25 Live
25 Live was a concert tour by English singer-songwriter George Michael, undertaken from 2006 to 2008 as a celebration of 25 years in music.[1] The tour marked Michael's first major outing in over 15 years, following his 1991 Cover to Cover tour, and consisted of 106 dates across 41 countries.[2] Commencing on 23 September 2006 in Barcelona, Spain, the tour initially focused on Europe before expanding to North America and other regions, concluding in late 2008.[3] It featured performances at notable venues, including the first two concerts at the newly renovated Wembley Stadium in London on 9 and 10 June 2007.[1] The shows drew large crowds, entertaining approximately 1.5 to 2 million fans worldwide, and received positive critical acclaim for Michael's vocal prowess and stage presence.[3][4] Commercially, it achieved significant success, particularly in Europe during 2006–2007, underscoring Michael's enduring popularity.[5] The tour's setlists predominantly showcased hits from his solo catalog and Wham! era, blending pop, soul, and dance elements to captivate audiences.[6]Background and Conception
Origins and Announcement
The 25 Live tour was conceived to commemorate the 25th anniversary of George Michael's entry into the music industry, dating back to the formation of Wham! in 1981.[1] This milestone prompted the planning of his first major concert tour since the Cover to Cover Tour concluded in 1991, reflecting a deliberate return to live performances after focusing primarily on studio work and occasional residencies.[7] On April 22, 2006, George Michael publicly announced the 25 Live tour via a press release, detailing an initial European leg comprising approximately 50 dates across 28 cities.[8][9] The tour was scheduled to commence on September 23, 2006, at the Palau Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona, Spain, with subsequent stops including major venues in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, culminating at Wembley Arena in London that December.[10] The announcement emphasized a setlist drawn from his extensive catalog, encompassing Wham! hits and solo material from albums such as Faith (1987) and Listen Without Prejudice (1990).[8] Initial ticket sales following the announcement were robust, with many shows selling out promptly, which led to the addition of extra dates even before the tour's start.[8] This strong demand underscored public anticipation for Michael's live return, positioning 25 Live as a significant event in his career trajectory.[10]25th Anniversary Context
The 25 Live tour marked the 25th anniversary of George Michael's entry into the music industry, dating back to 1981 when he co-formed the pop duo Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley while still in school.[11] This milestone aligned with the release of his second greatest hits album, Twenty Five, on November 13, 2006, by Sony BMG, which compiled tracks spanning his Wham! era and solo career to commemorate the occasion.[12] The tour itself functioned as a live extension of this retrospective, featuring performances of key hits like "Careless Whisper" and "Faith" to honor his two decades-plus of chart-topping success.[11] Initiated amid a period of renewed public interest following Michael's 2004 album Patience, the tour represented his first major concert outing in over 15 years, succeeding the 1991 Cover to Cover Tour.[13] Announced in mid-2006, it began on September 23, 2006, in Barcelona, Spain, with initial plans for 50 European dates that expanded due to demand, ultimately encompassing 106 shows across 41 countries by its conclusion on December 1, 2008. This context underscored Michael's enduring commercial viability, as Twenty Five debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling over six million copies worldwide.[12]Pre-Tour Preparations
The 25 Live tour was announced on April 22, 2006, as George Michael's first major concert tour in 15 years, following his Cover to Cover tour concluding in 1991.[14] The announcement detailed an initial European arena leg comprising 50 dates, commencing on September 23, 2006, at Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, with plans to conclude at Wembley Arena in London that December.[14] This scheduling allowed approximately five months for logistical coordination, including venue bookings across multiple countries and initial ticket sales, which began shortly after the reveal amid high anticipation for Michael's stage return. Preparations emphasized assembling a live band featuring longtime collaborators such as guitarist Phil Palmer, who had worked with Michael since the 1980s. Rehearsals commenced in late August 2006 at Lyndhurst Hall in Air Studios, London, where the ensemble refined arrangements over a week-long session.[15] Sound engineer Gary Bradshaw utilized a DiGiCo D5 console during these sessions, recording performances via MADI for production review, ensuring technical readiness for the tour's audio demands. Video footage from this period captures Michael practicing key tracks like "Flawless (Go to the City)," highlighting vocal and staging adjustments shortly before the opening show.[16] Production planning incorporated bespoke elements tailored to Michael's career-spanning repertoire, with early focus on adapting studio recordings for live delivery across arenas seating 10,000 to 20,000 attendees per show. These efforts prioritized seamless transitions between hits from his Wham! era and solo catalog, reflecting the tour's anniversary theme without major setlist alterations during initial prep. The preparatory phase underscored Michael's selective approach to touring, influenced by past experiences, aiming for high-fidelity performances amid his hiatus from large-scale live commitments.Tour Overview and Itinerary
Initial European Leg
The initial European leg of George Michael's 25 Live tour began on September 23, 2006, at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Spain, marking his first major concert tour in 15 years.[17] [18] The opening night featured a setlist including hits like "Fastlove," "Father Figure," and "Freedom '90," with Michael delivering energetic performances amid elaborate stage visuals and lighting effects.[6] Reviews described the concert as electrifying, with Michael's vocals receiving praise for their power and precision, though some noted dated elements in the production.[19] This leg encompassed approximately 50 dates across multiple European countries, including Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with venues ranging from arenas like Milan's Forum Milano on October 6 to stadiums such as Copenhagen's Parken Stadium.[14] [20] Key stops included Paris's Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy on October 9 and 10, Athens's Olympic Indoor Hall in November, and concluding with four nights at London's Wembley Arena on December 11, 12, 14, and 15.[14] The tour drew large crowds, with the Copenhagen show setting an attendance record for the venue.[20] Performances emphasized Michael's catalog from Wham! and his solo career, incorporating medleys and covers like "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," adapted to showcase his vocal range and band interplay.[6] During the Barcelona opener, Michael made political remarks while performing "Shoot the Dog," criticizing then-U.S. President George W. Bush, which sparked some controversy but aligned with his history of outspoken commentary.[21] Overall, the leg received positive critical reception for revitalizing Michael's live presence, contributing to the tour's commercial success with sold-out shows and strong ticket sales across Europe.[18] Due to enthusiastic response, additional dates were added beyond the initial schedule, extending the tour into 2007.[5]Expansions to Other Regions
Following the strong demand from the initial European arena and stadium legs, which comprised over 80 performances, the 25 Live tour extended to North America for the first time in 17 years.[22] This third leg, announced on March 25, 2008, featured 21 dates across the United States and Canada, marking Michael's return to the region since his 1991 Cover to Cover tour.[7] The North American shows began on June 17, 2008, at the iPayOne Center in San Diego, California, and included major venues in cities such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, and Toronto.[22] [23] The leg emphasized arena performances adapted for larger North American audiences, with setlists drawing heavily from Michael's hits spanning Wham! and solo eras, alongside tracks from his 2004 album Patience. Ticket sales reflected sustained popularity, though exact grosses for this segment were not separately reported amid the tour's overall European dominance. No further expansions to regions such as Asia, South America, or Australia occurred under the 25 Live banner during 2006–2008; a distinct Australian tour followed in 2010.[24] The North American dates concluded the tour's international phase before final European closures, contributing to the overall tally of 106 shows across 41 countries.[2]Final Performances
The concluding shows of the 25 Live tour were designated as "The Final Two" performances at Earls Court arena in London on 24 and 25 August 2008, attracting over 40,000 attendees across both nights.[23] These concerts featured Michael's standard tour setlist with high-energy renditions of hits like "Faith" and "Freedom! '90," and were professionally recorded for release as the Live in London DVD and album in 2009, capturing the production's elaborate staging and band dynamics.[4] Michael addressed the audience during the 25 August show, expressing satisfaction at concluding major UK dates in his home country after two years of touring.[23] An additional performance, titled "The Final One," followed on 30 August 2008 at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, serving as the tour's definitive last concert before a planned hiatus.[3] This outdoor stadium show drew approximately 45,000 fans and maintained the tour's core repertoire, including fan favorites such as "Fastlove" as an opener, with Michael dedicating it to his Danish supporters as a gesture of gratitude.[25] The event underscored the tour's global reach, having spanned 106 dates across 41 countries since its 2006 inception, and signaled Michael's intent to pause large-scale touring thereafter.[2] No further 25 Live dates were scheduled, though Michael resumed live appearances in later years under different formats.[5]Production Elements
Stage and Technical Design
The stage design for George Michael's 25 Live tour was created by Willie Williams, who served as director and handled both video and staging elements to achieve a visually sophisticated and stylish aesthetic.[26] Central to the production was a tiered set inspired by the "Jailhouse Rock" stage configuration, featuring a seamless curved LED screen constructed from Barco MiStrips that performers could walk upon.[26] This main video backdrop, comprising 3,000 Barco MiStrip LED modules, formed a 25-meter-long curved display that extended behind and underneath the performance area, with its lower rear section opening to facilitate an upstage center entrance.[27] [26] Technical implementation included tracking LED sections that moved left and right to support dynamic staging, alongside Kinesys hoists for automated positioning.[26] Additional screens consisted of two 4.5m by 5m Barco I-12 tile arrays positioned behind the band and risers for live camera feeds, and two 3m by 4m Lighthouse R16 side screens for image magnification (IMAG).[27] The design incorporated modular flexibility for concave and convex curves, enabling immersive environments such as simulated oceans or falling autumn leaves through a continuous roll of LED material.[27] [26] Playback systems utilized three dual Xeon PCs with 1GB RAM and striped SATA drives running Windows XP, supporting a mix of pre-rendered and interactive content responsive to music and performer movement.[26] Over 40 video pieces were produced, driven by sound-reactive software and a bespoke system tailored to maximize screen utilization as envisioned by Williams.[28] The stage itself was ingeniously lit from within, with the LED structure extending seamlessly like an electric curtain up to the lighting trusses, enhancing the overall architectural effect.[28] For stadium performances, such as those in Moscow and Kyiv, the setup was adapted with a full equipment complement to suit larger venues while retaining core design principles.[29]Lighting, Visuals, and Sound
The visuals for the 25 Live tour centered on a large-scale, curved LED video screen constructed from 3,000 Barco MiStrip modules, measuring 9 meters wide by 25 meters long, which formed a ski-slope-like structure extending behind and beneath the stage for seamless integration with the performance area.[30] This design allowed for dynamic video and graphics effects, with the screen's robust build enabling George Michael to walk and dance upon it; a lower rear section opened to facilitate artist entrances.[30] Video staging and direction were handled by Willie Williams, incorporating over 40 custom pieces produced by onedotzero, including interactive elements driven by sound-reactive software and a bespoke playback system developed in collaboration with the tour's hardware crew.[28] [31] Lighting design, led by Vince Foster with Benoit Richard as co-designer and lighting director, emphasized integration with the video content, where custom visuals dictated color palettes for specific songs to maintain a unified aesthetic across the expansive stage.[26] [31] The rig included Martin MAC 2000 Wash and Profile fixtures, Atomic Strobes, Zap Big Lites 4.5kW searchlights, I-Pix Satellite LED units, and Mole Richardson 8-Lights with Wybron Coloram II for color changing, all controlled via a Wholehog 3 console with five DP-2000 DMX processors networked over Cat-6 cabling.[26] Sound production featured a d&b audiotechnik J-Series line array system, with six subwoofers per side configured in Cardioid Sub Array (CSA) mode to minimize rear projection and stage bleed.[15] Engineer Gary Bradshaw mixed on a DiGiCo D5 console, employing Sennheiser wireless microphones with Neumann KSM 104 capsules for vocals and minimal compression to achieve a studio-quality vocal reproduction, manually riding the fader for dynamic control while incorporating balanced reverb and delay.[15] The system supported precise array trimming for venues up to 45,000 capacity, such as Copenhagen's Parken Stadium, with electronic V-Drums routed directly to subs for enhanced low-end response; timecode synchronization linked audio to video playback via Digital Antics software.[15] [26]Personnel and Band Composition
George Michael served as the lead vocalist and frontman for the 25 Live tour, with Chris Cameron acting as musical director, arranger, and keyboardist, overseeing the overall musical direction and arrangements.[32] The core band included Phil Palmer on guitars, Andy Hamilton on saxophone, keyboards, and electronic wind instrument (EWI), Lea Mullen on percussion, Deon Estus on bass, and Trevor Porter on drums, providing the foundational instrumentation across performances.[32] This lineup drew from Michael's long-term collaborators, ensuring a tight, experienced ensemble that supported his vocal-centric style with layered rock, funk, and soul elements.[33] The backing vocals were handled by a ensemble of six singers: Shirley Lewis, Jay Henry, Lincoln Jean-Marie, Lori Perry, Lucy Jules, and Sharon Perry, who contributed harmonies and occasional leads on tracks like covers and medleys.[32] [34] These vocalists, many of whom had worked with Michael on prior recordings and tours, added depth to reinterpreted hits and emphasized the tour's celebratory, anniversary-focused repertoire. While the core personnel remained stable, minor variations in supporting roles occurred across the tour's legs due to scheduling, but the documented finals at Earls Court in 2008 reflect the standard composition.[33]Musical Content
Standard Set List
The standard set list for George Michael's 25 Live tour, spanning 2006 to 2008, typically comprised 20 to 25 songs drawn from his solo catalog, Wham! era, and select covers, emphasizing high-energy hits, ballads, and newer tracks to celebrate 25 years of his career.[35] Core staples performed in over 100 of the tour's approximately 106 shows included "Careless Whisper," "Too Funky," "Father Figure," "Freedom! '90," "Amazing," "Everything She Wants," "Faith," "Flawless (Go to the City)," "Outside," and "Spinning the Wheel," reflecting a focus on commercially successful singles from albums like Faith (1987) and Older (1996).[35] These selections prioritized audience familiarity and rhythmic variety, with "Fastlove" and "I'm Your Man" appearing in 102 and 100 shows, respectively, often early in the performance to build momentum.[35] Performances generally opened with the instrumental "Waiting (Reprise)" as an atmospheric intro, transitioning into upbeat tracks like "Fastlove" and "Father Figure," followed by mid-set emotional peaks such as "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (a cover played 66 times) and "Everything She Wants" (a Wham! hit in 104 shows).[6] [35] Ballads like "Praying for Time" (89 shows) and "Jesus to a Child" (78 shows) provided contrast, while encores frequently featured crowd favorites "Too Funky" and "Flawless (Go to the City)," both in 104 performances, culminating in "Freedom! '90" as a high-energy closer.[35] Less consistent inclusions, such as "An Easier Affair" (68 shows) or "Shoot the Dog" (80 shows), added contemporary flavor from Patience (2004) but were rotated based on venue or regional appeal.[35]- Openers: "Waiting (Reprise)" (84 shows), leading into "Fastlove" or "Flawless (Go to the City)".[35] [6]
- Mid-set hits: "Father Figure," "Everything She Wants," "Too Funky," blending solo and Wham! material.[35]
- Ballads and covers: "You Have Been Loved" (45 shows), "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Roxanne" (Police cover).[35]
- Closers/Encores: "Amazing," "Outside," "Careless Whisper," "Freedom! '90".[35]