A performer keeping George Michael’s legacy alive, get to know Steve Mitchell and his process of transforming into the icon.
What does it take to step into the shoes of an icon? For Steve Mitchell, it’s more than a tribute to a great musician, it’s a celebration of his life and the music. Becoming a tribute artist in 2017 to George Michael allowed Mitchell to explore his musical talent, “I’d performed for lots of different music projects, but I’d never done George. And this advert came up, and I thought, You know what? It’s kind of now or never, I’ll give it a shot.” Mitchell also mentioned, “I never thought I could do the vocal justice, when I studied it so much, I knew I could, but there are big shoes to fill.”
There are two different shows that Steve Mitchell performs, “Celebrating George Michael” and his solo show “Steve Mitchell as George Michael”. Both are very versatile and well-rehearsed. “Celebrating George Michael” is a full production show that is slightly different from the solo performance. “You’ve got 10 people to think about, two sound and lighting crews, and then of course all the musicians. This covers festivals and bigger venues, but the music still stays the same.” Costumes and investing in his tribute are other aspects to the celebration of George Michael completely. Mitchell thinks attention to detail is key, he said, “My Somebody to Love jacket was tailor-made because you cannot buy that. My Faith jacket was brought in from Italy because it has a red lining inside.“ Mitchell continued to discuss how the equipment is key to perefecting the pull ‘George Michael’ experience. “My equipment for solo, probably, I mean, it’s got all the latest, it’s got very good speakers and a digital desk, with all the delays and reverb that George would use. You know, so yes, 1000s.”
Steve Mitchell became a George Michael tribute act eight years ago, and prefers the word ‘celebrate’ to tribute, as he celebrates an icon through a show each night on tour. Learning how he thinks tribute acts are regarded in the music business highlights how the job role is challenging but rewarding. “I think it’s 50/50. I get more pluses than I do negatives. I had an advert for the show, and a woman made a comment, ‘it’s not his voice’, I get that it’s not him, you’ve really got to have thick skin, just ignore the haters as George would say!” Rehearsal for the act is something that Mitchell doesn’t necessarily need to do anymore, “if I don’t know his stuff now, there’s something wrong. I can do it naturally, but you do have to keep on top of everything and make sure everything’s all good.” When the setlist swaps through tour, it’s unnecessary to rehearse new songs, as Mitchell has learnt George Michael’s discography like the back of his hand.
Mitchell credits promotion and social media to the success and growth of his audience and following, particularly in lockdown when concerts and gigs were put on hold. He shared, “In lockdown, I did a lot of live streams, and I found that it brought a lot of people on board.” These virtual performances not only kept the existing audience engaged, they also introduced his tribute to new listeners. The consistent online presence, combined with quality performances, helped him build this act. Using Facebook and Instagram to share clips and tour dates cements his place as a great musician who understands promotion and performance.
For Steve Mitchell, his George Michael tribute act isn’t just about singing his music, it’s about honouring a legacy with integrity. Whether his performance is solo or with his band, it’s a carefully crafted experience, with his commitment to authenticity shining through. Years of studying George Michael’s discography have given him the ability to perform with ease and connect with his audience each night. It’s never about imitation for Mitchell, it’s about honouring Michael’s legacy and celebrating with newer generations.
