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When George Michael Conquered the World as a Live Superstar — Then Walked Away
George Michael's 1987 solo album Faith marked a dramatic reinvention from his Wham! days, establishing him as a mature artist with hit singles "Faith," "Father Figure," and "I Want Your Sex." In 1988, he embarked on the Faith Tour, his one and only solo mega-pop tour, where he confidently embraced the role of a larger-than-life pop idol on stage. An upcoming concert film, arriving in cinemas on 11 December, documents two performances from Paris in spring 1988 using recently rediscovered footage, preserving what has become an overlooked but significant moment in his career.
Despite his phenomenal success, George Michael's arena stardom was short-lived. He was a closeted gay man navigating a brutally homophobic era, and the depression resulting from his fame and forced concealment convinced him that superstardom was not what he truly wanted. He never attempted another tour of this scale, nor did he release a proper concert film or album at the time, making this era largely forgotten in his story. The tour setlist included most of Faith, several Wham! classics (notably excluding "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go"), and soul covers by artists including Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. The film is directed by longtime collaborators Andy Morahan and David Austin, with a live album of previously unreleased performances also forthcoming.
In short
- George Michael's 1988 Faith Tour documents his only major solo arena tour in newly discovered footage.
- He abandoned this type of spectacle after achieving massive success, owing to struggles with closeted identity.
- The concert film arrives in December, reviving a largely forgotten chapter of his career.
Explained simply
George Michael first became famous as one half of Wham!, then struck out on his own with the 1987 album Faith. Its success made him an international pop star and led to a major tour the following year, where he performed his solo hits alongside older Wham! songs and soul covers.
Michael was a closeted gay man at a time when public attitudes were often hostile, and he later described the strain of fame and hiding his sexuality. He did not tour on the same scale again, so the 1988 performances became a little-seen part of his career. The rediscovered footage offers a record of that brief period as a live arena star.