michael and ridgeley met at bushey meads school in bushey near the town of watford in hertfordshire. the two at first performed in a short-lived ska band called the executive, alongside former school friends david (austin) mortimer, andrew leaver and paul ridgeley. when this group split, michael and andrew ridgeley eventually formed wham!, signing with innervision records. british graphic design studio stylorouge was credited with adding the exclamation mark to the name of the band.