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Episode Summary

Simon Napier-Bell is a famous music manager, author, and filmmaker, known for managing iconic artists such as The Yardbirds, Sinead O’Connor, Wham! with George Michael and more. In today’s episode, we sat down with Simon to discuss his latest documentary, ‘George Michael – Portrait of An Artist’, what it was like working with George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, what happened when George left Wham!, and George’s unique writing process.

First, we asked Simon about what inspired him to film his documentary ‘George Michael: A Portrait of An Artist’. He told us that after seeing several Wham! documentaries, he was disappointed at how they were made. The films were poorly done and vulgar, and Simon wanted to create a movie where those who understood George well could share their stories without commentary. He filmed George’s friends, family, and loved ones sharing stories of the George that they knew. While Simon also knew George, he decided not to include himself in the documentary, for he wanted to learn new stories about George he hadn’t known before from others. Simon first saw both George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley when they first performed as a duo on national television. While many new artists are nervous and unsure, Simon was impressed with how confidently the two men presented themselves to be and wanted to get to know them. He managed to get both George and Andrew to come to his flat, and once he met them, was delighted to learn just how different the two truly were. Andrew was the image of Wham!, the carefree and wild one, while George was more thoughtful and reserved. As a child, George had always been the more awkward one, especially when he was a new student. When the teacher asked who wanted to sit with him, Andrew raised his hand, and George immediately knew he wanted to be just like him. Simon said how George loved music from a young age, but his father wanted George to pursue the family restaurant business. George’s father thought his music was silly, and it resulted in them arguing for years. With Andrew’s image and George’s songwriting, their partnership created the perfect band, and Simon knew from the start that they’d be a huge success.

Wham! was a band that found success quickly, and while most artists would either feel guilty about not deserving fame or turn to drugs to cope, Simon explained that George and Andrew handled their fame seemingly well. While underneath the surface, George was struggling with his own sexuality, he kept his cool on the outside, especially when talking to media journalists. When asked about their experience in the industry, Simon shared how their first recording contract went wrong. He emphasized how when you’re an up-and-coming artist, you’re only thinking of the dream and success, not the finances. You won’t listen to the advice of others telling you not to sign something. Wham! rushed into signing their first contract and later went to court for it, leading them into another bad contract with CBS. Apart from poor contracts, Simon told us another issue George had with the corporate music industry was that artists didn’t own the rights to their own music. When an artist makes a record, they take a loan from the record label to create it. When the record is a hit and success, the artist then pays back the label in full. However, the record label still owns the rights to the song and continues to own the rights to that song forever. Simon thinks that the industry needs to change, and the issues of rights and contracts need to improve.

We also asked Simon to talk about the experience of George leaving Wham!. He said that with every great rockstar, there is a combination of music and image that’s vital to a career. Andrew brought the image, and George wrote the music, making them the ideal musical duo. However, after a few years, Andrew wanted to return to a normal life, for the struggles of fame can be challenging. George, on the other hand, wanted to continue being a rockstar and pursuing music. When talking about celebrity, Simon also mentioned that George loved using his funds to anonymously help others in need. George would watch tv, hear stories of people who needed help, and would call and say he would donate whatever amount was needed so long as his name wasn’t used.

When Simon started working with George Michael, he was shocked to find that George never wrote anything down. Most musicians write down lyrics and ideas, but George kept everything in his head. George stopped writing music when he lost his driver’s license, and at first, Simon didn’t understand why. Eventually, George’s boyfriend, Kenny, explained to Simon that the car is where George would do all of his singing and writing. This realization first hit Kenny when George was scheduled to perform a duet with Paul McCartney. Kenny didn’t see George practice once, and it hit him that George was doing all of the practicing in his car. Kenny and George had a strong love affair, and Simon told us that when stepping into their home in Dallas, he could feel how deep their love was.

Finally, we asked Simon about what it was like watching George struggle with drug addiction. He told us that when he first found out, he was shocked. During his time in Wham!, George was always puritanical, and would be the one to call out Andrew if he ever drank too much. Simon had been the one to introduce George to his doctor and psychologist, so he was able to stay updated on George’s condition. Simon explained that when George’s doctor died, he spiraled from there.

Simon Napier-Bell

Amongst the artists Simon has managed are The Yardbirds, with Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page, Asia, Japan, Sinead O’Connor, Ultravox, T-Rex, Marc Bolan, Candi Staton, Boney M, and Wham! With George Michael.

In the 60s he co-wrote the song You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, a number one for Dusty Springfield, then later for Elvis Presley too.

He’s also written four best-selling books: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, about the 60s; Black Vinyl White Powder, about the postwar British record industry; I’m Coming to Take You to Lunch, about taking Wham! To Communist China in the 80s, the first western rock group ever to play there. And Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-De-Ay, a history of the business of popular music from 1710 until today, now republished under the title The Business. He had a book out at the end of 2022, Sour Mouth Sweet Bottom, a series of personal vignettes.

Recently he’s directed four major documentaries. ‘To be Frank’, about Frank Sinatra (Netflix). ’27 Club’, investigating the psyche of creative music artists (Netflix). ’50 Years Legal’, marking 50 years since the UK decriminalized homosexuality, (Sky TV). And ‘George Michael: Portrait of An Artist’, currently on Amazon, Apple, and iTunes. He is also the originating producer of ‘Raiding the Rock Vault’, the No 1 rated music show in Las Vegas.

Simon Napier-Bell is CEO of the Pierbel Entertainment Group, which offers his services as a speaker, documentary director, writer, TV presenter, and consultant to artists and corporations, and is joint owner and director of the music production house Amsterdam Rock Exchange.

In this episode, we discuss…

• [0:01] Introduction
• [0:40] Guest Introduction
• [3:26] Start of Interview
• [3:56] ‘George Michael: Portrait of An Artist’
• [5:09] George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
• [9:29] The Success of Wham!
• [17:10] George Leaving Wham!
• [24:20] George’s Writing Process
• [31:12] George’s Drug Problems
• [35:57] Closing Thoughts
• [37:12] Outro

Useful Resources:

Simon’s Website I [https://www.simonnapierbell.com/]

Simon’s Facebook I [

]

Simon’s Twitter I [https://twitter.com/SimonNapierBell]

Simon’s Books

You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me I [https://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Have-Say-Love/dp/009190272X]

Black Vinyl White Powder I [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-vinyl-white-powder-simon-napier-bell/1141986238]

I’m Coming to Take You to Lunch I [https://www.amazon.com/Im-Coming-Take-You-Lunch/dp/0091897629]

Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Dee-Ay I [https://www.amazon.com/Ta-Ra-Ra-Boom-Ay-Dodgy-Business-Popular/dp/178352104X]

Sour Mouth, Sweet Bottom I [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sour-mouth-sweet-bottom-simon-napier-bell/1141100846]

Simon’s Documentaries

‘George Michael – Portrait of An Artist’ I [https://www.amazon.com/George-Michael-Portrait-Stevie-Wonder/dp/B09XFGKPVG]

‘Sinatra: To Be Frank’ I [https://www.amazon.com/Sinatra-Be-Frank/dp/B01M6WUX2W]

‘27: Gone Too Soon’ I [https://www.amazon.com/27-Gone-Soon-Jim-Morrision/dp/B079THNQTZ]

‘50 Years Legal’ I [https://www.amazon.com/50-Years-Legal-Ian-McKellen/dp/B07WPP5XZ9]

Can’t Get Enough? Find Us Here!

Website I [http://hotflashescooltopics.com/]

Mail I [[email protected]]

Instagram I [https://www.instagram.com/hotflashesandcooltopics/]

Facebook I [

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Twitter I [https://twitter.com/CoolFlashes]

YouTube I [https://www.youtube.com/@HotFlashesCoolTopics]

Pinterest I [https://www.pinterest.com/hcooltopics/]

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