I just finished watching the Netflix documentary WHAM! It brought back so many memories and filled me with nostalgia thinking back to the time when I first saw Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go on MTV, saw Wham perform during their Make It Big tour at day on the Green in 1985 and subsequently met Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael in the San Francisco airport on September 2nd. 

Most of the gays of my generation immediately suspected that they both were gay (or wanted them to be), but our gaydar knew for sure that George was.  When I met him in person, that feeling was definitely confirmed. 

Here’s a link to my video about the time I met them:  

Here's the story in more detail: My friend John Catania who was working at Continental Airlines at the time called me, and this was before cell phones, to tell me that George and Andrew were waiting for their flight and that if I got to the airport in time he would take me back to the VIP room where they were waiting. 

I lived pretty close to the airport to the time, and I stopped off at Tanforan shopping center in San Bruno and went into one of the bookstores there and bought a book called pop stars in order to have something for them to sign. I didn't have their album at that time I think I only had their cassette, and I wanted something bigger. 

After darting into the bookstore and buying the book, (I don't remember where I got the pen) but it was literally like 7 minutes from the airport, and I actually pulled up in front of Continental Airlines and parked - back in the day when you can do that.  

This was also before high level airport security, so I was able to go directly to the Continental gate where my friend John was waiting for me, and he let me into the room where George and Andrew were. 

The first thing I recall was that Andrew was absolutely beautiful in person. He was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt, he had a great grin, incredible olive colored skin and really sweet, care-free and fun energy. 

George on the other hand, seemed a a little tense or nervous, most likely preoccupied. He did not look like the George Michael I knew from his videos or fan magazine photos.  Mostly I think it was his bad skin and sort of uptight energy - there was no blinding white smile or a face flooded with light other than that from the large window overlooking the runway. 

Andrew was very gracious and accommodating. But George looked at my picture and he said, "Is this the only one you have?"  It was clear to me that he did not think the photo was flattering. In retrospect it is probably because of the gay limp wrist. Especially when you look in the rear view mirror from the documentary on how much he was suffering, being closeted. But when you have two international pop stars and two gay men all together in the same room, you can darn well bet that the two gay men can tell which one of the pop stars is also on the same team. 

I was a grateful and bubbly 20-year-old and it was one of my most memorable in person celebrity encounters.  The only recollection that I have seeing them in concert was the buildup and anticipation waiting for them to come on after Katrina and the waves and The Pointer Sisters- and when they finally came on the mass pandemonium, how much fun I had and that it was a beautiful day for an outdoor concert. It was just true exuberance. 

Of course, I followed George's solo career and bought his hit records, but I was never a mega fan. I have a concert ticket from seeing him solo and I remember zilch. Purple hairs in the weed.

Whenever I would read something in the tabloids about George's homosexuality or problems, my mind would immediately go back to that anxiety-ridden person that I had met at the airport and how it must be so difficult for him. 

Wham! music is my youth in a time capsule that still makes me smile, "I'm Your Man" is on my workout playlist, Andrew is still a handsome man and George is legend. 

Here’s a crazy, fun Wham! Hits remix by Dance into the Beat … the lead singer really sounds like George except in a couple of random places where you can hear his (Italian?) accent