And the shit just continues till the end of the year...I always liked Michael...I always thought he would have been the perfect addition to any Queen incarnation/lineup


[/size]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/12/25/george-michael-dies-at-53-publicist-says/?utm_term=.5b085612c82f


George Michael, the British singer who rocketed to fame in the 80s duo Wham! before embarking on a solo career, died at 53, his publicist confirmed.

“It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period,” the publicist said in a statement. “The family would ask their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage.”

Michael was an international pop icon in the 1980s who then became an even more a successful solo act. He first found stardom with Wham!, the group he formed with Andrew Ridgeley and responsible for infectious hits like “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Careless Whisperer.”

The popularity of Wham! coincided with the beginnings of MTV, and Michael’s easy stage manner and sex appeal earned him legions of fans far beyond the U.K. The duo broke up in 1986, five years after they burst onto the scene, and Michael’s solo work far surpassed the dominance of his pop group.

In his solo years, he became known as a more serious singer who had massive hits such as “Faith,” “Father Figure” and “I Want Your Sex.” The London-born singer sold more than 100 million albums over the course of his career.

In 1998, Michael publicly came out as gay in an interview with CNN, a week after he was arrested for “investigation of misdemeanor lewd conduct” in a park restroom.

“I don’t feel any shame. I feel stupid and I feel reckless and weak for having allowed my sexuality to be exposed this way. But I don’t feel any shame whatsoever,” he told CNN, adding, “I want to say that I have no problem with people knowing that I’m in a relationship with a man right now. I have not been in a relationship with a woman for almost 10 years.”

Michael had been out of the spotlight for the last several years, after a life-threatening bout of pneumonia in 2011. “I’m a new man,” he told the British press after he recovered, adding, “I have an amazing, amazing life, and if I wasn’t spiritual enough before the last four, five weeks then I certainly am now.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsKqMNDoR4o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYAR8RigqDA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyFpPSzjfUI

Paranoid Android wrote on Dec 25^th, 2016 at 6:18pm:

And the shit just continues till the end of the year...I always liked Michael...I always thought he would have been the perfect addition to any Queen incarnation/lineup

I've always thought that too! He was out of this world amazing on the tribute concert, I thought his voice was ideal for the gig.

This damn year is unbelievable. Then again, what can you expect, when in its first ten days David Bowie passes?

I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will be left before this horrible year is over.

RIP George Michael. I had such a crush on him when I was a teenage girl! But I'm  glad that he came out later.

Mick and Keith got a writing credit on this song because of the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VVyakAPCPM

This one has been making the rounds on FB today. I'm sure you all have seen it, but just in case....

http://www.christianforums.com/attachments/keithrichards-jpg.173370/

I heard Michael was killed by a baseball bat. Someone just walked up to him and - Wham!

May he rest in peace!

His music didn't much move me, but he was too likeable to dislike.  And 52 is too damn young.  RIP.  I Keep hearing "Careless Whispers."

Young man, that's sad.  Not the kind of music I really listened to.  In fact, I could not stand that stuff.  Not even good pop, more like pop fraud.  WTF?

Just FYI, Miruts Yifter (the Shifter) died too, today or yesterday or the day before, its unclear to me when.  Classic runner.

Very sad news, completely unexpected.  53 is way too young. 

I remember in college, my best friend's housemate loved WHAM and had their posters up in the rowhouse.  What was the cause for his death?

RIP Gorge Michael.

And Rick Parfitt...

Press reports it was heart failure.  RIP George Michael.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 25^th, 2016 at 8:52pm:

This one has been making the rounds on FB today. I'm sure you all have seen it, but just in case.... http://www.christianforums.com/attachments/keithrichards-jpg.173370/

That's fucked up.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 25^th, 2016 at 8:53pm:

I heard Michael was killed by a baseball bat. Someone just walked up to him and - Wham!

That's even more fucked up.

Starbuck wrote on Dec 25^th, 2016 at 8:53pm:

I heard Michael was killed by a baseball bat. Someone just walked up to him and - Wham!

That's what I'd like to do to some of your posts.

Perks loved George Michael, one of the finest singers ever.

What an incredible talent that fame & drugs destroyed.