George Michael Quits Music

Music Forum

George Michael quits 'dead' pop music

George Michael sensationally quit pop music yesterday (16.02.05) claiming the industry is "dead".

The handsome singer says he isn't interested in making records anymore and is turning his back on his career to write songs for other artists. He said: "I think my own genre is dead. I don't really think that there is anyone in the modern pop business who I feel I want to spar with. I just thought it was very important to explain myself before I disappear. I truly believe that there's a life for me that is not this one. Perhaps it will mean writing for other people."

George made the astonishing statement at the Berlin Film Festival at the premiere of a new documentary about his life - in which he talks openly about his meteoric rise to fame with Wham in the 80s through to his infamous arrest for lewd conduct in a Los Angeles public toilet in 1998 which outed him as gay.

The 41-year-old star revealed he is interested in writing a musical now he has called time on his career as a recording artist. He added: "I have an ambition to write a truly contemporary musical, not necessarily even for the stage, but for the screen. I have got to find ways to make music and enjoy it the way I used to."

Only last year, the 'Fast Love' singer told fans his last album 'Patience' would be his final release and promised that all his future recordings would be available to download for free from the internet.

- Female First

I don't really see the difference.

His genre is dead and there's no one he wants to work with, but he's considering writing for other people? Does that mean he is going to write songs in another genre? Who's he going to write for?

I have no idea what it means... seems like he wants to do something that he likes, but hasn't worked out what that is yet

I don't mind his stuff for the most part, but I can't say I'm crying because he retired. I mean he brought out, like, what? 4 albums in about 15 years?


PS. was that bathroom thing in '98? Wow... seems further back...

man, that's like pee-wee herman (hey, that ties into the bathroom thing. except it was a movie theater) saying "look, people. i just want you to know i won't be doing pee-wee's playhouse anymore. i just didn't want you all to be sittin' around at home wonderin' when the new season is going to start." i mean who really cares? now, i'm not saying i don't like his stuff. uh, perhaps "his music" is a better phrase. but really the only album of his i ever liked was "listen without prejudice, vol. 1" (still waiting for vol. 2, but i guess that's out of the question now). but that was back in 89 i think. the only thing after that i remember was that duet he did with elton john on "don't let the sun go down on me" (talk about innuendo) but i can't say that i noticed he was gone or that i'm going to miss him now that he's, uh, gone. :/