George Michael has said his public disgraces have let down young, gay people who are seeking to be open and proud about their sexuality.
George Michael who yesterday announced his first tour in three years, said he has started work on a new album that will be a gay collective, featuring young, unknown gay and gay-friendly artists.
He claims the work is to make amends for his behaviour.
Michael, who has been in a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss since 1996, only revealed his homosexuality in 1998, after he was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a public toilet in a park in Beverly Hills, California.
After being accused of engaging in a sexual act in public in 2006, this time on Hampstead Heath in north London, Michael said that he openly cruises for sex. He said this was not an issue in his relationship with Goss.
Michael has also been repeatedly arrested for possession of cannabis. In a 2009 interview with the Guardian, he said he had cut down on his habit, to seven or eight joints a day.
In 2010, he crashed into a shop front in Hampstead. He was charged with possession of cannabis and driving while unfit, and sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine and a five-year driving ban.
During a press conference announcing his 47-date tour yesterday he said: 'My behaviour meant kids suffered abuse and homophobic language that is legal here'
I feel re-energised after some of my latest troubles.
In terms of recovering from a very long period of grief and self-abuse, and in terms of staying on the straight and narrow, there's nothing like touring. It gives me the impetus to take care of myself and approve of myself.
The new album is going to be a gay collective. I'm really keen to talk to gay and gay-friendly artists, he said.
Michael said the tour would feature reinterpreted songs that are personal favourites of his, sung against the backdrop of a live symphony orchestra. Once ego has been satisfied ... you can concentrate on authenticity, which means more honesty, more of myself, he said.
Michael will be accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
Symphonica - The Orchestral Tour will include 12 dates in the UK at venues including the Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as dates in Cardiff, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pic.../George-Michael-I-have-let-gay-kids-down.html
George Michael who yesterday announced his first tour in three years, said he has started work on a new album that will be a gay collective, featuring young, unknown gay and gay-friendly artists.
He claims the work is to make amends for his behaviour.
Michael, who has been in a long-term relationship with Kenny Goss since 1996, only revealed his homosexuality in 1998, after he was arrested for engaging in a lewd act in a public toilet in a park in Beverly Hills, California.
After being accused of engaging in a sexual act in public in 2006, this time on Hampstead Heath in north London, Michael said that he openly cruises for sex. He said this was not an issue in his relationship with Goss.
Michael has also been repeatedly arrested for possession of cannabis. In a 2009 interview with the Guardian, he said he had cut down on his habit, to seven or eight joints a day.
In 2010, he crashed into a shop front in Hampstead. He was charged with possession of cannabis and driving while unfit, and sentenced to eight weeks in prison, a fine and a five-year driving ban.
During a press conference announcing his 47-date tour yesterday he said: 'My behaviour meant kids suffered abuse and homophobic language that is legal here'
I feel re-energised after some of my latest troubles.
In terms of recovering from a very long period of grief and self-abuse, and in terms of staying on the straight and narrow, there's nothing like touring. It gives me the impetus to take care of myself and approve of myself.
The new album is going to be a gay collective. I'm really keen to talk to gay and gay-friendly artists, he said.
Michael said the tour would feature reinterpreted songs that are personal favourites of his, sung against the backdrop of a live symphony orchestra. Once ego has been satisfied ... you can concentrate on authenticity, which means more honesty, more of myself, he said.
Michael will be accompanied by a symphony orchestra.
Symphonica - The Orchestral Tour will include 12 dates in the UK at venues including the Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall in London, as well as dates in Cardiff, Liverpool, Sheffield, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham and Manchester.
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pic.../George-Michael-I-have-let-gay-kids-down.html
