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British pop star George Michael dies aged 53

British pop star George Michael dies aged 53

At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious: police
Updated 26 Dec, 2016

British pop star George Michael, who rose to fame with the band Wham! and sold more than 100 million albums in his career, has died aged 53, his publicist said on Sunday.

“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.

Thames Valley Police said the ambulance service had attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire, where the singer lived, at 1342 GMT on Sunday and a 53-year-old man was confirmed dead at the scene.

“At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. A post-mortem will be undertaken in due course,” the police said.

Singer Elton John published a picture of himself with Michael on his Instagram account.

“I am in deep shock. I have lost a beloved friend - the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist,” the British star wrote.

Madonna posted a video of herself presenting Michael with an award and wrote: “Farewell my Friend! Another Great Artist leaves us.”

Michael was due to release a documentary in 2017 after a period of living as a virtual recluse in which he hit the headlines for a series of bizarre incidents linked to drugs.

Earlier this month it was also announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy, whose real name is Shahid Khan, was working with Michael on a new album for next year.

Michael was best known for his 1980s hits “Last Christmas”, “Freedom”, “Careless Whisper” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” but his career spanned more than three decades.

He won a string of awards including two Grammies and three Brits.

His last album “Symphonica” (2014) rose to number one in the charts.

'Talented soul'

Many tributes to Michael referred to other music world deaths in 2016, starting with David Bowie in January and including Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt who died on Saturday.

“2016 - loss of another talented soul. All our love and sympathy to George Michael's family,” the band Duran Duran, which were 1980s contemporaries of Wham!, said on their official Twitter account.

Referring to him by his nickname “Yog” (Yours Only George), Wham! co-star Andrew Ridgeley said he was “heartbroken” by Michael's death.

Canadian musician Bryan Adams tweeted: “I can't believe it. Such an incredible singer and a lovely human being, far too young to leave us.” Tributes poured in from outside the music world too.

Football presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted: “No, not George Michael as well.

Another musical great leaves us this year. 2016 can just sod off.” “Star Trek” actor George Takei referred to some of Michael's greatest hits in a tweet, writing: “Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael.

You've found your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas, and we shall miss you.”

Drug charges, health scares

Michael was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou to a Greek Cypriot father and English mother in north London in 1963.

He met Ridgeley at high school and the pair went on to form Wham! in 1981.

With their good looks, perma-tans, highlighted hair and hedonistic image, the duo captured the go-getting spirit of the age and fast became one of Britain's biggest pop acts.

In 1985, Wham! became the first Western pop band to perform in China as the country was slowly beginning to open up to the outside world under reformist leader Deng Xiaoping.

Following years of speculation over his sexuality, Michael came out as gay in 1998 after being arrested for committing a lewd act in the public toilet of a Los Angeles park.

It was the first of several incidents that were to overshadow his musical career in his later years.

He notched up police cautions for cannabis and crack cocaine possession and in 2010 was sentenced to eight weeks in jail after crashing his car into a London shop while under the influence of cannabis and prescription medication.

In 2011, he spent several weeks in hospital in Vienna after contracting pneumonia, later saying that he had been close to death.

There were fresh concerns in 2013 when he had to be airlifted to hospital after falling out of his chauffeur-driven Range Rover as it travelled at high speed on a motorway.

Comments

Sad Dec 26, 2016 09:40am
Wake me up before you go go... but u didn't
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analyses Dec 26, 2016 09:47am
One of the greatest musicians with a rich and soothing voice has passed away.
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JS Dec 26, 2016 10:27am
Saddened by sudden passing away of the great GM. Have loved his Careless Whisper, Last Christmas, Freedom, etc. , and so sad how this Christmas turned out to be his last. Rest In Peace eternally. You will be missed here.
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Tahir A Dec 26, 2016 10:28am
Maybe talented in his field but potentially negative contribution for the kids on moral values and decency.
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DK PAMNANI Dec 26, 2016 10:39am
RIP
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DK PAMNANI Dec 26, 2016 11:01am
RIP, Great Musician
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Princess_of_DHUMP Dec 26, 2016 11:02am
So sad to hear this. I grew up listening to Fast Love and Careless Whisper. #Go2016Go
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ashraf yousafzai Dec 26, 2016 11:14am
Sad demise, his album is full with heart touching compositions. Indeed it was his last christmas.
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Ranjit Haripur Dec 26, 2016 11:42am
Rest in Peace my friend.
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Irfan_Sydney Dec 26, 2016 12:56pm
First we lost Junaid Jamshed now George Michael. So much similarity between the two. Both were nearly 53 years old when they died. Both had the magical voice. Both became popular because of their songs when they were very young. Both started first in a group (George Michael in WHAM and Junaid Jamshed in Vital signs. ) then both of them left the group and became solo. Both spent most of their earnings towards charity. May Allah accept good deeds of both of them.
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omair Dec 26, 2016 01:05pm
RIP, loved his hits 'Careless whisper', 'Last Christmas', 'Amazing', 'Freedom 90', 'Faith' etc
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stargazer Dec 26, 2016 01:16pm
Proves again, money cannot buy happiness !
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SFN Dec 26, 2016 01:37pm
Last Christmas :(
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Love Pakistan Dec 26, 2016 01:39pm
time can never mend, careless whisper of a good friend,,,
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JS Dec 26, 2016 02:32pm
@Tahir A consider him for what he was known for. That is his music and not as morality instructor.
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RasHID Dec 26, 2016 02:37pm
Another sign of Illuminati vanished.
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Abdul Sattar Dec 26, 2016 03:32pm
Sad to hear his tragic demise! He has been one of my favorite singers since 80's. Very talented singer indeed and I always felt sad and sorry for his negative indulgence. “Rest with the glittering stars, George Michael.You've found your Freedom, your Faith. It was your Last Christmas, and we shall miss you.”
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SAK Dec 26, 2016 03:39pm
Another great talent gone with your departure - but not without making a mark on the music scene! This was your Last Christmas .. RIP.
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SAK Dec 26, 2016 03:41pm
This turned out to your Last Christmas - So sad to see you go. RIP.
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asif Dec 26, 2016 04:14pm
I think its time we start saying goodbye to the musicians to my generation. David bowie, Prince and George Michael. How can we forget Juniad Jamshed.
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Sara Dec 26, 2016 08:25pm
@asif please remember JJ as a good muslim and a good human being
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Hasan Dec 26, 2016 09:12pm
@asif Junaid Jamshed gave up music and was spreading the message of Islam Remember him for his good deeds
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Agha Dec 26, 2016 11:01pm
@Sara No we will remember him as a musician. You have a problem then remember him as you want but you can't dictate everyone to think like you. JJ was an exceptional as a musician while as a preacher he was garden variety cliche televangelist.
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Agha Dec 26, 2016 11:02pm
@Hasan Yes we will remember him for his good deeds. His singing was his GOOD DEEDS. We do not consider his singing bad. Period.
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S. A. M. Dec 27, 2016 05:55am
@Sara please try to come out of your pit and you will see there is a beautiful world where people from other faiths are just as good and kind as any good Muslim can be.
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Asif Dec 27, 2016 01:02pm
@Sara, I was mentioning JJ because like it or not he did music and wonderful music. I am big fan of his music, his nasheeds, and his overall personality. Whatever he did in his life was wonderful, he was a gifted man in all the fields he touched.
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Sara Dec 27, 2016 09:39pm
Good to know that you guys reacted message delivered
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Hasan Dec 27, 2016 09:49pm
@S. A. M. I feel sorry for you
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Comment Dec 28, 2016 01:18pm
@Hasan But he was still singing...was he not...
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Comment Dec 28, 2016 01:21pm
@Hasan Me too for S.A.M
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Hasan Dec 28, 2016 02:18pm
@Comment may be on ypur tape recorder
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Zak Dec 29, 2016 12:03am
@Tahir A lets not judge, lest you be judged. Leave it to the one and only who judges, and not for us mortals.
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Zak Dec 29, 2016 12:03am
Great great musician.
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