George Michael has canceled his tour in Australia due to the "major anxiety" he has suffered since contracting pneumonia last November, the singer announced on his website Saturday.
George Michael cancels tour after being hospitalized for pneumonia
"By way of explanation all I can say at this time is that 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's statement said. "They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine 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."
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Michael was hospitalized in Vienna last year with a life-threatening case of pneumonia, forcing him to cancel the remaining European dates for his "Symphonica" tour at the time. He has just begun to resume that tour, and still plans to complete the UK dates in October. All nine of the scheduled Australian performances have been canceled, however, and refunds will be issued automatically.
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"All that's left for me to do is apologise 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," Michael wrote.
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