- Net Aid tracks!
'The following are the tracks that George is due to perform.....And this is
straight from the horses mouth as it were. Speaking on BBC Radio 1 yesterday
he announced that the songs are as follows
- Spinning The Wheel (Possibly)
- Fast Love
- Freedom 90
- Father Figure
+ 1 More track that is a cover. Not sure what it is, but apparently it fits
in nicely with the occasion.'
(George's NetAid conference can be downloaded at www.netaid.org.)
source: private | news agent Sonja Verheyen
- George Michael: Portillo disgusts me
'SUPERSTAR George Michael attacked top Tory Michael Portillo yesterday
for opposing moves to lower the age of consent for homosexuals.
Disgusted George hit out after the married ex-Defence Secretary admitted
he had gay flings when he was a student.
The millionaire singer claimed Portillo's confessions were only "half-truths"
and branded him a hypocrite.
In an amazing interview, George, 36, told The Sun: "I am very surprised that
someone who claims to be a politician is stupid enough to think that he can
tell half of the truth in 1999.
"And I think anyone who has supported differing ages of consent for men and
women when it is very obvious that he was having sex with men when he was a
young man is a complete hypocrite.
"I am afraid I don't think he can be described as anything else. He disgusts
me, to be honest with you."
The former Wham! star said he did not think anyone believed Portillo's claims
that he had a number of gay affairs only in the early Seventies. He added:
"I think I'm a very good example of the fact that people actually will make an
effort to understand any given situation if a person tells the truth.
"And I think half-truths are worse than silence...."
source: Sun Online | news agent Dalboy
- 'I was always proud who I was'
HERE is the full transcript of George Michael's phone interview with Sun
Editor David Yelland yesterday. The deal referred to by George relates
to his pledge to provide an interview in return for publicising his NetAid
charity concert at Wembley on October 9. He was calling us as part of that deal.
George: Thanks for sticking to the deal.
Sun: Thanks. How closely have you followed The Sun's stance on the gay
issue in the last year? What do you think about, in particular, the interview
with Boyzone's Stephen Gately when he came out?
George: I am aware of a general shift in attitude which I'm very pleased
about. I actually feel that for all the - you know, if we are all being honest
here, for all the sensationalism that's caused around people's sex life - I
think that when anything becomes commonplace, it increases people's tolerance.
I think the exposure of various celebrities' private lives over the last,
I don't know, 10 years, has been so much more than it was . . .
I think, in its own way - I don't think it was meant to - but I think in its own
way it has increased tolerance as well as selling newspapers.
Sun: People just say, "Well, who cares any more?".
George: It's getting to that stage, which I think is quite healthy.
Sun: I know you've been travelling - but I'm sure you've caught up with the
Michael Portillo story here. What do you think of Portillo?
George: He disgusts me, to be honest with you.
Sun: Why? Do you think his position is inherently dishonest?
George: Because, one, I am very surprised that someone who claims to be a
politician is stupid enough to think that he can tell half of the truth in 1999.
And two, I think anyone who has supported differing ages of consent for men and
women when it is very obvious that he was having sex with men when he was a young
man is a complete hypocrite. I am afraid I don't think he can be described as
anything else.
Sun: Do you think anybody under the age of 35 believes him?
George: No, of course not.
Sun: What about people older?
George: Maybe the occasional public schoolboy.
Sun: Have you met many politicians?
George: No, not really, I've met Tony Blair, I had dinner with Tony Blair once . . .
Sun: I think Tony's safe . . .
George: I don't think there's any question.
Sun: Do you think British people accept gay people?
George: I think that people generally accept that, if people are going to
experiment with their sexuality, that they are going to do it when they are
fairly young - before they settle down with the person they want to spend the
rest of their life with. I think that's a fairly accepted . . . I think it's
a fact, actually. I don't think that the attraction to the opposite sex ever
disappears, I think to pretend that is quite ludicrous. But to acknowledge
that really you're . . . you make a . . . you don't make a choice, but you
find out where your emotions are strongest and that quite often doesn't happen
until you are in your twenties.
Sun: So you think there is a tolerance of homosexuality in Britain now, but
there is not a tolerance of people that are trying to have it both ways and
not tell the whole truth?
George: Absolutely, I think I'm a very good example of the fact that people
actually will make an effort to understand any given situation if a person
tells the truth. And I think half-truths are worse than silence.
Sun: I agree. We have to go with public opinion - maybe lead it sometimes.
On another subject, gay couples are adopting children now. Do you want children?
George: When I was sleeping with women . . . when I was young . . . I considered
having children. As a gay man, and as a 36-year-old man, I have no desire to have
children. I love children but I'd rather spend time with other people's children,
really, than raise one of my own.
Sun: Do you feel happier in the States than you do here in Britain?
George: Well, I don't really. People have a misperception that I split my time
between the two. I normally spend a couple of months in the States a year - one,
because I have no real ... I don't really enjoy being there, other than the fact
that I am left alone more because my profile is much lower there. And the time
I spend there is because my partner works out of Los Angeles. But in fact I spend
the vast majority of my time here in London and it is very much my home.
Sun: How do you feel about your arrest in LA now?
George: Well, I think it's a balance actually. I think it is a real balance, and
I think everything in life is a balance. God has a very even way of distributing
fortune and misfortune and I think I am a perfect example of that. I think that
in some ways it did me a favour and I think in some ways it's been . . . I don't
like the fact that my sex life has been trivialised and that I have become, you
know, "gay pop star George Michael" as opposed to "ex-Wham pop star George
Michael". But I brought some of that on myself and I'll take the consequences -
along with the negative consequences. People are listening to my music probably
in larger numbers than they ever have before, and so really that is the balance.
Sun: Do you regret not coming out earlier? You have attacked Portillo - but you
didn't go public for years.
George: No, no I don't. I was very glad to have my privacy the years I had my
privacy, and on the other hand I am very glad now that people understand that
I was protecting my privacy and that I was always proud of who I was. I mean,
that was the only bad part about protecting my privacy was that people felt
that I was closeted and ashamed of my sexuality - and I think I have fairly well
established that was not the case.
Sun: What about having changed your behaviour. For example, if you were driving
down the M1 at home and desperately wanted to go to the toilet would you stop or
would you just carry on and cross your legs?
George: No I don't think so. I think if I was to even attempt to use a public
toilet these days I would probably give somebody a heart attack.
Sun: Are you happier now? Is it something you look back on and think maybe there
was a reason for that happening?
George: Well, yeah, I can see it that way. And also, to be honest with you, that
whole period of my life was still mixed up in my bereavement for my mother so I
am much happier now anyway - and back on track, as it were. But I don't really see it as one or the other ...
my life is just different now.
Sun: Thank you for your time.
source: Sun Online | news agent Dalboy
- I am facing two lawsuits!
'George Michael today revealed that he was facing two lawsuits totalling 20 million
dollars (£12.5 million) from the Los Angeles police officer who arrested him last
year in a public lavatory. The pop idol said he would defend the action lodged by
Beverly Hills undercover vice policeman Marcelo Rodriguez, despite having been
advised to settle out of court.
"I won't gladly hand a single penny over in terms of settlement," he told The Express.
The action was started after Michael made fun of his arrest for "lewd" behaviour
in April 1998 in the pop video of his hit Outside.
The officer is claiming slander by the singer and says he suffered mental and
physical pain and was unable to do his job. "There are two separate actions in
the writ and he's asking 10 million dollars (£6.25 million) for each of them.
So there's 20 million dollars plus any doctors' bills which
may be accruing as we speak," Michael said.
The 36-year-old star talked about the lawsuit for the first time after tabloid
newspapers gave prominent coverage to the NetAid charity concerts next month in
aid of Kosovar refugees. He threw down the gauntlet earlier this week when he
promised to talk to editors personally about anything they liked if they gave
"sufficient and compassionate coverage" to the concert.
The singer praised his friend Geri Halliwell in an interview with the Daily Star.
"She is a really lovely girl. It's quite simple. We are very good friends," said
Michael, who supported Geri when she left the Spice Girls last year. Michael also
told The Mirror that he had not had sex with a woman for about 10 years - but if
he did, he would choose Geri Halliwell. "If I was going to revert, then I'd say
Geri's probably worth it. She's great looking but that is as far as it goes."....'
source: LineOne net | news agent Dalboy
- George: I gave £500,000 to Kosovo refugees !
GEORGE MICHAEL has donated £500,000 to
refugees in Kosovo.
The star revealed his gift yesterday as he talked
about the cause behind the huge NetAid concert
at Wembley on October 9.
George said the Kosovo appeal was close to his
heart and revealed he had wept over the misery in
the war-torn region. The singer also made an
amazing pledge - that if his comments were given
"compassionate" coverage he would ring
newspapers today and talk about whatever
editors wanted.
George revealed he will perform a surprise song at
NetAid, along with hits Fast Love, Freedom 90 and
Father Figure. He quipped: "All the F's. It's that
f-ing George Michael again."
He will join Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams, The
Corrs and Stereophonics on the Live Aid-style bill.
Other NetAid gigs will take place the same day in
New York and Geneva. Money raised will help
refugees and relieve Third World poverty. George
spoke eloquently and knowledgeably about the
subject, admitting: "I did donate £500,000 to the
Kosovan refugees. It was anonymous. Now I'm
here as a musician to add my support and to talk
about the concert.
"More personally, I'm here as one of the millions of
people who sat crying in front of the TV at the
news bulletins that were coming back from
Kosovo.
"The people of Kosovo, men, women and children,
desperately need our help through the concert
and donations.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people
who've returned to Kosovo. Their homes and
schools have gone, they don't have enough food,
they don't have any work and winter is coming up.
"It's all very well crying but if when you have
wiped away the tears you don't put your hand in
your pocket, that emotion has just been part of
your evening's entertainment.
"You might as well have watched Bianca and Ricky
on EastEnders."
He then joked: "Actually, it was very good this
weekend - fantastic Omnibus Edition."
George insisted he would not talk about the
£7million lawsuit that arrived this week from the
Beverly Hills cop who arrested him for lewd
behaviour,
Referring to the writ from officer Marcello
Rodriguez, he said: "I don't want to talk about it .
Not because of any legal reason but because the
needs and problems of the people we are talking
about today are so massive compared with my
minor irritations."
GEORGE MICHAEL has donated £500,000 to
refugees in Kosovo.
The star revealed his gift yesterday as he talked
about the cause behind the huge NetAid concert
at Wembley on October 9.
George said the Kosovo appeal was close to his
heart and revealed he had wept over the misery in
the war-torn region. The singer also made an
amazing pledge - that if his comments were given
"compassionate" coverage he would ring
newspapers today and talk about whatever
editors wanted.
George revealed he will perform a surprise song at
NetAid, along with hits Fast Love, Freedom 90 and
Father Figure. He quipped: "All the F's. It's that
f-ing George Michael again."
He will join Robbie Williams, Bryan Adams, The
Corrs and Stereophonics on the Live Aid-style bill.
Other NetAid gigs will take place the same day in
New York and Geneva. Money raised will help
refugees and relieve Third World poverty. George
spoke eloquently and knowledgeably about the
subject, admitting: "I did donate £500,000 to the
Kosovan refugees. It was anonymous. Now I'm
here as a musician to add my support and to talk
about the concert.
"More personally, I'm here as one of the millions of
people who sat crying in front of the TV at the
news bulletins that were coming back from
Kosovo.
"The people of Kosovo, men, women and children,
desperately need our help through the concert
and donations.
"There are hundreds of thousands of people
who've returned to Kosovo. Their homes and
schools have gone, they don't have enough food,
they don't have any work and winter is coming up.
"It's all very well crying but if when you have
wiped away the tears you don't put your hand in
your pocket, that emotion has just been part of
your evening's entertainment.
"You might as well have watched Bianca and Ricky
on EastEnders."
He then joked: "Actually, it was very good this
weekend - fantastic Omnibus Edition."
George insisted he would not talk about the
£7million lawsuit that arrived this week from the
Beverly Hills cop who arrested him for lewd
behaviour,
Referring to the writ from officer Marcello
Rodriguez, he said: "I don't want to talk about it .
Not because of any legal reason but because the
needs and problems of the people we are talking
about today are so massive compared with my
minor irritations."
He then made his amazing offer, saying: "I would
like to make a deal with the tabloid newspapers in
this country. If you give sufficient compassionate
and responsible coverage of today's conference
and you manage to draw attention to the NetAid
concerts next month I will personally speak to the
editor of each of the tabloid newspapers tomorrow
on the phone about anything they want."
George later laughed about his arrest to Radio 1's
Jamie Theakston, saying: "I can officially
announce that the relationship between me and
my left hand is over."
He then made his amazing offer, saying: "I would
like to make a deal with the tabloid newspapers in
this country. If you give sufficient compassionate
and responsible coverage of today's conference
and you manage to draw attention to the NetAid
concerts next month I will personally speak to the
editor of each of the tabloid newspapers tomorrow
on the phone about anything they want."
George later laughed about his arrest to Radio 1's
Jamie Theakston, saying: "I can officially
announce that the relationship between me and
my left hand is over."
source: unknown | news agent Dalboy
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