‘Race never meant anything to us’: Wham! star Shirlie Kemp, 60, discusses reuniting with bandmember Pepsi, 63, to write It’s All in Black and White
Shirlie Kemp has detailed reuniting with her band partner Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and the concept of race in their friendship.
As backing singers with Wham!, Pepsi and Shirlie, 60, joined George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley on their meteoric rise to fame, touring the world performing some of the biggest hits of the 1980s.
They soon became a duo act, and released two albums, All Right Now in 1987 and Change in 1991.
Candid: Shirlie Kemp has detailed reuniting with her band partner Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and the concept of race in their friendship
Speaking on Tuesday’s Loose Women, Shirlie opened up about working with Pepsi again on their book It’s All in Black and White.
Explaining the title, she said: ‘Whenever I was younger, people would always say “you always see things in black and white” that meant I could see things clearly or I didn’t. But then, a black girl and a white girl, you can take it that way.
‘It never meant anything to us, we were just friends.’
Double act: As backing singers with Wham!, Pepsi and Shirlie, 60, joined George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley on their meteoric rise to fame, touring the world performing some of the biggest hits of the 1980s
Elsewhere in the chat, Shirlie explained how George introduced her to her husband Spandau Ballet bassist and singer Martin.
She revealed: ‘We all met at a theatre. Martin was there and he gave me his phone number. George knew I fancied him, but I was too scared to call.
She then described how after three weeks, George ended up taking the plunge for her by dialling the number and handing the phone to her.
Reunion: Speaking on Tuesday’s Loose Women, Shirlie opened up about working with Pepsi again on their book It’s All in Black and White
Shirlie said: ‘He came to the phone and he said “I’ve been waiting for you to call me!” and my heart went ooh!
And George is still standing in front of me as I’m trying to talk and I’m like “Out, out!”‘
Martin and Shirlie met in 1983 and have two children: daughter Harley and son Roman.
Speaking about them, she said: ‘Both my kids are real workaholics. They’re out there being very busy.’
Loved-up: Elsewhere in the chat, Shirlie explained how George introduced her to her husband Spandau Ballet bassist and singer Martin.