Wham! (George Michael; Andrew Ridgeley)
7 of 33 portraits by Eric Watson
© Eugene and Willa Watson / National Portrait Gallery, London
Wham! (George Michael; Andrew Ridgeley)
by Eric Watson
selenium-toned print, 23 April 1982
9 in. x 9 in. (230 mm x 229 mm)
Given by Eric Watson, 1998
Photographs Collection
NPG x87626
Sittersback to top
- George Michael (Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou) (1963-2016), Singer; member of Wham. Sitter in 6 portraits.
- Andrew Ridgeley (1963-), Singer; member of Wham. Sitter in 3 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Eric Watson (1955-2012), Photographer, director and teacher. Artist or producer of 33 portraits.
Events of 1982back to top
Current affairs
Unemployment hits 3.6 million in the UK, with one in eight people out of work. The crisis came about as a result of industrial modernisation and restructuring. As a result those out of work were referred to as 'Maggie's millions'.Charles and Diana have their first child, Prince William, who becomes the second in line for the throne.
Art and science
Richard Attenborough releases his biopic Gandhi, starring Ben Kingsley as the lead. The film was an Anglo-Indian production, featuring a record-breaking 300,000 extras.The Barbican Arts Centre is opened featuring a concert hall, theatres, cinema screens and an art gallery. In 2003 it was voted London's ugliest building in a BBC poll.
The Thames Barrier opens to protect London from floods due to rising sea levels.
International
Argentina occupies the Falkland Islands beginning the Falklands War. Britain retaliated, and after three months of fighting at sea and on land won back the islands. Following the British victory opposition grew in Argentina towards the military government, while in Britain a wave of patriotism helped Margaret Thatcher to win the general election the following year.Comments back to top
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Carole Hunt
26 December 2016, 13:32
I have a similar picture, signed by both, which was distributed after a performance at Battersea Town Hall - I'm not sure of the date yet. It was a local disco and halfway through they announced the group - Wham! - and we all stood around them while they performed.