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The ups and downs of George Michael
George Michael is considered a musical veteran in today's climate of short-lived manufactured singers and bands.
But the career of the outspoken singer has also been one dogged by ups and downs, with his fair share of controversy, exemplified by his arrest for possession of drugs in London.
He started out in boy band Wham! as the lead singer alongside guitarist Andrew Ridgeley, whom he met at school in north London.
The pair had a massive following, carving out a huge fan young fan base with hits such as Wake me Up Before You Go Go, Freedom and Last Christmas.
The group had four best-selling albums, including a greatest hits release in 1997.
Michael, who was born Georgios Panaytiotou, had his first stab at solo success in 1984 with the ballad Careless Whisper, which went to number one.
He continued performing with Wham! and it wasn't until 1986 that the duo went their separate ways, with Ridgeley devoting his time to rally driving and later becoming an environmental activist.
Michael re-invented his image and released the singles A Different Corner, Faith and I Want Your Sex.
'Professional slavery'
These were taken from his number one album Faith which established him as one of the UK's biggest solo talents.
While he still appealed to young fans he also managed to gain a new older following, ensuring massive record sales.
Faith sold more than 10 million copies and earned Michael a best album Grammy in 1988.
The album Listen Without Prejudice followed in 1990, which spawned the hit single Praying for Time.
But he fell out spectacularly with his record company in 1994 and tried to get himself released from his contract which he had called "professional slavery".
A three-month court case ensued which Michael eventually lost, forcing him to fulfil his contractual commitments and record two more songs - Outside and As - to be used on a greatest hits album.
He eventually settled his differences with the company and parted company with them in 2003.
His legal woes got worse when he was arrested in a public toilet in Los Angeles after attempting to solicit an undercover police officer in 1998.
His conviction for lewd conduct resulted in a $450 fine and 80 hours community service.
It also forced Michael to admit he was gay, something he had refused to be drawn on in the past.
'US backlash'
Once he put his sexuality in the public domain he became vocal about gay issues, speaking publicly about the death of his partner Aselmo to Aids in the early 1990s.
He struggled to achieve the heights of his early chart success but he was more content in his personal life, often speaking glowingly about long-term partner Kenny Goss.
In 2002, Michael found himself again in the firing line when he released the single Shoot the Dog, which featured a cartoon video of Prime Minister Tony Blair as US President George Bush's poodle.
There was a particular backlash against it in US because it was seen as anti-American, with Michael fearing he would be unable to the return to the US.
Despite the huge publicity the single reached only number 12 in the UK charts.
More recently Michael has said he was thinking about retiring from the music business but has since backtracked.
He released a documentary about his life in cinemas in 2005 and did a rare live public performance at Live8, joining Sir Paul McCartney on stage.
The singer now faces returning to a police station to answer bail following his drugs arrest in London on 26 February as well as more questions being raised about his personal life.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/4754494.stm
leflaw
imemine
Poor George.
anal-log-hole
independentm...
