plan's success, noting that the tour secured them national news coverage and widespread media attention in the States.
The documentary is set to highlight the stark contrasts of their visit: the flamboyant pop stars amidst the more subdued attire of Beijing's streets, and the challenges of performing to an audience largely unfamiliar with Western pop music. Ridgeley recalls the peculiar atmosphere of their Beijing concert, where audience members, instructed to remain seated, initially greeted the band with silence. The film also delves into the less glamorous aspects of the tour, including awkward diplomatic engagements and the pressures of constant media scrutiny. Michael, in particular, found the formality of a British embassy reception deeply uncomfortable, while Ridgeley openly expressed his disdain for journalists at a press conference.
Despite the unusual circumstances and the 'slightly restricted' feeling Ridgeley experienced in Beijing, the tour proved to be a pivotal moment for some Chinese fans. The documentary features interviews with local musicians, including singer Cheng Fangyuan, who performed Chinese-language versions of Wham!'s songs distributed to ticket holders. Fangyuan describes the event as a 'historical moment', akin to 'opening a window' for Chinese audiences to Western music and culture.
The extensive original footage available for the documentary is thanks to Wham!'s management, who commissioned a film crew to document the tour. In a somewhat unconventional choice, the acclaimed high-minded director Lindsay Anderson was tasked with overseeing the project. 'Wham! 10 Days in China' is expected to offer UK audiences a unique glimpse into a significant chapter in pop music history, showcasing not only the band's global reach but also the cultural exchange that unfolded in a rapidly evolving China.