9 March 2021, 16:34 | Updated: 9 March 2021, 16:37
As a crowd gathered in London's Leicester Square, they believed they'd bagged a spot at a live George Michael gig. But unfortunately, all wasn't what it seemed.
Because despite singing a very convincing rendition of Wham!'s 1986 pop hit 'I'm Your Man', and sporting a George Michael-esque outfit, it wasn't the man himself.
Standing on a balcony above London's Leicester Square, with a microphone in hand, was really just a talented impersonator. And he had the people fooled.
The normally bustling streets around the square had come to a standstill, as hundreds gathered below to watch the show.
And holding them all completely enraptured was one of the world's greatest George Michael impersonators: Rob Lamberti.
Watch the incredible moment below, captured on a mobile over a decade ago...
George Michael Impersonator Fools crowd in Leicester Square
There's a reason the crowd below believes they're watching the music legend himself.
With strikingly similar vocals, and an uncanny resemblance, Lamberti has nailed his impersonation of Michael.
It actually bagged him third place on the TV talent show Stars In Their Eyes back in 1994, it was that good.
And he was so impressive, in fact, that the 'Careless Whisper' singer had to see a performance for himself.
One evening in 1997, Lamberti took to the stage for a gig at Cinebar, Harrow, as an audience of excited Wham! superfans eagerly awaited.
But among the huddle of onlookers, two figures discretely watched the show from the back of the room.
George Michael tribute Rob Lamberti – ‘Faith’
The real George Michael kept hidden beneath a baseball cap as he watched the show, standing next to the door with his Wham! bandmate Andrew Ridgeley.
Recalling the extraordinary moment, Lamberti told the Express: "I wasn't sure how long they had been there, but of course as his lookalike I knew for sure it was him.
"The adrenalin took me to another level and gave my performance an ultra-energetic feel," he continued.
"I was thrilled to know that the man I'd been making my career, was actually watching what I did."
George Michael tribute Rob Lamberti – ‘A Different Corner’
Lamberti has been impersonating the late musician for years, and is considered so good that George himself once said: "People are always mistaking me for Rob Lamberti."
The tribute act first started back in the early '90s on a karaoke machine, when Lamberti was semi-drunk at the time.
"The reaction, at first, was throwing stuff at me, but soon, after many weeks of practice, it became a bit of a novelty, and George was in the building every Wednesday at The Saddlers Arms in Northampton," he told Smooth Radio.
"I sang 'Faith' on there, and I was a finalist. So I went from working on a building site, to in front of live TV – overnight. Which was pretty crazy at the time."
Watch the full interview below.
George Michael tribute Rob Lamberti Q&A: How my career started and when I met George
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