George Michael Retires From Touring | ‘The Final Two’ In London Before Quieter Life
June 12, 2008 by Dave Parrack
George Michael, a man who has been present in the British music scene for 25 years now, has announced his retirement from touring after playing The Final Two shows of his career at London’s Earl’s Court in August.
The name The Final Two is a nod to the last Wham show before they parted company in 1986, which saw him and Andrew Ridgeley play The Final at Wembley Stadium. These two shows will not only bring his 25 Live tour to a close, but also his live career.
The tour, which began in Europe in 2006, still has some dates left in North America through the summer before ending in London on August 24th and 25th.
A statement on his website yesterday read:
“These very special shows will naturally feature Michael’s hits, some tracks not previously performed in Britain,”
“These shows are truly not to be missed by any George Michael fan.”
Michael has since spoken to the BBC about his decision to quit touring, saying his main motivation is for “a quieter life” outside of the public eye, a public eye which has kept very close tabs on him over the years.
This really isn’t that much of a surprise, as not only has George been living off past glories to a certain degree, the personal problems he has had in recent years, have become very public knowledge. These problems include the whole public toilet incident in the States, and a recent police caution over cannabis.
I’ve never been a massive fan of George Michael, but you only have to listen to a selection of his greatest hits to realise he has had a phenomenal career. Hopefully, even though the live touring part may be coming to an end, he won’t be leaving the world of music for good.
[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]
