In April 1985, the British pop duo Wham! made history by becoming the first Western pop act to perform in Communist China. A new documentary film, Wham! 10 Days in China, set for worldwide cinema release on July 28, utilizes newly restored video and first-person accounts to examine the origins and consequences of that landmark visit.
A Historic Musical Gamble
According to Reuters, the tour was a calculated career move devised by the group’s manager, Simon Napier-Bell. By the mid-1980s, Wham!—formed in 1981 by school friends George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley—had achieved global success with hits such as Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
and Last Christmas.
However, the band faced a dilemma when vocal issues prevented Michael from embarking on a planned 90-day arena tour in the United States.
It was a considered and manufactured career move,
said Ridgeley, now 63. It was a consequence of the fact that George was not going to do a 90-day arena tour in the States. Something had to be done and Simon had the answer.
The Beijing and Guangzhou Concerts
The tour included performances in Beijing and Guangzhou, taking place while China maintained strict controls on Western music. While Ridgeley admitted he was initially skeptical of the plan, he noted that George Michael—whom he first met at Bushey Meads School in 1974—was “all for it.”
The concerts, particularly the tightly policed show at Beijing’s Workers’ Gymnasium, attracted approximately 15,000 attendees. Among those in the crowd was Cui Jian, who would later be labeled the godfather of Chinese rock.
According to the documentary, Cui’s career as a musician was a direct consequence of witnessing Wham!’s performances. His song, Nothing to My Name,
eventually became an anthem for student protesters in Tiananmen Square four years later.
An Enduring Legacy
For decades, the members of Wham! remained largely unaware of the specific influence their visit had on the Chinese public. Ridgeley expressed that while the band understood their legacy outside of China, the documentary allowed him to explore the long-term impact on the lives of those who attended the 1985 shows.
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I really wanted to discover, beyond the legacy for Wham! outside of China, which we know of… what actually is the legacy in China,
Ridgeley told Reuters. And that was perhaps the most enduring legacy there is; it is those people whose lives, the course of their lives, let's say, was changed by Wham!'s performances.
Film Release Information
The documentary, which features previously unseen and restored footage, serves as a record of the band’s career trajectory. In addition to the worldwide release on July 28, the Verde Independent reports that the Sedona International Film Festival will host screenings at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre from July 28 through July 30.
The film highlights the intersection of pop, politics, and history, documenting what Ridgeley describes as a sliding doors moment
that began with a simple act of kindness in a Hertfordshire classroom and ultimately resonated across the globe. Reflecting on the footage, Ridgeley stated, They're wonderful things to have for posterity, records of his [Michael's] brilliance.
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