Wham! Reunion in the Works? Not Likely, Says Insider

5:00 PM PDT 6/20/2012 by Shirley Halperin

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As news spread that the beloved '80s duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley were in "early talks" to commemorate the 30th anniversary of their first hit with a one-off show, the social media set went nuts.

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It was the long shot heard 'round the world this morning: that beloved '80s duo Wham! might be reuniting for a "pop extravaganza" tour, as the U.K.'s Daily Mirror touted and music lover's bible NME promptly picked up.

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The story, according to the paper, is that George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley are in early talks to come together for a one-off gig commemorating the 30th anniversary of their first hit, "Young Guns (Go for It!)," which went to No. 3 in England in October 1982.

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"They probably won't do a long tour or release new material like Take That, but they do want to commemorate the event with a big gig ... and an even bigger party afterwards," a source is quoted as saying. "Everybody is getting really excited about it."

But Michael's longtime manager tells The Hollywood Reporter that the rumor is just that and there is "no truth" to the story.

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Nevertheless, the increasingly '80s-obsessed social media set went ballistic with the news, while others simply scratched their heads in an effort to remember Michael's pre-international-stardom-as-a-solo-singer days and what exactly Ridgeley's role was in that era. The Mirror also contends that a similar commemoration concert was planned for 2006 but the "reclusive Ridgeley" was "too sick with nerves" and backed out.

As for Michael, he's recovering from illness of another kind: a recent serious bout with life-threatening pneumonia that forced him to reschedule select shows. Dates for his Symphonica tour, which pairs the singer with a live orchestra, will commence again in September.

Twitter: @shirleyhalperin