The talented Wham! and George Michael’s bass player Deon Estus dies at age 65
Deon was often considered as the third member of Wham! and also collaborated with Tina Turner, Elton John, Frank Zappa, George Clinton and Annie Lennox among many others
The talented Wham! and George Michael’s bass player Deon Estus dies at age 65
Deon Estus, the talented bass player who was often considered as the third member of Wham! has passed away at age 65 on October 11. Born in Detroit, Michigan on July 4, 1956, Eastus moved to Europe during the early 1980’s, and settled in London after living in Belgium and Ireland. He played on every Wham! studio album since their 1983 debut “Fantastic”, and in the 1985 multi-million seller “Make It Big”, where his bass talent can be heard in hit songs such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Everything She Wants” and “Freedom” among others, and toured with the band worldwide. He also played on George Michael’s solo debut single “Careless Whisper” and later on the Wham! hit songs “I’m Your Man” and “The Edge of Heaven”. After the famed pop duo broke up in 1986, Estus went on to work with George Michael throughout his solo career, playing bass for Michael’s 1987 smash-hit album “Faith”, and later “Listen Without Prejudice Vol.1”, often continuing to work with Michael until the iconic artist’s death in 2016.
In 1989 Deon released his debut album “Spell”, featuring the hit song “Heaven Help Me”, with George Michael on back vocals, that peaked to No.5 at the US Hot 100. Aside of Wham! and George Michael, Deon Estus also collaborated with names such as Tina Turner, Frank Zappa, George Clinton, Annie Lennox, Edgar Winter, Aaron Neville, and Elton John.
Deon Estus famously turned down the chance to play bass on Marvin Gaye’s 1982 comeback album, Midnight Love, because he was so busy recording and he said that he was not aware that it would be the last album released during the soul legend’s lifetime. With a distinctive bass sound that helped to shape the Wham! and George Michael’s sound, you can see Deon Estus featured in most of Wham! music videos including “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, “Everything She Wants” and “I’m Your Man”, as well as in George Michael’s music videos of “Monkey”, “Kissing A Fool” or “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” with Elton John. RIP.
The George Michael official Facebook page issued a statement on October 12 regarding the passing of Deon:
Also the official Twitter of former Wham! member Andrew Ridgeley released a statement in which he says “V. sad news today of Deon Estus’ death. A lavishly gifted bass guitarist, a charismatic & impish character & a rock of the WHAM! rhythm section. He lives large in the memory, he radiated warmth, humour & life’s illuminating light, my heartfelt commiserations go out to his family.”
Remember Deon Estus in Wham! and as a member of the George Michael’s band throughout the years in these famous music videos
“Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”, 1984
“I’m Your Man”, 1985
“Where Did Your Heart Go”, 1986
“The Edge of Heaven”, 1986
“Monkey”, 1988
“Kissing a Fool”, 1988
“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me”, 1991
Also watch a Deon Estus interview and listen to his own hit single “Heaven Help Me” featuring George Michael on back vocals live at the Dutch TV Show Countdown, 1989
Watch more George Michael and Wham! related videos
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