WASHINGTON 鈥� Almost 30 years ago, 930 Club co-owner Seth Hurwitz was already a big deal in the music world, but he had no idea he was about to play a role in the career of one of music鈥檚 most popular stars, George Michael.
Michael died Christmas Day of heart failure at age 53.
Hurwitz booked Michael to play his first two U.S. solo shows for his 鈥淔aith鈥� album, at the long-gone Capital Centre, in Landover, Maryland, on August 6-7, 1988.
鈥淏ack then we were doing indie, alternative, punk rock stuff,鈥� Hurwitz told 海角精品黑料. 鈥淲e were building acts like REM, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Smashing Pumpkins.鈥�
At the time, Hurwitz and I.M.P. Productions partner Richard Heinecke had been developing relationships with bands and managers at the original 930 Club on F St. NW, with the intention of parlaying them into shows at larger venues.
鈥淭hat was what we worked toward 鈥� some day we would do an arena show,鈥� said Hurwitz. 鈥淭hen, all of a sudden, George Michael comes along.鈥�
鈥淕eorge Michael didn鈥檛 have any history, because he鈥檇 never done a [solo] tour,鈥� said Hurwitz. 鈥淗e was instantly a mega star.鈥�
Luckily for Hurwitz, Michael 鈥渉appened to be represented by someone we dealt with on [other shows], so they said, 鈥楬ere, you do it.鈥欌��
Based on I.M.P鈥檚 working relationship with the promoter, 鈥渁ll of a sudden we were just handed this giant arena show,鈥� Hurwitz said.
Michael had top-selling U.S. hits with Wham! 鈥� including 鈥淲ake Me Up Before You Go-Go鈥� and 鈥淐areless Whisper鈥� 鈥� before launching his solo career.
The two shows at the Capital Centre were the first shows on the North America leg of Michael鈥檚 tour to support 鈥淔aith,鈥� which made Michael the top-selling artist of 1988, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
鈥淚 think we did a rehearsal the day before the gig, and I suggested to his manager, 鈥楧o you think he would like to have dinner?鈥� And the manager called back and said, 鈥榊eah, actually he鈥檇 love that, 鈥� recalled Hurwitz. 鈥淲e had a table at the Tabard Inn with our group, and sure enough, George Michael walks in.鈥�
Hurwitz remembers Michael 鈥渨as super cool to everyone.鈥�
With Michael鈥檚 death, Hurwitz observes many people on social media are expressing similar positive thoughts about the superstar.
鈥淧eople are writing memories and fond things about him from all walks of life, and people with all kinds of taste,鈥� said Hurwitz.
鈥淚t was truly an honor to be a part of his career, and very exciting, and was one of the many 鈥榩inch me鈥� moments that we鈥檝e had in our long history,鈥� said Hurwitz. 鈥淚鈥檓 very sad to see him go.鈥�
