<\/p>\n
British singer George Michael performs on stage during his “Symphonica” tour concert in Vienna September 4, 2012. REUTERS\/Heinz-Peter Bader<\/p>\n
LONDON (Reuters) – British singer George Michael has canceled his tour of Australia due to “major anxiety” brought on by his recent battle with severe pneumonia, he announced on his website.<\/p>\n
The former Wham! frontman said that he would complete his Symphonica Tour dates in Britain in October before seeking treatment.<\/p>\n
He had been due to open in Australia in Perth on November 10 before performing in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hunter Valley on December 1.<\/p>\n
“I have … announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart,” Michael said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The 49-year-old “Careless Whisper” and “Faith” singer fell ill in Vienna last November and was treated under intensive care for a month for a life-threatening illness.<\/p>\n
He was forced to postpone his tour but resumed it some 10 months later.<\/p>\n
“Since last year’s illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience,” Michael said.<\/p>\n
“They recommended complete rest … but I’m afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself.”<\/p>\n
He said his return to the stage had brought him “great happiness” and that some of his recent performances were his best to date, but concluded:<\/p>\n
“I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.<\/p>\n
“All that’s left for me to do is apologize to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK, I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.”<\/p>\n
Tickets to his Australian concerts will be refunded.<\/p>\n
Michael has sold an estimated 100 million records over his career, but he has hit headlines in recent years for his personal life more often than for his music.<\/p>\n
In 1998 he was arrested in California for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public toilet and has had a string of run-ins with British police for possession of narcotics. He also served a term in jail for driving under the influence of cannabis.<\/p>\n
Reporting by Mike Collett-White<\/p>\n
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