Andrew Ridgeley, 63, has discussed the significance of Wham!’s groundbreaking visit to China in April 1985, when the duo became the first Western pop act to perform in the country. The trip, orchestrated by manager Simon Napier-Bell, was designed to generate international attention and establish a platform for the band’s subsequent American stadium tour. Upon arrival in Beijing, Ridgeley and George Michael were met by journalists rather than enthusiastic crowds, a notably different reception from comparisons to The Beatles’ famous arrival in America.
A new documentary titled Wham! 10 Days in China features remastered footage from the tour and interviews with Chinese audience members who attended the concerts. According to Ridgeley, the most significant aspect of the visit extends beyond the strategic publicity benefits. Many Chinese attendees reported that exposure to Western pop music through the performances inspired them to pursue careers as singers or DJs, directions they might not have otherwise considered. Ridgeley characterizes this cultural impact as the most meaningful legacy of the tour, describing it as touching and powerful on a personal level.
Ridgeley acknowledged that George Michael never returned to China to witness the lasting effects of their visit on the lives they had influenced. Archive footage included in the documentary shows Michael reflecting on the responsibility the band felt as cultural ambassadors introducing Western pop music to audiences with no prior exposure to the genre. The tour proved strategically successful, with Wham! launching a sold-out American stadium tour four months later. The duo performed together for the final time in June 1986 at Wembley Stadium.
Ridgeley continues to be involved in preserving Wham!’s legacy through various projects, including a 2023 Netflix documentary and a 2024 special about their Christmas music. He credits a chance meeting with Michael at school in 1974, when he volunteered to help the new student settle in, as a pivotal moment that ultimately shaped both their lives. The documentary Wham! 10 Days in China will be released in cinemas on 28 July before airing on BBC Two at a later date.