Pepsi & Shirlie – It’s All in Black and White: Wham! Life and Friendship
£7.90£8.50 (-7%)
London. Wham! Pop, glitz and glamour. And two girls with stars in their eyes.
Our friendship began one windy day in 1982, outside Finsbury Park tube. It was an instant like at first sight. We were on our way to a Wham! rehearsal. Pepsi was the new girl in the band and over a car stereo, a cassette tape and that journey to Bushey we bonded. We had no idea that we were on the first of many journeys together and that soon we’d be travelling all over Europe, Australia, America, China and Japan. Or that no matter where we went, together, we’d find a way to make every exotic destination feel like home.
We’d both been teenagers during the seventies – a dreary and difficult decade, especially if you were young in London and you didn’t have much money.
So, in 1982, anything was possible for us – a pair of twentysomethings who hadn’t been to university, who didn’t have any money, who dreamt of singing and dancing, but ultimately lived for fun. Everything felt new and life was a question mark. We had no idea what was lying ahead, but we wanted to say yes.
What we didn’t know was that we were saying yes to a lifetime of connection that has endured whatever we’ve done, wherever we’ve been. From the side of the stage to its centre – we have many stories to tell.
And it’s all here, it’s all in black and white.
Read more
Additional information
| Publisher | Welbeck (9 Jun. 2022) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Paperback | 336 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1802792163 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1802792164 |
| Dimensions | 12.9 x 3 x 19.8 cm |
by Geri .B
An absolutely fantastic read. We get to hear it from the Wham! girls. What it was like for them, their enduring friendship, and as individuals in their own right. And so down to earth.
I knew aspects of Shirlie’s story from her book with Martin (another great read I’ll have you know), and this book complements it. However it was especially great to hear Pepsi’s story for the first time. What an inspirational woman.
Love these women. Their positivity, and their honesty in sharing their highs and lows in this book.
For those who loved Andrew’s book, make room on your shelf for this one. It’s the sister equivalent!
by MusicDevotee6
Haven’t finished reading it yet so cannot comment.
by Bobbi Anne
A good read
by Steve Cann
After really enjoying Andrew Ridgely’s autobiog last year, it was such a joy to read this joint-autobiog from the wonderful Pepsi & Shirlie.
They give their story by alternating each chapter, so we get each of their points of view as we see them grow up and eventually become a valuable part of the Wham phenomenon.
It was so lovely to read about their respective childhoods which contrast so perfectly – especially wtih Pepsi’s family being Windrush citizens who came to help rebuild Britain in the 1950s.
The story of how they become part of Wham is absolutely fascinating – they relate their memories so beautifully, and are full of warmth, love and honesty.
We get to see what happened post-Wham and also post their own pop careers too, and their love for George and Andrew shines through.
I found the last couple of chapters – where they hear of George’s sudden death on Christmas Day – very emotional, and once again beautifully articulated.
This book is a must not only for Wham & George Michael fans, but anyone who’s interested in the story of a real friendship that endures through the years such as they have enjoyed, not to mention anyone who loves pop music.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and would highly recommmend!
by lpjlove of music
Absolutely loved this book.I could not put it down.Took me right back to a very happy time.10/10.Thank you girls.A must read.
by KateC
Not only a story about the band it’s a fabulous story of true friendships. Loved it and the pictures were fab too.
by MusicDevotee6
Told through alternating chapters by the two authors, this book is a recount of their time together as friends – with a chapter or two on both of their childhoods. Pepsi and Shirlie were in the pop group Wham! in the 80s, and they travelled the world together along with Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael.
It’s All In Black And White is sweet, and is basically a book on the friendship which the two authors have, and whilst this was interesting at times, it did get too sweet towards the end and definitely a little boring. There was also a lot of repetition; I know that Pepsi and Shirlie have experienced a lot of the same things, but they should have divided the events between them because they shared a lot of the same opinions and feelings, and it felt as though I was just re-reading what one of them had already written when reading it from the other’s point of view.
I definitely preferred Andrew Ridgeley’s recount of his time in Wham!
It’s All In Black And White was really up-to-date, which is something that I did like about it. There were references within the book to 2021 and the coronavirus pandemic – I don’t like reading (auto)biographies that are ten or fifteen years out of date as I think that is a huge portion of someone’s life.
And, it must be said, that this book was emotional – particularly when George Michael dies (Christmas Day, 2016). The way that Pepsi and Shirlie recount their feelings of the time is similar to my own experiences with grief, and it was difficult to read – but enjoyable nevertheless.
by Ann Tonkins
Blast from the 80’s nostalgia
I loved wham growing up. Great to get an insight behind the scenes