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Thursday, October 05, 2006
25 Things You Didn't Know About 25 Live
1. How many people are on the road?
117 including bus and truck drivers.
2. How long will it take to load in for each show?
12 hrs
3. How many crew will it take to put up the stage?
54
4. How many trucks of production will there be?
17
5. How many trucks of steel (i.e. containing the stage)?
4
6. How many tonnes of steel?
16
7. How many metres of cable?
18,462
8. How many LED¹s are in the lighting rig?
150, 000
9. How many boxes are there in the sound rig?
54
10. How many mics are on stage?
29
11. How many costumes does George take on the road with him?
12
12. Does George have any peculiar requests on his dressing room rider?
Sushi and flowers
13. Are there any particular things that George specifically has to have in his dressing room?
Diet Coke, Sushi, Evian and an exercise ball
14. Is there anything in particular than George does before he goes on stage?
Massage and vocal warm up with girl backing vocalists
15. Does George have any particular things for when he comes off stage?
Runs into a waiting car and flies home.
16. How many shows on the European leg of this tour?
48
17. How many hours will he spend on stage on this tour?
120HRS
18. How many people will he perform to on this tour?
600,000
19. How many shows will George have performed by the time he reaches London?
33
20. How many miles will the tour travel on the European leg of this tour?
10,298
21. How many backing musicians and vocalists are on tour?
15
22. How long were you in rehearsal?
8 weeks
23. How many hours will George sound-check on this tour?
48 hrs
24. How many hours of traveling on this tour?
240 hrs
25. How many towels does your tour use in a gig?
406
'This Is Not Real Love' single in stores November 4
'25' in stores November 11
Posted at 02:35 pm by Knobby
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Wednesday, October 04, 2006
I'm sorry, but this made me laugh
Q: When did George Michael realise he was dyslexic?
A: When he misread the sign "Have a walk in our park"
Posted at 01:08 pm by Knobby
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Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Rise and shine my eternal dayDon't you cry on my grave When they row me to the other side. I'll burn my bridges and leave my home At the end of the winding road When the 7th clown in heaven smiles.CLICK TO HEAR A CLIP.
Posted at 03:30 am by Knobby
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Sony: Behave or Get Dumped
I choose to take THIS ARTICLE with a pinch of salt. Some "highlights": "George Michael has been warned he will be sacked by his record label unless he curbs his wild behaviour. Chiefs at Sony/BMG say he must control his cannabis abuse and stop drawing unwanted attention to his private life as well as seeking help for his apparent addiction to the drug."
OK, so didn't they allegedly say that last time as well? "A well-placed source at his record label Sony/BMG said last night: "George seems to be getting more and more unpredictable."
Well-placed? What is this person, a butt-plug? Did he have a comfy chair? Well-placed? Wink Besides, after having done it three times, isn't that rather predictable now rather than unpredictable? "He is drawing attention to himself by his increasingly erratic behaviour. He is an adult and free to behave how he likes, but he must remember that the more indiscreet he is, the more he will be caught out."
Well, put it this way... you can stick with George - or you can sign Robbie Williams that actually is both an alcoholic, a drug addict and just cancelled half of his tour. Choose. "That is twice now he has been found slumped unconscious behind the wheel. He has also been photographed coming out of the woods with a grey-haired stranger in the middle of the night after some dodgy sexual encounter. None of this looks very good to his fans. He just doesn't appear to care what people think of him - it's exasperating."
1) Unless you wanna get sued, don't mention the Hampstead Heath encounter. 2) Is there come clause in his contract we should know about where it says that he should care what people think? "We're really banking on this comeback being a great success - and to be fair ticket sales have been phenomenal. But I'm not sure how much more of this fans can take. It is now at a point where we are going to have to warn him that he must start carrying on more responsibly or else we will have to seriously consider his future with us."
OK, this is the deal. Asshole. After this greatest hits album, he walks anyway anyway. What are you gonna do, not release the greatest hits album? Ooooh. "A friend added that his penchant for cannabis was linked to the fact that he was now a Buddhist convert and it helped his chanting - plus it makes him more creative. George has become a Buddhist convert and is praying every day. He continues to smoke weed because it helps him with the spiritual chanting apparently. He also says it helps make him more creative and is responsible for some of his best work in recent months," the friend said.
I'm sorry, but that made me laugh hysterically. George a Buddhist? Please. Also funny how these friends never have names. Michael's long-term partner, Kenny Goss, spent two months in rehab after checking himself in for alcohol abuse. He is thought to be encouraging Michael to seek similar help for cannabis addiction.
Yeah. Only Kenny was in rehab for an addiction to sleeping pills. Not alcohol. Speaking of the incident last night, the friend added: "George had got back late from Toulon where he was performing. He was really knackered so I'm surprised he went out."
Michael's spokesman said last night: "George is fine".
Why do I get the feeling that this friend and the spokesman is the same dude? Hmmm.
Posted at 02:01 am by Knobby
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Monday, October 02, 2006
I know I shouldn't go there, but the past few days taken into the consideration, I will anyway. Feel free to call it over-reacting, but here I go anyway. I'm nervous and scared for George's well-being. Even if he's not self-destructive - on purpose - getting in a car after 3am when you're drunk and high to the degree that you can't even stay awake isn't a great thing to do. All I can say is, thank God he didn't make it onto the main road, cause all that would have to happen then is for a lorry driver to not pay attention. Or someone crossing the street in front of him and getting hit. I've spent the weekend sobbing cause of what happened two posts below. I met the guy once, and yet it affected me more than I thought possible - we shared a moment, connected and I found great inspiration in his voice. But I haven't been hardly as involved in his career as I've been in George's - for ten years. So does it affect me when George goes out and gets caught multiple times a year? Yeah it does. And what it probably means is that it happens more frequently, only he doesn't get caught. Is it worrying? Ya think!?What has to happen before a) George realises he has a bit of a problem and b) George's friends and family get the balls to insist he gets help? Is it going to happen before or after he kills someone - or, God forbid, himself? I don't want to have to wake up one morning to the headline "George Michael found dead" unless it has the words "...at the age of 107" coming after it. Will someone just step up already? How much is enough?
Posted at 11:02 am by Knobby
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George has done it a-a-again
Drugs Found On Star Slumped In Car Pop star George Michael has been cautioned by police for carrying cannabis when found passed out in his car. It is the second time in eight months that the 43-year-old music legend has been found slumped over the wheel of his vehicle. Michael was found by officers after worried motorists dialled 999 to report his car was causing an obstruction at traffic lights in Cricklewood, north London. Scotland Yard confirmed that police arrested the driver on suspicion of being unfit to drive and for possession of what was believed to be cannabis. He was taken to hospital before being cautioned for the drug offence and released on police bail pending further inquiries on his fitness to drive. The arrest raises fresh fears over the health of the singer, who has just started a world tour. His partner, Kenny Goss, told The Sun newspaper that Michael had nothing to say. He said: "He's fine and I've got him a McDonalds." Michael was cautioned by police for possession of cannabis after being found in a similar state at Hyde Park Corner in February. At the time he issued a statement claiming it was "my own stupid fault as usual", and later penned a song inspired by the experience. In April the former Wham! star was in the news again when he collided with three parked cars near his north London home. **************
 **************
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "At approximately 3.22am this morning officers were informed of a stationary vehicle with a driver inside causing an obstruction at traffic lights in Cricklewood Lane near its junction with Hendon Way, NW2. "Officers arrested a 43-year-old man on suspicion of being unfit to drive and possession of a controlled substance believed to be cannabis. "The London Ambulance Service attended and the man was taken to a west London hospital as precautionary measure. "He was later taken into custody at a west London police station and received a caution for possession of cannabis and was bailed to return at a date in November pending further inquiries on the allegation of being unfit to drive." A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to Hendon Way near its junction with Cricklewood Lane shortly after 3.30am this morning. "We sent an ambulance and a rapid response car to the scene and one person was taken to hospital." He declined to comment further. Seriously... I really have nothing to say.  Other than, please don't let it affect the tour. lol. That's all I ask/beg.
Posted at 01:13 am by Knobby
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Friday, September 29, 2006
"I want to be remembered as a good singer, and as a charismatic and kind person."
One of the greatest voices in Norwegian music was found dead this afternoon.
 Jan Werner DanielsenHe started out at barely 16 in a talent show, singing "All By Myself". A 16-year-old should not have a voice like this (Click on the links to hear clips of the songs). Back in the late 90s/early 00s Brian May (Queen) heard him live in Sweden and brought him over to London to audition for the musical "We Will Rock You" and a possible future Queen tour. Turned out that when the musical started, he had already committed to a musical show in Norway. And the tour, I guess, went out the window. He's later performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London and Carnegie Hall in New York. I met him in May 2002, when he had just celebrated his 10 years in the business. The concert was amazing. His voice made me sweat. He had a voicespan of at least four octaves, hitting notes that not even female vocalists could dream of. Like on THIS SONG - that's usually performed by a woman. Back in 2003 he put words to the classic Bach piece "Air". He was open, honest, funny, genuine and welcoming. He was as nervous as I was, and we were giggling over a glass of water for about half an hour. Now... I just feel numb. I was set to interview him again after his gig in December. It's such a loss. In a country of 4.5 million people, he sold 1 million records. 29th of September. The day the voice of an angel went silent. He was 30 years old. ***update*** This part in particular of our interview got to me:
(he was generally never that open) Personally I was left with an extremely good impression after a lot of jokes and self-effacing comments on stage. "It's not that I haven't been able to laugh at things before, but I've always been so insecure about myself and just looked down and left. I've always had bad self-esteem, been afraid of making a fool of myself, being disgusting and stupid with long hair etc. I also realised that Michael Bolton was unpopular because of his long hair years ago, but that's the way I like waking up and seeing myself in the mirror every morning. That's the only basis I have to who I've been. I know I'm a good person, but I want to put myself down if someone says they like what I do, but on the other hand I know I can sing. It's taken me a really long time to understand that I'm really worth anything, if you know what I mean?" I understand completely. "Personally when it comes to prejudice and things like that, now I just think 'It's ok that you have a lot of shit to say about me, but right now I'm grown up enough to understand that it's more your problem than mine'. The concert tonight was about telling people that I may look strange, I may behave in a strange manner, but I can get things out and that's the whole point." *** A mutual friend of ours made the following statement:"This is totally unbelievable and incredibly sad. He was... it's surreal to have to say 'was'," says Kaare Conradi, before continuing through tears. "He was a fantastic artist and an incredibly good person. He was generous and warm - both as an artist and a man. He was one of those really major talents in this country. He had a voice like no other, and the ability to use it. I don't even dare thinking about how far he could have reached. There's no limit."
Posted at 10:15 pm by Knobby
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"Hear The Pain" gets a life of its own
A previously unreleased duet between George Michael and SIR Paul McCartney will finally see the light of the day on a forthcoming greatest hits album. Michael's TWENTY FIVE collection is scheduled for release in November (06) and will feature the MCCartney track HEAR THE PAIN. The CARELESS WHISPER singer's greatest hits collection, which comprises hits from his WHAM! and solo career, will also feature a song recorded exclusively for the album called UNDERSTAND. George Michael began his full European tour in Barcelona last Saturday (23SEP06) - his first series of live shows in 15 years.
The song practically exists now! lol. Now all they have to pick up on is "My Brother Had A Brother" - George's split-personality and deeply personal song, and also the video for "Fatter Figure". lol. I mean, fuck-me, how many typos can one person get into one article? Oh, how I love copy and paste journalism. *insert picture of George from
"Who Want To Be A Millionaire"
cupping his ear as Ronan Keating
says "...rings a bell..." to illustrate
HEAR THE PAIN - should
anyone actually HAVE this
picture, I'd greatly appreciate it*
In the meantime, my comment to Contactmusic:
Posted at 06:24 pm by Knobby
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* Kevin Spacey extended an upturned digit to his detractors this
week when his new play at the Old Vic, A Moon for the Misbegotten,
received rapturous reviews.
But the opening night didn't pass entirely without embarrassment.
During Spacey's speech at the after-show party on Wednesday, the
Hollywood star was stood up by the play's director, Howard Davies.
"I'd like to mention to all of you one of the most wonderful,
amazing people around, and that's our director Howard Davies," Spacey
gushed."Come on, Howard, where are you?"
After a brief silence, a nervous member of the crew piped up that
Davies had been too tired to attend and had scarpered off home to bed.
To which Spacey bellowed: "Oh. Well, fuck you, Howard!" Says one guest: "It was very funny. It could have been awkward but Kevin pulled it out of the fire."
Posted at 02:43 pm by Knobby
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Yup - it does snow in hell: "SPACEY REACHES THE MOON"
A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN has opened at The Old Vic to rave
reviews…
‘If you only see one production this
year, make it this one’ Daily Express
‘A major triumph’ The Times
'An evening of raw, powerful emotion' Guardian
‘Eve Best, perhaps the finest actress
of her generation, gives one of the most beautiful accounts of aching,
unconditional love I have ever seen’ Daily Telegraph
‘Kevin Spacey’s superb
performance’ Independent
‘Strong and richly comic support from
Colm Meaney’ Daily Telegraph
‘Superbly directed by Howard
Davies’ Guardian
‘Eugene O’Neill is arguably the
greatest of American playwrights… his play is a work of shattering
genius’ Independent
 Wanna see it yet? 
Posted at 12:40 pm by Knobby
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