LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Did you ask Santa for a John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John reunion this Christmas?
No? Well too bad, because that's what you're getting.
Former 'Grease' co-stars Travolta and Newton-John have teamed up once again for the Yuletide collection 'This Christmas,' to fill you with holiday cheer.
And the pair won't be alone in caroling for you this year - they're being joined by guests such as Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, James Taylor, Chick Corea and, of course, Kenny G. Even '50s Brit heartthrob Cliff Richard is along for the sleigh ride.
The album contains a stocking-full of standards, plus a newly roasted chestnut, 'I Think You Might Like It,' a sequel to the hit 'You're The One That I Want,' the mega-hit from the 'Grease' soundtrack, penned by the original song's writer/producer, John Farrar.
The album, which debuts November 13, benefits charity, with proceeds going to Travolta's Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center in Melbourne, Australia.
Here's the full track list.
1. 'Baby It's Cold Outside'
2. 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' (featuring Kenny G)
3. 'I'll Be Home for Christmas' (featuring Barbra Streisand)
4. 'This Christmas' (featuring Chick Corea)
5. 'Silent Night'
6. 'The Christmas Waltz'
7. 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' (featuring Cliff Richard)
8. 'Winter Wonderland' (featuring Tony Bennett and The Count Basie Orchestra)
9. 'White Christmas'
10. 'I Think You Might Like It'
11. 'The Christmas Song'
12. 'Deck the Halls' (featuring James Taylor)
13. 'Auld Lang Syne/Christmas Time Is Here' (Medley)
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Killers return to Nevada roots in "Battle Born"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A decade after The Killers' debut in the UK's indie-rock scene, the U.S. rock band has finally found its way back home to Las Vegas, drawing inspiration in the 'city of sin' for the album 'Battle Born'.
The release, which topped the UK album chart and debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 album chart last week, was named after the motto on Nevada's state flag.
By contrast, the band's 2004 British debut album 'Hot Fuss', produced by UK label Lizard King Records, was strongly inspired by lead singer Brandon Flowers' love for Manchester, England, home of the music that he admired such as New Order, Oasis, The Smiths and Joy Division.
Flowers, 31, the primary song-writer and stylish frontman known for his clean-cut look, dapper outfits and use of 'guyliner' in the band's earlier days, said that while he had 'fantasized' about England as a teenager, he quickly found himself an outsider after the band's first UK trip a decade ago.
'It was the first time any of us had left the country, we all had passports and we were excited, and we flew there, and very quickly I realized I don't really identify with these people,' Flowers said in an interview.
'Musically, we have a lot of inspiration from (England) but it made (me) really get introspective and try and figure out what I was personally, and that made me identify with my roots.'
The singer is a practicing Mormon and appeared with his wife and children in a video promoting his faith, gaining a fan in U.S. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney who is also a Mormon. Flowers laughed off the political connection, saying 'our music is for everybody.'
'It doesn't bother us that one particular candidate likes us or if another doesn't. For the most part, from (UK prime minister) David Cameron to Obama to Romney, everybody likes us,' Flowers said.
BACK TO LAS VEGAS
Each of the band's follow-up albums - 2006's 'Sam's Town' and 2008's 'Day And Age' - found more inspiration in the landscapes and people of Las Vegas.
In 'Battle Born', Las Vegas became the glittering backdrop for the emotional heartaches and broken dreams that form the core of the band's songs, moving away from the angst-ridden Brit-rock styles seen on their first single 'Mr Brightside', and into the realms of country-rock and Americana.
'Battle Born', the band's first album in four years, followed a hiatus in which Flowers released his solo album 'Flamingo', and drummer Ronnie Vannucci and bassist Mark Stoermer pursued their own solo projects.
Vannucci, 36, said the break helped the band come back together with fresh energy, which he believed was evident in the sound of the new album.
Title song 'Battle Born' is a fighting ode to the resilience of the Vegas native, as Flowers sings 'you never live if you never learn, you never shine if you never burn, the rising tide, the undertow ... welcome home.'
Lead single 'Runaways,' a rousing rock anthem in the vein of 'When You Were Young,' touches on the struggle between responsibilities that come with age and the desire for freedom.
'Miss Atomic Bomb' tells the story of a femme fatale taking advantage of Flowers' naive 'boy with the eager eyes,' and features a riff by guitarist Dave Keuning reminiscent of the one he strummed for 'Mr Brightside'.
The band has sold a total of more than 15 million albums globally.
'We played in Krakow, Poland, about a month ago, and we were taken aback by the reception and the physicality and intensity of that gig - whoever expects to go play in Poland and have that kind of warm reception, it's pretty amazing,' Flowers said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing of Jill Serjeant and Richard Chang)
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The release, which topped the UK album chart and debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200 album chart last week, was named after the motto on Nevada's state flag.
By contrast, the band's 2004 British debut album 'Hot Fuss', produced by UK label Lizard King Records, was strongly inspired by lead singer Brandon Flowers' love for Manchester, England, home of the music that he admired such as New Order, Oasis, The Smiths and Joy Division.
Flowers, 31, the primary song-writer and stylish frontman known for his clean-cut look, dapper outfits and use of 'guyliner' in the band's earlier days, said that while he had 'fantasized' about England as a teenager, he quickly found himself an outsider after the band's first UK trip a decade ago.
'It was the first time any of us had left the country, we all had passports and we were excited, and we flew there, and very quickly I realized I don't really identify with these people,' Flowers said in an interview.
'Musically, we have a lot of inspiration from (England) but it made (me) really get introspective and try and figure out what I was personally, and that made me identify with my roots.'
The singer is a practicing Mormon and appeared with his wife and children in a video promoting his faith, gaining a fan in U.S. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney who is also a Mormon. Flowers laughed off the political connection, saying 'our music is for everybody.'
'It doesn't bother us that one particular candidate likes us or if another doesn't. For the most part, from (UK prime minister) David Cameron to Obama to Romney, everybody likes us,' Flowers said.
BACK TO LAS VEGAS
Each of the band's follow-up albums - 2006's 'Sam's Town' and 2008's 'Day And Age' - found more inspiration in the landscapes and people of Las Vegas.
In 'Battle Born', Las Vegas became the glittering backdrop for the emotional heartaches and broken dreams that form the core of the band's songs, moving away from the angst-ridden Brit-rock styles seen on their first single 'Mr Brightside', and into the realms of country-rock and Americana.
'Battle Born', the band's first album in four years, followed a hiatus in which Flowers released his solo album 'Flamingo', and drummer Ronnie Vannucci and bassist Mark Stoermer pursued their own solo projects.
Vannucci, 36, said the break helped the band come back together with fresh energy, which he believed was evident in the sound of the new album.
Title song 'Battle Born' is a fighting ode to the resilience of the Vegas native, as Flowers sings 'you never live if you never learn, you never shine if you never burn, the rising tide, the undertow ... welcome home.'
Lead single 'Runaways,' a rousing rock anthem in the vein of 'When You Were Young,' touches on the struggle between responsibilities that come with age and the desire for freedom.
'Miss Atomic Bomb' tells the story of a femme fatale taking advantage of Flowers' naive 'boy with the eager eyes,' and features a riff by guitarist Dave Keuning reminiscent of the one he strummed for 'Mr Brightside'.
The band has sold a total of more than 15 million albums globally.
'We played in Krakow, Poland, about a month ago, and we were taken aback by the reception and the physicality and intensity of that gig - whoever expects to go play in Poland and have that kind of warm reception, it's pretty amazing,' Flowers said.
(Reporting By Piya Sinha-Roy, editing of Jill Serjeant and Richard Chang)
This news article is brought to you by LINUXOS.PRO - where latest news are our top priority.
Country stars raising funds to restore Johnny Cash boyhood home
NASHVILLE, Tenn (Reuters) - Country stars Willie Nelson, Dierks Bentley, the Civil Wars and Rosanne Cash join forces this week in a fund-raising concert for the restoration of the boyhood home of late legend Johnny Cash.
Cash's humble home in the tiny town of Dyess, Arkansas, was acquired in 2011 by Arkansas State University, which is spearheading the drive to repair and furnish the 1930s era house where the 'Ring of Fire' singer grew up with his six brothers and sisters.
'It's been a long process,' Cash's song-writer daughter, Rosanne, told Reuters, referring to purchasing the home and getting the restoration underway. 'There are a lot of Johnny Cash projects out there, but this is the one that captured my heart.'
Cash, an icon of country music whose hits spanned more than 50 years, died in 2003 at age 71.
Bentley, 36, who has had eight number one hits including ' 'Home,' and '5-1-5-0,' said he wanted to take part in Friday's fundraiser out of respect for the veteran performers who have paved the way for his new generation of singers.
'I don't know anyone who doesn't love Johnny Cash,' Bentley told Reuters. 'It's pretty cool to be part of that show.'
'To have the chance to be part of a unique festival always excites me, especially when you are raising money for a great cause and it's tied to a guy that this town (Nashville) really respects a lot,' Bentley added.
Cash's family moved to rural Dyess in 1936 because they were given 20 acres of land under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal plan to boost agriculture.
Arkansas State University is working to save the Cash house, and other historic buildings in Dyess, as heritage sites and to develop them as tourist destinations.
An initial fundraiser in 2011 raised $300,000 for the Cash home, and Bill Carter, who is producing Friday's Johnny Cash Music Festival event, hopes it will bring in another $200,000.
Local officials say work to rebuild the Cash house and its foundations, a barn and other outbuildings, and to construct a new visitor center and walking trails will cost about $1.9 million.
'The restoration is pretty far along. We are hoping we can raise enough funds from this year's concert so that we can open in the fall of 2013,' said Ruth Hawkins, director of the Arkansas Heritage Sites at Arkansas State University.
Hawkins said family members are donating many items that were original to the home, and the group restoring it is also acquiring replicas and looking for furniture from the 1930s and 40s to furnish the house.
John Carter Cash, the son of the 'Walk the Line' singer and June Carter, said the festival would benefit the whole area of Dyess, which now has a population of under 500.
'Dyess is an area that really needs help, and this project will help. The best thing is that it is a continuing project, and we hope it will continue for many years to come,' Cash said.
The Johnny Cash Music Festival concert will be held at Arkansas State University's Convocation Center in Jonesboro on October 5.
The proceeds will also help support a scholarship fund established in the late singer's name.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Carol Bishopric)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Cash's humble home in the tiny town of Dyess, Arkansas, was acquired in 2011 by Arkansas State University, which is spearheading the drive to repair and furnish the 1930s era house where the 'Ring of Fire' singer grew up with his six brothers and sisters.
'It's been a long process,' Cash's song-writer daughter, Rosanne, told Reuters, referring to purchasing the home and getting the restoration underway. 'There are a lot of Johnny Cash projects out there, but this is the one that captured my heart.'
Cash, an icon of country music whose hits spanned more than 50 years, died in 2003 at age 71.
Bentley, 36, who has had eight number one hits including ' 'Home,' and '5-1-5-0,' said he wanted to take part in Friday's fundraiser out of respect for the veteran performers who have paved the way for his new generation of singers.
'I don't know anyone who doesn't love Johnny Cash,' Bentley told Reuters. 'It's pretty cool to be part of that show.'
'To have the chance to be part of a unique festival always excites me, especially when you are raising money for a great cause and it's tied to a guy that this town (Nashville) really respects a lot,' Bentley added.
Cash's family moved to rural Dyess in 1936 because they were given 20 acres of land under President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal plan to boost agriculture.
Arkansas State University is working to save the Cash house, and other historic buildings in Dyess, as heritage sites and to develop them as tourist destinations.
An initial fundraiser in 2011 raised $300,000 for the Cash home, and Bill Carter, who is producing Friday's Johnny Cash Music Festival event, hopes it will bring in another $200,000.
Local officials say work to rebuild the Cash house and its foundations, a barn and other outbuildings, and to construct a new visitor center and walking trails will cost about $1.9 million.
'The restoration is pretty far along. We are hoping we can raise enough funds from this year's concert so that we can open in the fall of 2013,' said Ruth Hawkins, director of the Arkansas Heritage Sites at Arkansas State University.
Hawkins said family members are donating many items that were original to the home, and the group restoring it is also acquiring replicas and looking for furniture from the 1930s and 40s to furnish the house.
John Carter Cash, the son of the 'Walk the Line' singer and June Carter, said the festival would benefit the whole area of Dyess, which now has a population of under 500.
'Dyess is an area that really needs help, and this project will help. The best thing is that it is a continuing project, and we hope it will continue for many years to come,' Cash said.
The Johnny Cash Music Festival concert will be held at Arkansas State University's Convocation Center in Jonesboro on October 5.
The proceeds will also help support a scholarship fund established in the late singer's name.
(Editing by Jill Serjeant and Carol Bishopric)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE CRITIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Video shows new judge Nicki Minaj in heated exchange at "Idol" auditions
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The controversial rap star Nicki Minaj, who recently joined the 'American Idol' judging panel, is shown yelling and making heated comments toward her fellow judge Mariah Carey, in a video posted to celebrity website TMZ on Tuesday.
The release of the video, which TMZ reported was recorded during an audition of 'Idol' hopefuls in Charlotte, North Carolina, follows rumors that Minaj and Carey had been feuding.
'Idol' broadcaster Fox is looking to the new line-up of judges, which includes country star Keith Urban, to help revitalize a show that has seen falling ratings in recent years.
Minaj, 29, a rap star known for her outlandish outfits, is shown in the TMZ video yelling and cursing. It is not clear from the clip, which is less than a minute long, what might have led to the outburst or who shot the video.
'I told them, I'm not (expletive) putting up with her (expletive) highness over there,' Minaj is seen saying at one point in the video, as she turns toward Carey.
Carey can be heard in the video speaking in the direction of Minaj, but her words are less audible.
Urban, who is seated between the two women pop stars, at one point raises his arms, and fourth judge Randy Jackson - whose tenure on the show dates from its 2002 debut - can be heard saying 'Hold up' in an apparent effort to defuse the conflict.
A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the video.
Minaj, Urban and Carey were brought onto the 'Idol' judging panel in recent months after Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez each left the show following a two-year stint.
'American Idol' has been a ratings juggernaut since it debuted on Fox a decade ago, but audiences are now only about half the more than 30 million who watched regularly in the show's 2005 and 2006 heyday.
Minaj has emerged as the top female rapper in a hip-hop world dominated by male artists. She burst onto the music scene in 2010 and has become famous for her numerous alter-egos and her multiple hit records, including 'Starships.'
A representative for Minaj could not immediately be reached for comment.
'Idol' fans were divided about the selection of Minaj for the judging panel. Her appeal to young audiences is seen as potentially key to helping 'Idol' regain youthful viewers, but she has also proved controversial. In February, she appeared on the Grammy awards red carpet with a fake pope.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Eric Walsh)
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The release of the video, which TMZ reported was recorded during an audition of 'Idol' hopefuls in Charlotte, North Carolina, follows rumors that Minaj and Carey had been feuding.
'Idol' broadcaster Fox is looking to the new line-up of judges, which includes country star Keith Urban, to help revitalize a show that has seen falling ratings in recent years.
Minaj, 29, a rap star known for her outlandish outfits, is shown in the TMZ video yelling and cursing. It is not clear from the clip, which is less than a minute long, what might have led to the outburst or who shot the video.
'I told them, I'm not (expletive) putting up with her (expletive) highness over there,' Minaj is seen saying at one point in the video, as she turns toward Carey.
Carey can be heard in the video speaking in the direction of Minaj, but her words are less audible.
Urban, who is seated between the two women pop stars, at one point raises his arms, and fourth judge Randy Jackson - whose tenure on the show dates from its 2002 debut - can be heard saying 'Hold up' in an apparent effort to defuse the conflict.
A Fox spokeswoman declined to comment on the video.
Minaj, Urban and Carey were brought onto the 'Idol' judging panel in recent months after Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler and singer-actress Jennifer Lopez each left the show following a two-year stint.
'American Idol' has been a ratings juggernaut since it debuted on Fox a decade ago, but audiences are now only about half the more than 30 million who watched regularly in the show's 2005 and 2006 heyday.
Minaj has emerged as the top female rapper in a hip-hop world dominated by male artists. She burst onto the music scene in 2010 and has become famous for her numerous alter-egos and her multiple hit records, including 'Starships.'
A representative for Minaj could not immediately be reached for comment.
'Idol' fans were divided about the selection of Minaj for the judging panel. Her appeal to young audiences is seen as potentially key to helping 'Idol' regain youthful viewers, but she has also proved controversial. In February, she appeared on the Grammy awards red carpet with a fake pope.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Eric Walsh)
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Monday, October 1, 2012
Adele lends sultry voice to Bond theme for "Skyfall"
(Reuters) - Grammy-winning British singer Adele is adding Bond girl to her superstar resume by signing on to write and sing the theme of the latest James Bond film 'Skyfall' - her first song to be released since her best-selling heartbreak album '21' - Columbia Records said in a statement on Monday.
Adele, 24, who swept the Grammy Awards earlier this year with accolades in six categories, will release the song on Friday on her official website, to coincide with the Bond film franchise's 50th anniversary and Global James Bond Day.
The sultry singer wrote 'Skyfall' with long-time collaborator Paul Epworth. She recorded it at London's Abbey Road Studios with a 77-piece orchestra. Adele said in a statement that she was persuaded to do the song after she 'fell in love with the script.'
'I was a little hesitant at first to be involved with the theme song for 'Skyfall.' There's a lot of instant spotlight and pressure when it comes to a Bond song,' the singer said.
'When we recorded the strings, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I'll be backcombing my hair when I'm 60, telling people I was a Bond girl back in the day, I'm sure.'
The James Bond title songs have become a signature of the films, featuring suave British agent 007 holding a gun in a pose that has become iconic.
Singers who have performed the title songs over the past five decades include Shirley Bassey in 1971's 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 1979's 'Moonraker,' Paul McCartney on 1973's 'Live and Let Die,' and more recently, Madonna on 2002's 'Die Another Day.' Jack White and Alicia Keys performed 'Another Way To Die' from 2008's 'Quantum of Solace.'
'Skyfall,' the 23rd film in the Bond franchise and the third film with actor Daniel Craig in the lead role, will see the womanizing rogue super-spy take on another mission to save the world. The film will be released in Britain and most European nations on October 26. It arrives in U.S. movie theaters on November 9.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Jan Paschal)
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Adele, 24, who swept the Grammy Awards earlier this year with accolades in six categories, will release the song on Friday on her official website, to coincide with the Bond film franchise's 50th anniversary and Global James Bond Day.
The sultry singer wrote 'Skyfall' with long-time collaborator Paul Epworth. She recorded it at London's Abbey Road Studios with a 77-piece orchestra. Adele said in a statement that she was persuaded to do the song after she 'fell in love with the script.'
'I was a little hesitant at first to be involved with the theme song for 'Skyfall.' There's a lot of instant spotlight and pressure when it comes to a Bond song,' the singer said.
'When we recorded the strings, it was one of the proudest moments of my life. I'll be backcombing my hair when I'm 60, telling people I was a Bond girl back in the day, I'm sure.'
The James Bond title songs have become a signature of the films, featuring suave British agent 007 holding a gun in a pose that has become iconic.
Singers who have performed the title songs over the past five decades include Shirley Bassey in 1971's 'Diamonds Are Forever' and 1979's 'Moonraker,' Paul McCartney on 1973's 'Live and Let Die,' and more recently, Madonna on 2002's 'Die Another Day.' Jack White and Alicia Keys performed 'Another Way To Die' from 2008's 'Quantum of Solace.'
'Skyfall,' the 23rd film in the Bond franchise and the third film with actor Daniel Craig in the lead role, will see the womanizing rogue super-spy take on another mission to save the world. The film will be released in Britain and most European nations on October 26. It arrives in U.S. movie theaters on November 9.
(Reporting by Piya Sinha-Roy in Los Angeles; Editing by Jill Serjeant and Jan Paschal)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
Korean singer Psy tops UK charts with Internet hit
LONDON (Reuters) - South Korean singer Psy jumped to the top of the British pop charts on Sunday with the quirky dance track 'Gangnam Style', an Internet phenomenon that has clocked up more than 300 million views on YouTube.
The 34-year-old became the first Korean artist to top the weekly UK chart, helped by the success of a video shot in locations around Gangnam, an upmarket neighborhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, spawned hundreds of online imitators with his unusual dance move, where he pretends to ride an invisible horse. It topped the U.S. digital songs chart earlier this week.
Last week's UK number one, Irish band The Script, slipped to second place with 'Hall of Fame'. Third place went to U.S. rapper Flo Rida's 'I Cry'.
There was a new entry at the top of the album chart for English folk rock band Mumford & Sons and 'Babel'.
(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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The 34-year-old became the first Korean artist to top the weekly UK chart, helped by the success of a video shot in locations around Gangnam, an upmarket neighborhood in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, spawned hundreds of online imitators with his unusual dance move, where he pretends to ride an invisible horse. It topped the U.S. digital songs chart earlier this week.
Last week's UK number one, Irish band The Script, slipped to second place with 'Hall of Fame'. Third place went to U.S. rapper Flo Rida's 'I Cry'.
There was a new entry at the top of the album chart for English folk rock band Mumford & Sons and 'Babel'.
(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
George Michael cancels Australia tour, cites anxiety
LONDON (Reuters) - British singer George Michael has canceled his tour of Australia due to 'major anxiety' brought on by his recent battle with severe pneumonia, he announced on his website.
The former Wham! frontman said that he would complete his Symphonica Tour dates in Britain in October before seeking treatment.
He had been due to open in Australia in Perth on November 10 before performing in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hunter Valley on December 1.
'I have ... announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart,' Michael said in a statement.
The 49-year-old 'Careless Whisper' and 'Faith' singer fell ill in Vienna last November and was treated under intensive care for a month for a life-threatening illness.
He was forced to postpone his tour but resumed it some 10 months later.
'Since last year's illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience,' Michael said.
'They recommended complete rest ... but I'm afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself.'
He said his return to the stage had brought him 'great happiness' and that some of his recent performances were his best to date, but concluded:
'I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.
'All that's left for me to do is apologize to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK, I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.'
Tickets to his Australian concerts will be refunded.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career, but he has hit headlines in recent years for his personal life more often than for his music.
In 1998 he was arrested in California for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a public toilet and has had a string of run-ins with British police for possession of narcotics. He also served a term in jail for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The former Wham! frontman said that he would complete his Symphonica Tour dates in Britain in October before seeking treatment.
He had been due to open in Australia in Perth on November 10 before performing in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hunter Valley on December 1.
'I have ... announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart,' Michael said in a statement.
The 49-year-old 'Careless Whisper' and 'Faith' singer fell ill in Vienna last November and was treated under intensive care for a month for a life-threatening illness.
He was forced to postpone his tour but resumed it some 10 months later.
'Since last year's illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience,' Michael said.
'They recommended complete rest ... but I'm afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself.'
He said his return to the stage had brought him 'great happiness' and that some of his recent performances were his best to date, but concluded:
'I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.
'All that's left for me to do is apologize to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK, I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.'
Tickets to his Australian concerts will be refunded.
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career, but he has hit headlines in recent years for his personal life more often than for his music.
In 1998 he was arrested in California for 'engaging in a lewd act' in a public toilet and has had a string of run-ins with British police for possession of narcotics. He also served a term in jail for driving under the influence of cannabis.
(Reporting by Mike Collett-White)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
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