Wham! splits

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 11

Wham! splits

NZPA-AAP London Just as the Rolling Stones appear to be gath» ering moss, Wham! appear to be wrapping up their pop fortunes. Both groups are in the middle of a well-pub-licised slanging match as split personalities argue their differences through the receptive London newspapers. The “end” of Wham! was announced on Friday in a two-paragraph statement from George Michael’s solicitors. It said Michael was cutting bis ties with the group’s agent, Nomis Management, after its takeover by a South African-re-lated leisure firm, Kunick.

Michael, the statement said, had taken a “personal decision” to break out on his own and had not discussed the move with his partner, Andrew Ridgeley. The newspapers were happy to break the news to Ridgeley in Monaco, where he is in tax exile with his girl-friend, Donya Florentino. After a range of comments sprinkled with

swear-words, Ridgeley confirmed, “nobody told me anything.” “As far as I’m concerned, George can do as he likes from now on.” WhamFs disc sales of 30 million world-wide in the last two years accounted for half of Nomis’s earnings. But industry • observers say most of the talent is with George Michael, who is now a close friend of Elton John’s.’ -

Just when everyone thought they had split, the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger and Keith Richards rolled back into London at the week-end for a private session at an Oxford Street jazz club. The occasion was in honour of “the sixth Stone” — a pianist, lan Stewart, who died suddenly before Christmas.

Last week Richards criticised Jagger for his refusals to tour with the group, telling journalists, “I’ll be frank with you, there has been some disagreement ... we’ve got a new album and we should be touring with it. It all depends on •. Mr Jagger. I can’t put a gun to his head.”