WHAM! stars compare new chart success to ‘warm hugs'

Virgin Radio

19 Jul 2023, 11:42

WHAM! backing singers, Shirlie Kemp and Helen “Pepsi” DeMacque have called reaching number two in the UK album chart “absolutely joyous” and likened the success to “warm hugs”.

Celebrating 40 years of chart success and club classics, the newly released album, WHAM! The Singles: Echoes From The Edge of Heaven promises to take the listener on a “journey through the greatest hits of WHAM!’s extraordinary career”.

The hits compilation is the sixth top 10 album for the band and has enjoyed a top 5 debut on the Official Vinyl Album’s Chart.

The album continues a celebration of WHAM!’s successes, serving as a companion to a recent Netflix documentary on the band’s historic 1985 tour of China. The tour made them the first Western pop group to visit and perform in the country.

In an interview with The BBC, Pepsi and Shirlie looked back on the band’s journey, believing that their ‘girl-next-door’ presence within the group made WHAM! more “relatable” to fans.

The backing singers also praised Andrews Ridgeley for the way he came across in the recent documentary, describing him as “intelligent” and “down to earth”. 

Shirlie and Andrew reflected on the Netflix documentary and the tour on The Graham Norton Radio Show earlier this month, recalling fond memories of practising dance routines in George Michael’s bedroom.