George Michael ready to call it quits?
At the height of his comeback, George Michael now says he's ready for retirement.
According to the always reliable Indo-Asian News Service, Michael says his upcoming U.S. tour will be his last, so he's urging fans to make the most of it.
"I want to divorce myself from pretty much everything public after the tour," Michael said. "In the future, I don't want to be making and releasing physical CDs, and I don't want to be charging people for my new music."
It's odd timing -- George is hot right now. He just announced he'll tour the U.S. for the first time in 17 years, starting this June. And his frequent acting and singing appearances on TV's "Eli Stone" has expanded his fan base further.
In addition, his latest album -- "Twenty-five" -- hits stores today. And he only recently announced a multi-million deal to write and publish his autobiography.
Stay tuned and we'll see if anything else shakes out of this puzzle.


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I hear it's his last American tour because our part time love just brings him down.
Posted by: Walter Cox | April 01, 2008 at 07:09 AM
Well, it's highly unlikely that I'll catch him on this US tour.
Maybe he's just grown so accustom to having negative press that all this positivity has him confused.
Posted by: Marissa | April 01, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Walter, maybe he just wants us to ask him to stay -- to say please please please don't go away.
Posted by: jane | April 01, 2008 at 08:28 AM
Just sounds like he had a hard day. I'm sure if we have patience and faith, he'll give it one more try.
Posted by: Tonianne | April 01, 2008 at 08:44 AM
PS: I have always found the Indo-Asian News Service to be the epitome of reliability. Right up there with Reuters.
Posted by: jane | April 01, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Just realised what the initials of the Indo-Asian News Service are - IANS. Must be truthful and reliable. Just like me.
Can't wait for his Autobiography. I do all my best reading in the bathroom. Do you think it would be appropriate to read his story whilst sitting on the toilet?
Still think his best song by far was Kissing a Fool.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | April 01, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Just going off GM's quote above "I don't want to be making and releasing physical CDs" - Thank heavens for that. Leave that song to Olivia Newton-John. I reckon he would look terrible in Pink Lycra Tights and ankle warmers. And the head band wouldn't go with his 3 day growth.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | April 01, 2008 at 09:19 AM
hahaha Ian, you so funny!
Posted by: Marissa | April 01, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Nah just over tired. Must go to bed now. It is 25 after midnight. Have a great day all.
Posted by: Ian from Down Under | April 01, 2008 at 09:25 AM
April fool?
Posted by: Bassnote | April 01, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Bassnote, you're right. It is April 1st. I hate this day. I'm prone to come out swinging if someone pranks me. Seriously.
Posted by: Marissa | April 01, 2008 at 10:10 AM
As far as I can tell, this is no prank item. It's not completely far-fetched to begin with. While it's definitely odd timing to retire just as your career is reaching its old heights again, George has always been an unusual creature when it comes to managing his career.
Posted by: Spears | April 01, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Here's the GM song that I always run to when I'm feeling melancholy:
http://profile.imeem.com/tS6HXP/music/BrQt8dQB/george_michael_waiting_for_that_dayyou_cant_always_get_wha/
Posted by: Marissa | April 01, 2008 at 10:17 AM
This story with the same quotes is being reported inthis week's Entertainment Weekly.
Not to be overly cynical, but you can't ca$h in on coming back if you don't go away from time to time. (ie: Cher)
Posted by: Clark | April 01, 2008 at 11:59 AM
If he does quit, I'm never gonna dance again.
Posted by: Walter Cox | April 01, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Steve, props to you for resisting the temptation to include "go-go" in the title of your post.
Posted by: Big Tex | April 01, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Hey, it's hard to hang out in restrooms and stay slumped over your steering wheel when you are schlepping the globe on a world tour.
Posted by: Debra | April 01, 2008 at 01:08 PM
There's things that you do and things that you don't...
Posted by: GlennS. | April 01, 2008 at 02:40 PM