Gay pop star’s final turn in front of adoring home crowd - from Pink News - all the latest gay news from the gay community

Gay pop star's final turn in front of adoring home crowd

By Jamie Skey • August 26, 2008 - 12:57

Michael has sold more than 100 million records worldwide

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After 25 years, George Michael's live performance career is coming to an end.

The Jesus to a Child superstar said goodbye in a double-whammy, two-night concert special that started on Sunday.

More than 32,000 people packed into Earls Court for the gigs.

His epic tour began two years ago and Michael has played to more than one million fans, in celebration of 25 years at the top.

The 45-year-old has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and had 12 British number one singles.

Michael told fans gathered on Sunday that he has written another Christmas song, a sign that he is not retiring completely.

The single will accompany a cover of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good, which he recorded for a US TV show earlier this year.

However, he left little doubt about future concerts.

He reportedly said he wants to leave the "bells and whistles" of large-scale tours behind because he wants a "quieter life."

Michael performed a diverse range of songs spanning all albums at the London concerts.

Last night's gig was opened with his 1996 hit Fastlove and finished two-and-a-half hours later with Careless Whisper.

He is to play another concert, entitled The Final One, in Copenhagen next Saturday.

An autobiography is expected in 2009.

Michael is to write the book "entirely" by himself and it will cover his early career with Wham!, his life in the closet, the death of his boyfriend h Anselmo Feleppa in 1993 from an AIDS-related illness, his forced coming out after being arrested in a public toilet in Los Angeles and his recent problems with cannabis.

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