Pepsi & Shirlie

Lore & Background

The duo formed in London in 1985 after Wham! backing vocalist Dee C. Lee left to join the Style Council. Shirlie Holliman convinced Helen DeMacque, who had ambitions to be a solo performer, to proceed as a duo. They released their debut single 'Heartache' in 1987, produced by Phil Fearon and Tambi Fernando, which peaked at number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and also reached number two on the American dance charts. Although some pressings credited Stock Aitken Waterman, the trio never worked on the track; additional production and remixing were done by Pete Hammond on behalf of Pete Waterman.

The follow-up single 'Goodbye Stranger' reached number 9, but subsequent singles and their debut album 'All Right Now' (1987) were commercially unsuccessful. During this era, they performed a concert in Amman, Jordan. In 1990, they returned with the album 'Change' and the lead single 'Someday', produced by George Michael, who wrote the song from scratch during the recording session. Neither the album nor the single charted in the UK.

DeMacque worked with George Michael again in 1995, pseudonymously releasing a cover of Dead or Alive's 'You Spin Me Round' under the name Infamy. The duo reunited in 2000 to record backing vocals on Geri Halliwell's 'Bag It Up', which peaked at number 5, and again for the 'Here & Now 10th Anniversary tour' starting on 24 June 2011. Their memoir 'It's All in Black and White' was published in September 2021.

Reader's Guide

Pepsi & Shirlie occupy a notable place in 1980s British pop as a duo that emerged from the shadow of Wham! Their debut single 'Heartache' remains their most significant commercial success, reaching number 2 in the UK and charting on American dance charts. Despite the commercial failure of their albums and later singles, their connection to George Michael—who produced their 1991 comeback single 'Someday'—and their continued work as backing vocalists for artists like Geri Halliwell demonstrate their enduring presence in pop music. Their 2011 reunion tour and 2021 memoir indicate sustained interest in their story, though their legacy is primarily tied to the late-1980s pop scene and their association with Wham! and George Michael.

Did You Know?

• Pepsi & Shirlie were formed in 1985 by two former backing singers for Wham!
• Their debut single 'Heartache' reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart and number two on the American dance charts.
• George Michael wrote and produced their 1990 single 'Someday' from scratch during the recording session.