Wham! first Western pop band to play China in 1985

On July 28, 2026, a documentary titled "Wham! 10 Days in China" reveals the complex story behind the pop duo's groundbreaking 1985 tour of mainland China. The film explores the intersection of pop stardom, communism, and the involvement of filmmaker Lindsay Anderson.

The documentary focuses on Wham!, consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, and their manager Simon Napier-Bell's strategy to break the US market. In 1985, Napier-Bell orchestrated the tour, making Wham! the first western pop band to perform in mainland China, a move that successfully generated global publicity and launched them in the US.

This matters because it highlights a pivotal moment in music history when China was cautiously opening to western culture, and it underscores the calculated risks taken by artists to achieve international fame. The film also touches on the personal cost for Anderson, a renowned director who took on the project for financial reasons despite his lack of belief in it, and was subsequently fired.

The documentary, a re-edit of Anderson's efforts, examines the collision of these elements during the 1985 tour. It notes that in the modern era, China is routinely considered a key market, but at the time, Michael and Ridgeley were pioneers, venturing where no pop act had gone before.

Background includes the context of a superpower edging towards openness and a band navigating the demands of US success. The film suggests that the story may be more important than it comfortably admits, weaving together the narratives of Wham!, China, and Anderson.

Likely next steps involve the documentary shedding light on this historical event, potentially sparking renewed interest in the cultural and political dynamics of the 1980s music industry. The re-edit of Anderson's work may also prompt discussions about artistic integrity and commercial pressures.