POP The History Makers

Back to videos

SIMON NAPIER-BELL on GEORGE MICHAEL, former WHAM! manager reveals all

Simon Napier-Bell

1h 1m 39s
First published: April 2, 2023

SUBSCRIBE to this CHANNEL here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5S9xw1B-ppDXVkAuvRRQtg?sub_confirmation=1

00:00:00 Introduction and why this film...
00:02:05 Simon's amazing life - working with Burt Bacharach
00:12:08 How he worked on the song for Dusty Springfield - You don't have to say you love me!
00:14:58 Coming to terms with his own sexuality
00:24:17 Criminality and the music business
00:25:55 Managing - along comes WHAM!
00:34:05 What WHAM! was for George
00:37:06 The gay sensibility of the documentary
00:46:23 Are stars doomed to have a tragic life?
00:49:02 What responsibility do we all have in the downfall of George Michael?
00:54:23 What's next for Simon Napier-Bell?

Simon Napier-Bell co-managed Wham! in the 1980s and set up and organized their concert in China, the first by a western band. His documentary, George Michael: Portrait of an Artist is a wonderful, revealing, and moving account of the singer's life. Directed by Simon Napier-Bell, it features interviews with only those who knew him or had worked with him. (Stevie Wonder, Stephen Fry, Rufus Wainright, Andrew Ridgeley, Sananda Maitreya (fmr Terence Trent Darby), Tom Robinson, and George's long-time partner Kenny Goss). In the podcast, Simon talks extensively about George, his life, and his demons.⁠

One of the reasons, in my opinion, that this documentary achieves a different perspective from others that I've seen, is the gay sensibility it has. Simon Napier-Bell talks extensively about George, his life, and his demons, in addition to giving us a portrait of his own life.

Connect with me on Instagram: steve.blame

And thanks to POP; The History Makers' insanely wonderful talent booker: #ArchieCMichael

Back to videos