POP superstar George Michael’s estate is suing his former best pal over footage from the recording of a lost album.
Andros Georgiou, 63, faces court for charging fans to watch scenes which he recorded of the ex-Wham! star.
Secret footage of ex-Wham! star George Michael in the studio for an unreleased album Credit: Unknown
Andros Georgiou is being taken to court by the Wham! star’s lawyers, after he released almost 90 minutes of unseen footage shot in 1992 and 1993 Credit: Kevin Dunnett – The Sun
George’s former best friend said he would be “turning in his grave” after the pop singer’s estate sued him over video footage of a secret unreleased album.
The Wham! star’s lawyers are taking to court after he released almost 90 minutes of unseen footage shot in 1992 and 1993.
Andros launched a website last month charging fans to watch the film Trojan Souls — The Greatest Album That Was Never Made.
The record was to feature , , , , , Seal and Sade.
But the legal team from has now lodged a case against him at London’s Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court, claiming its rights have been breached.
Furious Andros, 63, said the legal claim was “a case of sheer greed”.
On , he said: “Yes, we fell out, but we loved and cared for each other deeply, and I find the baseless claims and the constant attempts to erase me from history both disrespectful and, frankly, a bit desperate.
“The film belongs to me.
“Trojan Souls belongs to me.
“They’ve opened Pandora’s Box.
“They won’t want me on the stand.
“I know way too much.
“Bring it on.”
Andros’s film shows the making of tracks for Trojan Souls: The Voice of Reason, a collaboration album with global superstars.
Pop fans are being asked to pay £4.99 for 48 hours of access to the 90-minute video online.
Tribe Media is also selling £19.99 VIP tiers, promising access to never-before-heard recordings of George’s unreleased songs from the record.
Andros shot the video using a camcorder given to him by Sony while they were in on .
Andros said: “First and foremost — my brother in arms, my best friend, George Michael to you, Yog to me — would turn in his grave knowing what Russells (the estate’s lawyers) are attempting — and spending his money to do it.”
Andros and George were estranged before the star’s death on Christmas Day, 2016, but had been planning to reconcile
The pair had a close friendship for decades after their fathers moved to the UK from Cyprus together in 1953 Credit: Getty
He went on: “It is well known Yog and I were working on Trojan Souls through my record label, Hardback Records.
“The film I have released was shot by me, with Yog’s full approval.
“This was a home video leaked over 30 years ago.
“It kept resurfacing on YouTube.
“So I decided, if you can’t beat them, put the film out myself, since others were already profiting from my home video.”
The legal case lists Andros and Tribe Media, the production house distributing the film.
The claimants are Robobuild Limited and Big Geoff Overseas Limited, the holding companies George used to manage royalties and world tours.
Andros and George were estranged before the star’s death on Christmas Day, 2016, but had been planning to reconcile.
They fell out after .
But Andros had spoken to his pal on the phone in the final weeks of his life.
The pair had a close friendship for decades after their fathers moved to the UK from together in 1953.
Most of the one-hour 24-minute film shows playing the piano, performing vocals with backing singers, grabbing a bass and talking to producers about his track list in an LA studio.
George lost interest in the album when his then-partner Anselmo Feleppa’s health declined.
Anselmo, who suffered from , died in March 1993.
George never completed the album.
It can take up to two years for a case at the to reach trial.
Lawyers for were asked to comment.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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