George Michael has cancelled his Australian tour, saying he has been suffering 'major anxiety' as he continues to recover from a near-fatal bout of pneumonia.
The 49-year-old spent a month in hospital in Vienna, Austria, in November last year.
He seemed to have made a full recovery, having appeared at the Olympic Games closing ceremony where he performed White Light, a song inspired by his illness.
In a statement issued yesterday, Michael said the cancellation of his nine-date Australian tour next month “breaks my heart.” He added: “I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.”
His doctors had “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.”
He said he would complete the remainder of his UK tour this month before seeking further treatment for post-traumatic stress.
