Shoot The Dog

Shoot The Dog

Capital FM Radio Interview July 02:

Thanks, Sasha !!!

Foxy and George Michael- - -

DJ You never thought that you would end up in this position.

GM Well, you know. Hello, by the way.

DJ Hello, and good morning to you.

GM I sound normal in here. (____?____) I don’t know how much more controversial I’ve become. I think life around me and the media has become a lot more reactionary, when it comes to anything that’s controversial. When you think about it, the first thing that I ever released is about the idea of taking on the dole and ripping off the government. So, you know, I think that things have changed, not necessarily for the best of it, it makes being outspoken about anything sound a bit louder than it would have done about 20 years ago when I first started.

DJ I never imagined you, or think of you as someone who was trying to be controversial. Obviously it follows you around, and that’s the way that you lead your life, or because of the status you have.

GM I think there’s a combination of things. I think there’s one, absolutely for some reason, it does seem to give some edge to things. The fact that people know that I am gay now. But, other than that, I’d love people to understand. I’m not trying to be contentious, I’m just trying to write about different things. You know, internet porn, and late night sex on TV was what I wrote Freeek about. And, because I started writing in the third person, about subjects that are not about me, people, well I think people had a hard time adjusting to it. People thought that Freeek was some kind of representation of me as a sexual entity, which would have been a pretty scary thing. But, it really wasn’t. Unfortunately, because I’ve written so many things in the first person, and about my own experiences, when I try and branch out a little bit. I think sometimes it’s hard to make people understand.

DJ Sure. Let’s get this song on, okay. I find it a very entertaining pop song, and I find the video thoroughly entertaining.

GM Well, it’s funny, isn’t it?

DJ Yeah, it is. I think the way you poke fun of yourself, at all your little sort of you’s through the years, and I think it’s very good indeed. I think people have sort of lost all of that. They are oblivious to that.

GM They don't care. They've just read the press.

DJ People have never even seen the video, they've just seen the clips that they show on the telly.

GM I think they should see it and have a laugh.

SHOOT THE DOG

DJ I like that one part where you have, that sample in the video, (____?____) with the long hair, with the queen. I like that.

GM A couple of people on the fan site asked if that would be my new look. Obviously they don’t know anything about (____?_____) He was probably long before they were born.

DJ But it’s a good pop song.

GM But it came into so much stick, so early on. I think before people ever even heard it. And I've got to say that it came into so much stick from the Sun.

DJ What had you done? Because you really pissed them off for something....

GM Well, obviously, the point where, the Sun is obviously this huge competition to the Daily Mirror. The Daily Mirror happened to be one of the two papers that, I mean, to be honest, I see the Mirror as the lesser of two evils, bet there’s no question that there was some writings, (sounds like Pierce Moore but my instinct tells me he said "John Pilger") was writing some ambiguous stuff about the world post on Sept. 11, and I agreed with him. And it was really interesting to me that a major newspaper could be writing something moving against the tides as it were, so strongly and really that the world of television and radio wasn’t picking up on it. And the guys at 2DTV, the people I made the video with, were saying the same thing basically. So I thought it would be a really good idea to push something that I’d already written about and something that was now being talked about. IE: the relationship between Bush and Blair, and the possible bombing of Iraq. I just thought it would be a great thing to, other people were saying the same thing as me, and I just thought, you know, maybe this is the time.

DJ This record, you had nearly finished it before Sept. 11, didn’t you?

GM Well, on Sept. 11, horrible, it seems like the most scary time, it actually stopped me in my tracks, and I couldn’t finish the record at the time because Sept 11 was just as horrific to me as to everyone else. It threw me off, I stopped working for about 6 weeks, I didn’t know what to do. I felt like my creative life, the life and the horror that everyone was watching at the same time, were kind of intermingled. I was freaked out by the fact that I had been writing about the possibility of something like this and then it happened. So I really didn’t know how to finish it, I didn’t know how to release it and to be respectful of what had gone on, and I couldn't really. So I just sat on it for a little while. And then this year, when people started talking about possible bombing of Iraq, and there were very, very strong arguments against bombing Iraq, I started to think, okay, we should tighten this up and make it more relevant to what’s going on now, and put it out, which is what happened.

DJ Do you find it quite worrying, I don’t know why I have the weak angle because you come out with a record like this, and people think that clearly notes you are a terrorist sympathizer. And I’m thinking, my god, that is an obscene thing to say about someone. It must be hurtful and irritating.

GM Yeah. Well, I don’t think it was really people, it was the Murdoch organization. I had spoken to the Mirror, I had helped the Mirror at a point where the Mirror, where Murdoch is selling his papers so cheaply that he’s losing money week after week by selling the Sun at incredibly low prices. They are really trying to win this war with the Mirror which has been going on for years and years and for some reason it is much more ferocious right now. I knew that I was walking into the middle of that, and I knew that there would be a price to pay for that. But I didn’t know that it would be quite so heavy, I mean, the truth is the NY Post printed a story the same morning that I had released a statement. Actually, I tried to prevent what could possibly be anyone’s interpretation of the video, and I put it out a statement that everybody pretty much ignored because that afternoon there had been a NY Post article that had basically said that I was anti-American. And I had to release a statement saying please don't take this as anti-American. It is anti-Bush, but that surely is the same position as just about every democrat in America. And to try and let people know that I was criticising Tony Blair principally. Anyway, that all went out the window, I talked to the Sun, the NY Post, which is another Murdoch newspaper and whose editor used to be the editor of our Sun newspaper, put out this incredibly horrific piece of journalism, which totally mislead people. And also, inferred that I was in some way sympathetic to Al Qiada which is absolutely ludicrous. It means, in reality, that I can’t go back to my house in America.

DJ Was this the article that called you the washed up pop perv?

GM Washed up pervert, George Michael. I thought, hmm, that was a nice way to open. I wasn’t worried by that stuff so much, that’s just homophobia, and of course, if I wanted to do something about it, I could. But I’m not so worried about that. I just, I think it’s really, really sad that the British press, in particular, and I’m ultimately a British artist trying to do something to help what I see as a dangerous situation in our country. And the fact that the British press chose to carry on, I mean, the British press don’t like me, because I haven’t interacted with them for the best part of 14-15 years. I decided many years ago, that what I really needed was my records on the radio, so that people could hear them and they’d go out and buy them. I make a video, I make a record and I stick it out there. I’ve been doing it for years, haven’t been promoting on television, haven’t been talking to the newspapers, and I think a lot of the media loves every opportunity they have to kind of slap me down. Or, to say that he’s over. The number of times that people have said that my career is nearly over and try to base it around something. and I really thought that in this particular instance they might see that the issue as being more important than slagging off George Michael.

Next: George talks about the after effect of his interview with Trevor McDonald.

CAPFM part 2

GM continues: So what really happened was, I kept making statements which people kept ignoring, and they would keep thinking up little pieces of Murdoch, anti-George Michael stuff, and that’s what’s been printed around the world. Shockingly enough, when I actually did speak, and I spoke with Trevor McDonald last week, apparently, well, the producers called me yesterday. And said that their figures had doubled, their normal figures doubled, so people were interested in seeing it. What’s really shocking is that after I actually spoke, there was this deathly silence! There hasn’t been one article in the papers in the last four days. It was two weeks of slagging me off, and picking out pieces of Murdoch’s stuff and spreading it around like bad gossip in the playground. And I actually spoke and everybody just shut up! In one respect I should be pleased, because it means that they didn’t know how to slag me after that.

DJ Because they had listened to what you had to say.

GM Exactly. I think what they knew from seeing me on Trevor McDonald, was that I was genuinely concerned about the issue. I wasn’t just trying to get a hit record. Hit records are fairly, the honest truth is, this is a hit record. I could have put it out with a video of me just singing up there with a camera, you know, nice special effects, George looks nice kind of thing. And no one would have noticed! For weeks! what I was singing about. Because it’s not written in that directive a fashion, but because I chose to make the issue, I tried, actually, the idea of the video was to make sure that people didn’t take offence. When they saw humour, and the humour would actually help them to understand what I was trying to say in a gentle way. What happened was I put out the video thinking oh, humour, we get the humour there and people will understand. When in fact, it totally destroyed peoples confidence in the record, because everyone was like, oh, this might be too controversial.

DJ So they actually forgot to listen to the record.

GM Absolutely. And the record, at the end of the day, is a pop record. Making a point, and making, even within the record, it’s a humorous record. I’m not trying to sit there really having a go at people in a personal manner, I’m trying to do it with satire. But I think that ultimately, people will decide for themselves, as usual, whether they like the record on the radio, and I honestly believe that tried to make a record that people would really enjoy, that my normal audience would enjoy. Because what's the...
<DSL STILL can lose the connection.....D*** rebuffering!!!>

GM ....point in making, in trying to bring an issue into the mainstream that you feel is not being brought into the mainstream, that you think is important, and then doing it with a left of field record. Like Freeek, for instance. (cute giggles)
(Foxy compared this record to another record, and I’m not sure just what one it was, "Bushwire" possibly? so now to continue........)

GM It was left of field for them!

DJ Very left of field.

GM Very left, and I loved it. But I understood that it was a risk. As far as the records concerned, when you’re trying to say something that you want as many people to hear as possible, in terms of the issue, you try and make a record that they’re gonna love. And that’s what I spent months trying to do. So to have people, basically, brave enough to do it, and then people say they’re not sure that they can even play it, even though it’s a hit, because we’re afraid of the controversy. These day’s controversy is worrying to advertisers, therefore worrying to all the publications, radio stations. It’s not a good thing anymore, controversy. People who think that I made this to get myself a little bit of publicity should think again, because this kind of publicity does not do an artist good in this day and age.

Next comes breakfast for George...bacon, roll, packet of fags, tea.....you know, all the usual stuff.......

part 3

TR = Traffic reporter

DJ We have a lot to talk about. It’s the breakfast hour, get the traffic people off to work, so let’s get on with it.

TR Good morning, George. It's very interesting. It’s such a wide issue, what you are, what you have been writing about. The video. And they do affect a lot of people.

GM Absolutely. But the thing is the album is about lots, I have some great ideas for lyrics, and some of the songs that are already completed, there mostly about things that, there not normally about me. Because I’m very happy right now. I don’t want to just sit and sing love songs to Kenny.

DJ (Turns programme over to Traffic...)

TR Ah, George. Hello. I think the video’s absolutely wonderful by the way. I think it's fantasic.

(traffic report)

DJ (talks about getting a roll to eat) I’ll get one for George, so while he’s on a bit of a roll this morning, let’s have a bit of a chat.

GM I’d love a roll. I’d love a roll. I’ve had no breakfast.

DJ Would you like a bacon sandwich (for the Americans) or something?

GM I’d love a bacon sandwich.

DJ The smell of a bacon sandwich, even if you’re a vegetarian, is apparently the one thing they can’t stomach.

GM Well, I gave up meat for about 12 or 13 years and about 2 years ago I did that Atkins diet thing and you just can’t exist without meat., you need it. And, I so missed bacon, so ultimately, I don’t know. I don’t have any pounds in the back of me. Ultimately, once you start eating bacon again, you can’t give it up. It’s just all, it’s the best.

DJ Now, I, in terms of the controversy that’s going on, if you only read the press, or listened to the radio, watched TV, you would definitely think that you are almost the universally, not hated man, but everyone’s really ganging up on you. Now, the amount of emails that we’ve got, obviously from around the world, that want to be on the show today, not one has said anything negative. And I mean, everyone is quite free to, good or bad, if they got something to say, we’ve said let us know. No one has said anything negative about you. Most people have said I think the video’s very funny. I mean, Brits, we’ve got great sense of humours.

GM (After lots of chewing between uh huh’s and hmm’s during DJ speech) Absolutely.

DJ And American’s have got great sense of humours. I think most people see it as, I think, 2DTV it’s a very funny TV show, and it makes for a very clever video. Now, in your reactions with the public, like people coming up to you, have they been slagging you off?

GM Oh, no. People have been amazing. That’s what’s so shocking about the whole situation, is that I know I’m speaking for a lot of people. A lot of people are very worried about the possibility of us getting into another ruck with the middle east, of getting involved in that. And they want to know, they really want to be absolutely sure that it’s really necessary. And people are worried cause they all have families, that know that we've all got our human everyone’s concern. There’s no question that the reaction that I’ve got, day after day, you know, person after person coming up to me and saying good for you and I feel that way, and blah, blah, blah. And you would never know it, really, in the media. It’s just so shocking to me that the media doesn’t want to help that situation. And I know a lot of the media agrees with me! There’s no question. They’re not all right wing. And they’re not all Bush supporters. They’re just all anti-George Michael.

DJ No one can not have been scared after Sept. 11, you know, about the whole world situation. Everyone’s got concerns. Absolutely, I’ll be truthful, I and my wife, we stood there in our kitchen holding our baby when they were doing the tribute song about a week after. And we were thinking, my god, what kind of world is she growing up in?

GM Yes. And I saw, they showed pictures on the Trevor McDonald thing, they showed some pictures of Sept. 11, and it still terrifies you to watch it. It’s still terrifying, and incredibly depressing to see those shots. And I know, absolutely, that, actually not just the British public, but the American public, in their efforts to, in the medias efforts to say that I’ve really screwed up and the American’s hate George Michael as much as we English journalist do, they’re really doing a disservice to Americans. Because American’s are not that reactionary about it. There has been lots of support in America for what I’ve said. But it seems to be more important to have a go at me than to represent either the English or the American’s properly.

Next: George and Foxy talk about some interesting......"On this day in history".....July 16.......

CAPFM part 4

DJ Do you think people don’t want to listen to you because you’re a pop star?

GM I think that’s.....

DJ Can I ask you an honest question? How much because you’re a gay pop star?

GM I think, there’s no question, listen, I’m not going to blame the whole thing on homophobia, I would say that homophobia seems to be, because you can still get away with saying things about gay people on the radio and on the television that you can’t, for instance, say about black people. There are stereotypes that you have to avoid. There are just certain comments that just cannot be made, because they’re offensive to black people. But this doesn’t apply to gay people yet. I hope one day it will because I don’t think it’s the adults that matter, I think it’s the kids that matter. And if you’re a 12 year old kid, I mean, I didn’t have this going on because I didn’t know my sexuality when I was a young boy. But if I was 12 or 13 years old and saw someone being attacked, someone who is generally seen within the public as quite a popular figure, saw that they were being constantly attacked for their sexuality, then I think that it would really, really unnerve me as a child. I would find it, I would think that that’s what I had to look forward to. You know, I think that’s really not fair. Much as you and I can sit and have a laugh about, there are those funny aspects to the differences between gay people and straight people. And I can sit and laugh about those as an adult because I’ve got a sense of humour and I’m a very lucky man. It doesn’t really affect my life. But there are a lot of kids that must just sit there thinking, jesus, this is still what it means to be a gay person? This is what I’m grow up and have to accept. And I don’t think that’s fair. But really I don’t think, I think it’s just something that’s convenient to attach to my name in order to turn people who are right wing or homophobic against me. There’s a certain group of the public that you will inevitably succeed in turning them against an artist because they’re gay. It’s a small percentage, but that’s what they play on. I don’t really think it’s that important an element, but as I said, a very convenient thing to attack me with.

DJ (invites callers) Questions, and if you want to call us up, George happy to take your calls.

GM Yeah. Let’s lighten it up.

DJ We’ve been getting so many emails, so many questions about one thing, and you can probably answer this in 10 seconds. Will you be touring this year? Any kind of live gig at all?

GM (long pause) Uhhhhh, actually, there’s something that I’m going to be doing that I can’t talk about yet because it’s not a big public thing. But there is something that I’m going to be doing a bit later in the year live, but I can’t talk about it right now. Next year, on the back of the album, I very much hope so, yeah.

DJ Fantastic, alright. Because there are so many, at least 90% are saying, when's George going to be playing live?

GM Well, I’ve got some fantastic ideas and if I can get it together, it’ll be the best show I’ve ever done.

(It’s only natural.....George is talking about something REALLY, REALLY important.....so it’s time to take a commercial break...)

FASTLOVE (!!)

DJ Fastlove, with our guest George this morning, having a bit of a roll this morning. We were just chatting during that about strange coincidences, July 16 in history. 622 marks the traditional beginnings of the Islamic Era. 1945 the first atomic bomb exploded in New Mexico. Which is what's in your video and Britain is obviously the target. 1979 Suddam Hussein became Iraq’s president. Last year, a year ago, Rupert Murdoch topped the list of the most powerful figures in the UK media industry. And, this year, George Michael.

GM Well, I think it’s, something that I said in the Mirror, that nobody really picked up but, of course, it might have been disregarded as positive in my point of view, was that we do have massive, massive Islamic population in this country. And people really need to remember that fundamentalism, it’s always extremist view of that a particular religion. And, I grew up around a lot of Asian people. And you know that they were peace loving people. Islam is not a, it’s quite a gentle religion in some ways and I just think that, I don’t hear anybody really trying to stick up for these other communities in our country and try and pacify them. But we’re not, we’re not anti-Islam. We understand that fundamentalism is fundamentalism, and it always is extreme. And actually, the religious right can be just as scary as fundamentalist Islamic person, you know.

DJ They got some terrifying emails on Sept. 11, people could be so, so delinquent in their views. But that’s because people were scared, you know.

GM Of course, of course.

DJ I mean, a week afterwards, I mean, what had happened around the world, and some of the reprisals, it was terrifying. And how ignorant people are in general.

GM And people have calmed down now. People are seeing the issues a bit more clearly. None of us want this to happen. There’s no question that this, that British people, and people who have lived in Britain for a long time, want peace, you know.

DJ What do you think of Mr. Blair?

GM I think he’s, well, I actually think he’s well intentioned. And basically a good person, which I think is something to be very proud of in any political system that there’s a person that is actually controlling things is actually a decent person. I think he’s a decent man. I think he’s very misguided in these decisions that he’s making, and that’s what I’m talking about. But I still basically believe in him as a decent man. But unfortunately, I believe that a well intentioned megalomaniac can be every bit as dangerous as one with, like Saddam Hussein. Not in the same way, but sometimes, if they’re misguided, the results can be the same.

DJ Do you think that Bush is trying to finish what Dad didn’t finish, then?

GM It’s a worry, isn’t it? You can’t, I can’t pretend to know that. It’s a real worry, do you really, really trust the situation where, in the back of his mind, there’s the possibility that he’s dreaming about doing it for Dad. Because it’s a good question. The whole world thinks that his Dad should have gone in and finished the job off. When Saddam attacked Kuwait in the early 90’s, everyone was kind of hoping that the job would get done. And I think, actually, that they left him there, because they were afraid of who would replace him. Now, who could possibly have been worse than this man, I have no idea. But, there’s definitely a feeling that the Bush administration, last time around, Daddy did not finish the job. So that worries me, it worries me greatly.

Next: George takes a phone call and give us all a lesson in......um, Greek pronunciations......

CAPFM part 5

DJ Well, you said let’s lighten things up a bit. And Michelle, we’ve got Michelle here, she’s been holding on for the last 15 minutes. Good morning, Michelle.

M Good morning, Foxy, good morning, George.

GM Hi, Michelle, how you doing?

M Well, not to bad.

GM Nice to hear you.

DJ What’s your question, Michelle?

M The question is, the point that I’d like to make is, through the years, as someone who's actually followed George through his career, I’ve followed George through Wham, going to solo, and through it all

GM That’s a lot of years, lot of years, Michelle.

M That it is, George. The point that I would just like to make is that all of your records, and all of your tracks, and all of your work, have all actually had a point to it. Some years ago when you made I Want Your Sex, there was a big aw about that.

GM Uh hmm. (Stop it, George! THAT is MY favourite song....so just STOP it!)

M I don’t actually see what any form of the media has got a problem with you, because all your songs have a point.

GM Well, I don't (he doesn't stand a chance. He doesn't agree, but he doesn't stand a chance)

M So if you come to a point and something happened and you didn't make a track or you didn't make something out of it, I think, well, you wouldn’t be you.

GM Oh, thank you.

M I really don’t think that would be you, because that is your style.

GM I think it’s quite strange that a lot of people have said, where does this man suddenly get his politics from. A lot of people, a lot of journalists especially I suppose, political journalists and people who would consider themselves, you know, broad to the right or the left and are very, very superior in their knowledge to anyone who’s as lowly as a pop star. Even at 39, apparently. You know, if you listen to it, if you read some of the stuff, you’d think the only thing I’d ever achieved musically was Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. You know, really, I think I’ve written a few things since then that should have changed peoples opinion of my intellect. And, ultimately I’ve done a lot of things in the last 20 years, I’ve tried really hard to keep my integrity up. When people see me performing, almost every time through the 90’s, when people saw me performing, it was FOR something. Or it was to try and bring attention to something, whether it was Kosovo, AIDS, various things. I’m not trying to blow my own trumpet, I’m saying that there’s no reason for the amount of cynicism that I have received. And I actually think that what's going on is we are living in a time where, because of massive ratings wars, whether it be, all areas of the media are frantically trying to get their corner of the market. It has become so much more fragmented. I think that in order to try to hit those ratings time after time, people have to compromise. And the people that are employed in publications have to be the kind of people who will compromise. And I think that when they see somebody stand up and say, actually, I think this is something important, and actually try to do something outside of making a bit of money, I think it really, really unnerves them. So what they do, is they try to undermine that person by saying that they’re really just doing if for their own purposes or whatever. I mean, it’s a very sad state of affairs, but I really don’t think the public is as cynical as the media these days. I mean, the amount of cynicism that I have dealt with the last two weeks has really depressed me, but I know that people out there don’t feel that way.

DJ Can I ask you a question, Michelle? What do you feel about Shoot the Dog?

M I think it’s funny. I just wouldn’t expect anything less from Mr. Michaels.

GM Thank you, thank you. Well, like I said, I tried to make something that I felt was important. I wanted people to hear this, so I tried to do something that I thought that people would really enjoy.

DJ We’ll talk more. If you want to email, that’s [email protected], George will be here for the foreseeable future.

(Musical/advert break)

DJ Foxy here at breakfast, where George, you’re in the middle of...bacon...
GM (still chewing, trying to swallow) I mean, here I'm in the middle of my sandwich, I’m starving! I can’t believe you’d put me back on the air...

(SO sorry.....even DSL!! D***!!!)

DJ I’ll take ads and then we’ll come back. We’ll let you finish your sandwich.

GM Well, I’m not a very fast eater.

DJ The smell of it is good as ever. I have to be honest with you.

GM (that amazing, sexy laugh......)

(music break)

SASHA FOUND IT!!! IT ISN’T LOST AFTER ALL!!
TR IS BACK!!!! WITH HIS GREEK HI!
NOTE: Sasha knows a little teeny bit of Greek, pronunciation, that is. I do not know how to write Greek.......NOR how to transcribe it. I have done my best......but the real humour here is George.....I hope I do him justice on this........

TR (missing some) They said, why do you want to know that? I said, hey look, I’ve got George Michael coming in, and he’s going to say, (___?___) So, I was going to start with goodymya..

DJ Good morning.

TR Then degonis

DJ How are you.

GM Say the first one again!

TR Godie mya.

GM No, no, no, no, no.

TR Well, then do it for me.

GM It’s galdi-meyr-ra.

TR Well, you’re wrong. I wrote it down! It’s godie.....

GM But it’s galdi-meyr-ra....

TR Galdi-meyr-ra......

GM Galdi-meyr-ra.....

TR Good morning. Then de-gonis.

GM How are you.....

TR Is that alright.....

GM Yeah......

TR Then is-a-gala, are you okay, is that fair enough?

GM (sexy giggles)

TR Is it even close?

GM It’s not even close! Actually. I don’t...

TR Someone told me, they told me this was......and he’s Greek!

GM I can tell you all the swear words....

TR I’ll tell you, they are both dead! (___?___) I even wrote down welcome to Capital radio, but the other ones were so bad, I don’t dare try.

DJ I bet it’s even funnier, that one. Go on.

TR Galla sordee faydee to Capital radio.

GM How?! When was the last time that anyone made Greek sound like Japanese?! (thunderous laughter) Awful! That is absolutely hopeless.

TR Tony, you’re going to get such a smacking when I pop around the show next week!

DJ Don’t blame him for your bad pronunciations!

TR (___?___) (Had his car washed at a Greek wash Michaels) (Apparently, this is where TR learned some of his impeccable pronunciations)

GM And by the way, his name is Mikaleedee, it’s not Michael.

TR ....he’s done very well for your car...(not sure....telling him to go wash up his car??)

(laughter break)

GM That’s like, I remember when, well, believe me, there are a few Mikaleedees around.

(laugher break for recovering DJ’s and their guests)

DJ Great fun today.

TR Well, I wrote it all down. I thought I’d give it a shot!

GM Maybe I should go and have my car washed there.

TR Go do it, they take care of everything there. They’re marvellous. They’re all Greeks, the whole thing.

GM Whereabouts is it? Not another one of these (___?___)

TR (Sorry, no free ads in this forum) Road in North Finchley.

GM North Finchley, huh? That’s not too far.

DJ You know North Finchley, don’t you?

TR Tally ho. (___?___)

Next Foxy talks about some of those females......ooops, I mean EMAILS!

CAPFM part 6

(TR doesn’t seem too keen on getting that traffic report out to the London motorists. The lessons in Greek are over, but he’s still got some things he would like to clear up with George......yeah, wouldn’t we all)

TR Can I ask you one quick question that I heard about you? Is this true?

GM Listen, listen, everything you’ve heard about me is true.

TR Do you have your internet tuned to Capital? I’ve heard that you have your radio tuned, in America, Los Angeles, that you actually have it tuned into Capital FM?

GM You mean, when I get back into LA, when I’m in LA? To be honest with you, that’s one of the things that people don’t really realize. But, I’m only in LA for about 3 or 4 weeks out of the year, maximum.

TR So you’re not really living over there?

GM I think people think I live in LA because I’m not on the television every 5 minutes. But it just means that I want to sit at home instead of being on the television. But, I’m very rarely there. I’m here at least 10 months out of the year. But, when I’m over there, I do tune into Capital. It’s not great reception, but you can hear absolutely what’s going on. So, I do do that, yeah.

DJ How about that.

GM Well, but I never listen to the traffic reports, strangely enough, when I’m in LA. You do me no good in LA.

TR I guess when you’re sitting there on Mulholland Drive, you don’t want to know what’s going on in Hertfordshire.

(TR finally gets onto the traffic report)

Music break - Madonna’s DRESS YOU UP (luv it!)

DJ George Michael is our guest this morning. These are random emails that we’re taking off the (___?___) This is Paul from south Florida USA for Mr. George Michael, don’t let anyone get you down. Voice your opinion. It makes people more proud of you than we already are. Keep that head held high, don’t forget, I want a smile on that face next time. Comments for George Michael, this one is in from Renee in Florida. Question for George Michael, ah, here we are, this one comes from Happy, are you surprised that no one in the public eye has spoken in support of these issues? That you have been trying to raise the medias attention and interest and you are alone in your concerns, which I know not to be true. What are they afraid of?

GM Well, I think, that’s quite, a very interesting point, actually. And it has occurred to me over the last week or so, that I’ve had absolutely no support, publicly, from any other artist. And I think it’s because everyone is starting to realize how difficult it is to speak out. And how easy it is to upset people these days. And it’s a really, really sad state of affairs, I mean this is supposed to be rock n roll, and the old rock n roll seems to have disappeared. There’s one particular artist, who is, that to me is in the reverse, I’m not going to say, but she’s in the reverse situation. In that I’m a Brit artist who is living my life with an American, and she’s in the reverse position. And I find her silence in this, a little bit, well, maybe predictable. But, I think......

FOXY turns up the music – Dress You Up --

DJ This doesn’t have anything to do with the record I’m playing, does it?

GM I’m not! Well, actually, it never occurred to me. It hadn’t occurred to me! (Yes, as a matter of fact, George IS being a bit sarcastic. Imagine that.)

DJ (laughter)

GM There you go. But, I think it’s interesting, because she has a point of view, but she’s cleverer than me. She’s gonna keep her mouth shut.

DJ Another one, I’ve got a question for George Michael. I live in Florida, and I watched the video to Shoot the Dog on MTV Europe’s website and I thought it was funny as hell. I heard that you were scared to go to your house here in the states for fear someone was going to kill you. True or not?

GM Well, I don’t think I’d put it that far, I think, to be completely honest, the truth is that I am absolutely aware that most Americans support free speech. And that’s why most American reaction has been good. The unfortunate part about America is that, it only takes one loony, and there are quite a few per square mile, and unfortunately, because they have absolutely useless gun control laws, it’s a lot more frightening a prospect to walk into a situation of hostility in America than it would be in most countries in the world. Until I’m convinced that someone has presented my argument properly over there, I don’t really see why I wouldn’t be scared right now.

DJ So, you’d only go back there, you won’t be going back there?

GM I won’t be going back there in the foreseeable future, which is really sad, because, it’s where Kenny comes from, I love Kenny’s family, I love my house in LA even though I’m only there once in a while. And it’s just the fact that Mr. Murdoch has made that impossible is very irritating to me.

DJ So, George, are you going to stick around for more of your calls? You gonna hang...

GM Yeah, absolutely. I’ve only got half way through this sandwich. I got a packet of fags, a cup of tea....

DJ And look at that...

GM Oh, I’m amazed! I’m amazed that this isn’t a non-smoking studio, actually.

DJ Well, I think it is......

(roars of laughter)

DJ We had Chris Tennent on here earlier in the week, and he was. But, so I don’t think, the rules don’t really apply, don’t worry about a thing.....(more studio laughter)

(advert break)

DJ With George Michael this morning, (cue Outside) Is this one of your favourites, I mean, up tempo hits.

GM Um, yeah, I’d say so, yeah. Probably, Fastlove is probably first, and then this takes second.

(music break – GEORGE MICHAEL – OUTSIDE!! yeah!)

DJ We’ve got Adrian on the phone now. Adrian, you're on.

A Good morning. Hi, Foxy, hi, George.

GM Hi, Adrian, how you doing?

A I’m fine. I just want to say well done, for opening your mouth and saying what everybody wants to say, but they're too scared.

GM Well, thank you very much.

A I think the problem is, basically, that you’re a high profile pop star, and people don’t like to hear the truth. And I think they’re all just having a go at you because you’re speaking the truth.

GM I think that’s a very good point. I think also, it's just a matter of, you know, celebrity has become such a lightweight thing in the past 15 to 20 years, and now it’s, I get people trying to lump me in with a new breed of celebrity. And I have to remind people, I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and when I started out, saying this kind of thing was not remarkable at all. It was just part of our industry, you know, to have outspoken people, people saying things of a political nature. And now, that’s so much not the case. And when someone does, they’re really setting themselves up as a target. Because the cynicism that goes with it is just overwhelming.

A I think that you’ve basically given people something to talk about. And they have forgotten what the real issues are.

GM Yeah, exactly......

A (Adrian pulls a George Michael...and interrupts HIM this time) At the end of the day, this is only your opinion, you’re not a politician.

GM Yeah........

A (She does it AGAIN) It’s not like you have any power to do anything to change anything.

GM Exactly.......

A (I love it! She did it again!) You don’t have, this is only your opinion.

GM Exactly. (George doesn’t LET her do it again. Jumps right over her next words) And, again, there shouldn’t be any reason that this debate is not encouraged. You know, what’s wrong with debate?

DJ Adrian, you did say he’s not a politician. But we all have the right to, we all have a voice. So, actually, if people do make their opinions known, whether we like them or not, and it does inspire debate. And actually, the power of the people is huge.

A The power of the people is very, very huge. And it’s the people who want to keep people like George quiet, that are shouting the loudest.

GM Of course. (he doesn’t even try this time, just lets her go on)

A I think that most of the people that agree with George, are saying yes, we do agree with George, but we don’t have the voice to say that we agree with George. Perhaps we have a show like this to phone in and say yes, we agree with you. And the whole of London’s listening, and we can show how much support there is for George.

GM Thank you.......(yep.....you know what happens)

A And this is something that is good, the fact that George came onto this show and is talking here and there are people who can phone you and email you.

GM Yeah, absolutely. (George pauses to make sure it’s finally his turn) Well, actually, I would agree with your decision on that entirely.

DJ Okay, well, appreciate your call there, Adrian. Thank you for hanging on. She probably should have been to work about an hour ago.

A That’s right, I should’ve been.

DJ Well, there you go. Thanks for your call.

Next George talks about his Mum, some more on the rest of this LONG awaited album, touring, AND his bacon sandwich does a number on him......all this is live, too.

CAPFM part 7

DJ Is there anything, well, at the end of this, people will always think of Shoot the Dog as this incredibly controversial record now. When you were writing this song, did you ever think, did you want it to be controversial? Or, was this something that you just really thought, and you tried to get the lyrics out?

GM Well, there’s a very specific timeline to all that. It’s that when I wrote this, I wrote it completely speculatively. It was saying, you know, there’s a situation welling up here that we should be aware of. But, you know, as a pop singer, as one of the many tracks on the album, I never thought that it would be a huge focus of debate. It’s only what happened on Sept. 11, (the bacon speaks!!!) Excuse me, my bacon sandwich is repeating on me. It’s only what’s happened, what happened in Sept., and the consequent actions of Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair, that has brought this, has made this such a fever pitched argument. In reality, it was just a comment, you know. So I wasn’t writing it to be contentious. I was writing it, as well as many things that I have written about on this album which are talking about the world as opposed to me. And I think there’s a very simple reason for that. Which is, I know that people think that I go on about it, but it really shook me losing my Mum. And it’s taken a good 4 or 5 years to get though that. And whilst I was dealing with something as intensely painful as that personally, I couldn’t really write about the way I felt about me, or about anything else really, that was personal. And it kind of crippled me on a lyrical, in a lyrical sense, so I thought, well what’s the option? The other option is to start writing about things that are outside of yourself. And the whole album is listed with things that, like this is a track about genetic engineering, there’s is a track about single parenting. I know it sounds weird but these are all pop records. I’ve tried to make pop records but I’ve tried to write about things that are very interesting to me about modern life. And the new album really is about modern life. It’s not about the childhood tribulations of George Michael.

DJ Does it have a name, this album?

GM Uh, I don’t want to give you the name yet.

DJ Okay.

GM Because whenever I do that......

DJ It not finished yet, is it?

GM It’s almost finished. I’ve got to really put my head down and, to be honest with you, the last 3 or 4 months I’ve really, really managed to pick up speed. And I’ve got to get my head down and try to get it ready for Christmas. It’s not ready yet. So PLEASE buy the single......(George Michael begs??! Who’d have guessed) Please! It’s not coming out, the album is not around the corner, it won’t be for the first single. I know that nobody releases, even two singles before an album these days. It’s always single...album. That’s the American model, and that’s the model that we follow. But I’ve always believed that you build a picture towards an album.

DJ It used to be 3 singles.

GM In the days of Wham! The first Wham! album, because the record company wanted the single (I think he means ALBUM) out after the second single, and I was so determined to have people understand a little bit more about Wham! before the album came out, I grabbed the tapes. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I took the tapes when the album was finished cause I knew the record company would get their hands on them. and I would have no control. So I grabbed them and I hid them in my Mums bedroom.

(laughter break) (God, no one has a giggle like George!)

GM So I hid them in my Mums bedroom. So ultimately, the record company is jumping up and down, the head of Sony was calling me a thug, and basically, that was my way of making sure that there was a picture built before the album. And I feel that way now. I want, well, the album will come with the third single. Which is an absolute corker by the way.

DJ Is there a ballad on this album? Is there like, classic George Michael on this?

GM Oh, absolutely, yeah. It’s funny, because normally what happens, is there’s this, the last couple of albums there’s been more tendency toward the ballads and I’ve known I had to have a couple of up tempo singles. But this one is a complete reverse. It’s a complete pop and dance album. But I know I’ve got to get those ballads right, to make it balance out as a George Michael record.

DJ I’m gonna play some Oasis now, then we’ll get your views on Mr. Noel Gallagher.

GM (laugh) That won’t take long, won’t take long.

(music break)

DJ Noel Gallagher, apparently you liked his song writing style. Which is what I believe is in one of the articles over the weekend. But he blew you off royally. He said he hated Shoot the Dog and basically thought you should shut up.

GM Yeah, well, of course. Well, I DID like his writing style once. At one point I thought he was the most exciting writer in the country, no question. And his brother remains, you know, I’m a huge fan of Liam, I always will be. I think he’s got the best voice in the last 20 years. In terms of making you hear a lyric, making you hear, it’s just a fantastic sound, I love his voice. I like him, and the way that he views things, because he’s straight up. Noel? You know, ultimately, if I respected him as a person, I might be worried that he was saying that what I was doing wasn't worth anything. But I really just don’t think the man would understand the lyric. So, apart from anything else, he’s just not very smart. He’s got a great mouth on him, he can be funny. But, one, to be making the same music he’s been making for 10 years, and pointing at anybody for anything, I think is strange. But also, secondly, to still be using the same technique to get publicity, which for him is to slag off whoever’s very popular at the moment. And, you know, we’ve been listening to it for almost 10 years. So, at least, if you’re going to slag people, find something originally interesting to say. He slagged me basically because I said he, I thought that he had ruined the band, and I do think that. I do. I think that Oasis, ten years ago, was this inspirational powerhouse, you know. I went to see them live as many times as I could. I could manage on that first couple of tours. Because I thought they were absolutely inspirational, and I still think Liam’s voice is inspirational. But the songs are no longer inspirational, and the band is not that incredible chemistry that they were 10 years ago. So, me having said that, there had to be a point where he came back, and this was it. Now the fact again, he doesn’t give a toss whether I’m saying anything positive or negative, he’s just trying to have a go at George Michael. Fine. But, like I said, I don’t think he’s very smart, so he’s not going to worry me really.

DJ Would you like to be in a band, now?

GM I’d love to have been in a band. I’d love to, 20 years of wishing I was really in a band.

DJ Really?

GM Because it takes so much weight off your shoulders.

DJ Do you ever miss Andrew?

GM No, I don’t miss him, cause I see him. I go stay with him, and he comes and stays with me. But in terms of just having someone to hang out and have a laugh with, especially live, one of the reasons that I stayed away from live work for so long. It’s an incredibly isolating, lonely experience. And I had been used to doing it with Andrew, which was a laugh. That was the life, because we could always take a piss out of each other and kept everything in perspective. But when you’re on your own in the middle of that whole thing, especially when it was big in America, it’s so isolating. And I’ve never thought that life should be, I think life is short. I don’t think that you should spend huge periods of it being unhappy for the sake of work or making money. Obviously, you have to do that if you have children that you have to support and there are things that you actually have to, responsibilities that you have to fulfil. But I’m a single man, I’m a wealthy man, and I have the opportunity to be, to try and make my life as full as possible. And I never felt that my life was full when I was on tour. I hope this time it will be different, because I’ve got Kenny and I’ll have someone basically there with me to help keep things sane. But when I was on my own, touring was just a very, very difficult experience for me.

Next George talks about the potential for a Wham! reunion and the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

CAPFM part 8

DJ Are there any circumstances, in the world, that would make you, perhaps, like do a one off? A Wham! gig. Or, to do a few songs? Not like a whole gig, but just a few, all of the songs?

GM Any circumstances? Huh. Are you klutzy (? not sure) ?

(laughter)

DJ Well, you know, 20 years.

GM You could never get Andy to do it. He’s all against it.

DJ Really?

GM No. I mean, he so doesn’t want to have anything to do with the business anymore. And I understand because the business has treated him really horribly. I mean, I was nervous, even to, well, I’m probably going to have a big party towards the end of the year because it was 20 years ago that Andrew and I had our first hit. So I’ll probably have a party around the time that Young Guns hit the charts in 1982. You know, 20 years on. And I was nervous to even ask him if he’d come to that! Because I knew he’d have to deal with the press. But he said yes, and hopefully he will be there. So.....

DJ Oh, that’ll be fun.

GM Yes. It will be great.

DJ Can’t believe it’s been 20 years. That’s really terrifying.

GM It is terrifying.

DJ Where does the time go?

GM I know, I know. you’re an old guy, Foxy. You just have to accept it.

DJ Well, thank you very much. Okay, you’re nearly there yourself.

(laughter)

DJ The big 4 0 next year.

GM Yeah, next year. I’ve got about 340 days left in my thirties.

DJ Are you happy to hang for a little bit more?

GM Oh, absolutely. Love to.

(advert break)

(TR has returned with more good humour)

TR It’s very interesting.

GM (casual conversation). He really won’t like that. He’s an old fool.

TR But he won’t like that!? But it’s not far off.

GM Oi!

TR What?

GM Excuse me! But, I didn’t, you keep! I didn’t even know my microphone was on! I’ve got my mouth full of bacon sandwich, I’m slagging off people......

TR Well, that’s great!

GM You don’t even tell me......

TR But that’s what we want! That’s what it’s all....

GM Oh, that’s what you.....

TR Absolutely.

DJ I can’t believe he’s still got that bacon sandwich!

TR That’s not the same bacon sandwich that you had, like an hour ago, is it?

GM I told you, listen, I’m a slow eater!

DJ I have to tell you, I’ve never met a man who masticates more in my life.....

(roars of laughter)

GM Amazingly enough, it hasn’t gotten me into any trouble yet.

(more roars of laughter)

TR Well, listen. We appreciate you, and that lady who held on for half an hour, and said, we appreciate that you’re doing your views. Because when you’re living in a one party state, with no real political opposition, it’s very, very nice when someone actually stands up and says what they want.

(Traffic report break)

(music break – Let’s Get It On – I’m thinking it was George’s selection??)

DJ Alright, George. We’re going live now.

GM Are we? Okay, um......

(more laughter, but hey, at least they let him know THIS time)

DJ Well, the bacon sandwich is finished.

GM (last chew) Mm hmm....

DJ That’s got to have been stone cold by the time you were finished! That’s got to be the longest ever bacon sandwich in your life?

GM Well, it’s not actually completely finished, but I’ve done quite a bit of work on it.

(more laughter)

DJ That actually, you know you could win a major prize on that! Be in Madame Tussauds. Here's George's sandwich!

GM Actually, the piano, the John Lennon piano is going into Madame Tussauds in a couple of months.

DJ Where is the Lennon piano now?

GM It’s in the Liverpool museum. I let them have it back, basically, because....

DJ Did you ever play on it?

GM I did, yes. Very badly. And it was very out of tune. I mean, it’s like an old, you know, Mrs. Mills pub piano....

(laughter)

GM Or, more like one of those moldy old (___?___) But, people expected, well, everyone had heard that I paid a million and a half for this piano, so everyone expected the big white one that’s in the video. Then they see this little old pub piano with a few fag burns, you know, and they’re like, you paid a what?? And it’s like, no, it’s not the point! The point is he wrote the album on it. And they’re all thinking in that, oh, what’s it called? That Give Me Some Truth, it’s called. An old documentary about him making the album, and you see him playing this song, as he’s writing, and you see him playing it to Yoko for the first time, so that’s the important bit, you know. And they’re going to stick that, I think they’re going to do a little thing with him, and I think of Yoko, and the piano. So now everyone is going to see how crappy it looks.

DJ Speaking about John Lennon, I was just thinking last night, making some notes because I knew you were coming in, but you’re not the first person that’s ever made a protest song in your life......

GM I know.......

DJ And you probably won’t be the last. But he was a great songwriter...

GM Oh, I don’t know. After the last two weeks I might be the last.

DJ But after the public....

GM Kill that idea idiom dead......

DJ Oh, god I hope not. Because surely that’s what people want. They want hero’s.

GM I’d like, I’d like to think it might inspire a few people to speak up about things. That would be nice. I mean, ultimately, the whole point of writing the record was to try to do something positive, and then if something positive comes out of the idea of I, as an artist, speaking up about something then that would be great. But I doubt it really. I doubt that. I don’t hold out great hopes for the next Blue’s song being about something highly political...

DJ The new A1, the new A1 record is pretty hard hitting, so don’t turn your.....

GM (laugh sounds pretty hopeless)

DJ Now, talking artists like Marvin Gaye, you know, just classic love songs, and some of the all time classic George Michael’s are great ballads, they’re great sexy love songs. Like Careless Whisper and so many others since then. Will you be releasing one as a single, you know, off of this album?

GM Oh, yeah, I think so, absolutely. I’d like to have one big ballad off of this record. Yeah, absolutely.

DJ Like.......

GM Well, actually, they, oh! I can’t really say it. It’s gonna spoil the whole surprise.

DJ Or you don’t want to say it?

GM Well, I’ve been asked to write, I’ve been asked to write the opening, well, the theme song for the 2004 Olympics.

DJ Great!

GM And it’s going to be in Greece. And if they can actually build the bloody stadium in time, which apparently is still questionable....

DJ Hope so.....

GM Yeah, I hope so. Drop that kabob and get working! I really hope that that comes up in Greece. Because I would really love to do that. I know my Dad would, it would make my Dad really proud, even though he’s Cypriot and not Greek, and I’d love to write a, you know, not one of those big cheesy ones, but love to write, the challenge would be to write a really good song for the Olympics, you know. And somehow make it inspirational as opposed to.....

DJ Have you sat down and thought about that yet?

GM Well, yeah. I’ve got some lyrical ideas and stuff, I’ve gotten. And I don’t know, maybe it will be, I don’t think it will be the one on the album. They want it to be exclusive to the Olympics, the song, But that’s very much in the open, but there are a couple of tracks on this album that I think are, they’re not quite finished but they’re gonna do the job.

DJ Well, alright. Funny, your manager is just pacing outside of the studio.

GM Why’s that?

DJ Well, I don’t know. I don’t know. I think he’s just thinking, are you STILL on the radio, George?

GM Well, when you drag me out of bed that bloody early in the morning, I figure I’d better make the most of it, that’s all I can say.

DJ Good point, well made.

Next George talks about his TV viewing habits and a bright new star.....Ms. Dynamite.....hmmm....."wicked"

CAPFM part 9

DJ Returning from our break, George Michael’s still here.

GM I really thought I’d be out by nine, but there you go.

DJ Lovely to have you here with us. Can I just ask you, you're a fan of Ronan Keating? Aren't you?

GM Yeah, absolutely. Yeah I really do, Ronan's such a laugh, he's such a lovely guy.

DJ Have you ever managed to get on the back of his motorbike?

GM No, and I don’t think that it’s likely anytime soon.

(laughter)

DJ I’ve been meaning to ask you what you watch, especially Big Brother, do you watch it, and who’s going to win?

GM To be honest, I haven’t watched it as much, I think I probably saw more of it the last two years. And I really got a bit offended by the whole rich, poor guy thing. I thought that was really treating them like lab rats. But I saw it, I’ve seen it, I saw the last couple of bits, it is so unbelievably rude of BJ not to pack. When he was up against Casey, I thought that was so arrogant, but not just arrogant but rude. And you know, she’s a lady! She’s a lady! (Lesson to all you gents out there.....God, I hope you ALL heard the way he SAID THAT)

DJ And he was gob smacked!

GM And he was gob smacked! Gob smacked! And I think she’s quite cool first of all, I’m glad that she stayed. But I haven’t really watched it. I’ve seen the occasional headline about Jade being a bully at school and stuff like that. But I just, to be honest with you, I sit there and think, you know there are easier ways to earn £70,000, there really are. You know, believe it or not, even though £70,000 is a lot of money, but the amount of money that gets poured into that show through the telephone lines, I can’t believe that’s all they get out of it. I really can’t. But, more than that I just think, I don’t understand why, I can’t understand why people still want to do it. I understood the first couple of years, but when you see how little these people actually get out of it afterwards, then you see how horrible the type of fame they tend to get out of it is, I’m a bit amazed that they had like 10 thousand people trying this year. But there you go.

DJ I think it will be more next year.

GM Yeah, I’m sure there will, I’m sure there will be. And almost all of them will be naked tapes next year. I mean, how far do they have to go now? To sort of make the press now. It’s the scary thing now.

DJ I know. What other TV shows are you watching a lot?

GM Ummmmmm,

DJ I mean, out of habit.

GM We were talking about that 6 Feet Under. I think that one’s really good. What else have I been watching? Not a great deal, really. I’ve been busy working.

DJ Really?

GM Or, just trying not to watch the television in case there’s another nasty piece, you know, coming up. But, no, actually, I’ve been watching a little less television of late, because I haven’t been smoking the wacky baccy okay, so even though it’s legal now.

DJ Yeah, exactly, just in time.

GM I know! They make it legal, they make it legal, just in time for me to give it up.

DJ Let’s talk about Ms. Dynamite, because, well, we haven’t talked about her on air yet and I know you’re a big fan of hers. I’m about to play the new song of hers.

GM Yeah, I think she’s wicked, I think it’s the, the best lyrics I’ve heard from anybody in a while. Let alone the fact that she’s only, what 19 or 20. So, I’m very impressed with her, I think she’s got a great voice, fantastic lyrics, I like what’s she trying to say. I think she’s wicked.

Thanks, Yogworld and Gaters. :o)

The online chat.

Date Posted: 07/10/2002 3:47 PM

Only 5 mins to go, I think I can hear him!
obrof: ???? Only questions he wants to answer ?
I'm afraid so, he wants to talk about his new single and video only.
Right everyone! George has finally arrived, please stop sending questions for the moment.
*** brentspiner has quit IRC (QUIT: User exited)
Hi george, how are you?
Hi everybody, I'm with you for the next hour, fire away...
Kati: Can I also ask questions or add comments if I haven«t submitted them before?
Ask anything you want, that's why I'm here
Doctor: Doesn't it irritate you that whenever "Shoot the Dog" is mentioned your sexuality is referenced? Like that has anything to do with having an opinion! Perhaps "New labour" are more conservative than they portend?
Of course it's irritating but it's not exactly unpredictable.
It's a shame we live in an age where my sexuality supposedly has some bearing on my right to speak out on anything at all
but things are changing fast and hopefully soon gay people will be protected by the same laws as other minority groups, black people for instance...
as far as the press is concerned, TV as well for that matter
baby: I like the new song i think its funny
Thanks very much, I tried very hard to make this track accessible to a large number of people.
What's the point in trying to introduce an arguement that you feel is being kept out of mainstream media and then writing something left of field (Freeek for instance! LOL)?
Raj: Has Tony Blair been in touch with you recently (since the video was released)?
No I don't think he will be any time soon, although I'm going to send an email to Cherie - God I wish she'd return my calls
Bradford: IS GERI OFFENDED ABOUT HOW U CONTINUOUSLY PUSH HER OUT OF THE WAY IN YOUR NEW VIDEO?
No not at all. Actually I spoke to her about it just a few weeks ago, she's v cool with it, as I knew she would be.
The press would love to think that I'm avoiding her and that she has no sense of humour but they're wrong on both counts.
Question in advance from Margreet Weistra: First of all I would like to say that I'm glad that you’re still around, making music. Please don't stop! I saw your video “Shoot the dog" on MTV and I thought it was quite funny. My question for you is: did you make this video to just stir things up or did you really want to achieve some kind or reaction from the public or the persons featured in it and if so what did you expect from them? With wh
With what purpose did you make this clip? Sincerely yours, Margreet Weistra
Without question when I began writing the song it was just one of many comments that I have tried to make about modern life on the forthcoming album.
However the importance it has taken on almost a year after the attacks is completely different.
When I say importance I'm refering to the hysteria within the press.
After all it's only a bloody video.
Fastlove: I want to ask George how much influence The Sun newspaper has had on all the negative press he has received.
In truth it's not really the Sun alone which has caused negative media attention, it's the Sun, the NY Post (which is where the trouble really started) and Sky News here in Europe, all Rupert Murdoch-owned operations that seem to have it in for me and it's fairly obvious why.
I'm probably the biggest celebrity to have sided (perhaps foolishly) with the Daily Mirror in recent years and I seem to be paying a price for it.
Not that I think it wasn't worth it, this situation is more important than any record or any
attack on me and I didn't go in to this with my eyes closed.
I had a feeling that I would get caught in the Sun/Mirror war zone but it never occured to me that Murdoch's other publications specifically the NY Post would mis-represent myself or the reaction of American people in general so enormously. But more of that on Friday...(cryptic grin)
justin: Why are you mad at Bush?
I'm not mad at Bush, I didn't vote for him.
It's Tony Blair's behaviour that worries me. I'm not alone in that, I'm just trying to help along an arguement that other people have been trying unsuccessfully to push forward recently.
It would seem that without a soap opera such as mine (big English fairy attacks big English PM) it's hard to say anything important these days.
Anyone who has a problem with the cross between pop and politics should look at the politics first and the ridiculous media response second.
The truth is the arguement has been strengthened, and if the record comes in at 56 it will still have done it's job (mind you I'll be in The Priory so I probably won't notice the world situation after that.
We are currently having technical problems due to sheer volume, George is actually quite sharp tonight!
Question in advance from Marie Foxlee-Brown: George, is that really what you look like in a thong????????
That's what I look like in that particular thong. I have a large selection.
Question from Tony Joyner: What made George pick a sample of ‘Love Action’ by the Human League for the new single? Was he ever a fan of the group ?
Well I think the title speaks for itself.
I love Phil Oakey's lyrics and they turn a whinge into a peace anthem. Simple as that really. I loved Human League.
Question in advance: George - Why have you stopped releasing music in the US? Putting aside your feelings towards record labels and politics out of this country, don't you see it as denying your American fans accessibility to your music? Thank you, Salli Earley, Franklin, MA,USA
The truth couldnt be further from your interpretation although I can imagine it seems that way
in America.
Actually everything has been released there with the exception of Freeek and the single with Mary J
but although I've managed to make number one on European radio with almost everything I have released since the Sony debacle American radio has resolutely ignored me and before people shout "promotion, promotion" I do understand their frustration.
But I would point out that I have done no more in Europe, so it seems a little strange that the discrepancy between continents is so apparent.
I can't think of another artist who has been in this position but then I can't think of another artist who took on Sony and in particular it's top execs in a similar fashion.
Maybe you should ask them what went on between 93 and the present day. Damned if I know.
I'm just going to have a quick 5 minute break whilst the system's fixed, sorry everyone.
I'm going to stay on a bit longer as we've had to have a few minutes fixing things.
I've had a question from Matthew: How do you feel about the Euro?
Well I know it makes everything more expensive for the Brits in Europe right now. That's about the extent of my financial expertise on the subject.
However I find it very amusing that I am being lectured on patriotism by the Sun, whose owner is an Australian who became an American in order to buy a TV station and who is now advising Britain on the Euro. Mr Murdoch's bravado has no bounds it would seem.
EnjoyWhatYouDo: Hi George, great Single. Will there be dancemixes of the song?
Yes there are two on the cd, along with the video.
Shoot_the_Dog: why is David Beckham in your new video?????
Because I think that any man who can play football like that and wear pink nail varnish deserves a bit of a push, don't you?
Actually I have great admiration for him. I'm not sure how anyone can be so unaffected by all that attention but he seems to deal with it like a complete pro.
honeyshimy: Is the video solely based on your ideas? Btw, I think you make a really good point.
network (tossers)))
Please Sir, it wasn't all my fault. I never done it.
Actually I had a few meetings with the people at 2DTV and it was obvious that we shared a political view or two. I told them to be brutal with me and they obliged.
So I guess I was responsible for more than a few things in the video, you'll just have to guess which ones...
Barn: Hi George, do you have any ambitions?
When I grow up I'd like to be David Beckham. After all which pop star would I look up to right now.
KatyJay: Haven't you encouraged people to constantly comment on your sexuality, by hiding it for as long as you did causing endless speculation ?
*** Kajukenbo2001 has quit IRC (QUIT: User exited)
I don't care what I did or how people view the past really. I'm sorry if I'd known it was upsetting you I would have called you and put you straight, so to speak.
Actually on a more serious note I think it's outrageous that people can be judged publically for such a personal situation. After all nobody out there but my friends and family (and about 300 really cute guys) knew my life, my past, my feelings about my sexuality, and the idea that I should have made my journey something for everyone is quite ludicrous to me.
bella: I think u are great whatever people say
Thanks Bella xxx
Jake: Are you anti American, is this why you did the single
A lot of people would like to declare anti-Bushism a form of hatred for America. i would never confuse the two. I have an American partner who has a wonderful family in Texas, and I own a house in LA even though contrary to the Sun's brilliant hacks I'm rarely there.
Why would I be anti-American? I'm not anti any race or culture.
I should however expect to criticise a Republican president for his current policies or plans without these kind of accusations.
What kind of democracy is the one that the NY Post subscribes to?
TL: What do u think about Noel from Oasis latest comment about u?
I thought it was funny really.
Firstly, he's just not very smart is he? And secondly, he's just not very smart.
I've got time to take 5 more questions...
Frizz: George, you is Robbie Williams?
What does that mean exactly?
voodooem: So hows the new album coming along? you optimistic? you must be quite pleased with the response to your recent singles!
Album's coming along great. Im excited by what I'm doing and a bit confused that the media spin on both singles has been so far off the mark.
Freeek will be the first track on the album without doubt for two reasons...
1) I love it and 2) lots of people don't so they can skip it before they walk away without fear of it jumping out at them during a dinner party. Is that ok everyone? LOL
peter: George - I am a lifelong fan from the USA now living in Europe. I think that the press has overestimated how offended Americans might be by the single. Have you approached any American record companies about release and, if so, has the reaction been as harsh as the media suspect?
Yes I think that the attacks aimed at me have been miles away from all the feedback I've received.
Even the supposed jeers that I received on American TV were a fabrication. In fact only one really negative person spoke to me and the majority of the audience jeered at her attack, which was very cool
I don't think that Americans are reactionary in general, only those who read the NY Post and believe it.
Marti_PlanetGeorge_Manager: about the "George" with long hair in the video... could that be a hint of your next change of look?
Actually that character is a cross between Phil Oakey and my good self. I just can't get into the shoes.
Just got time for one more question...
Razzmataz: George, is there anyone you would love to duet with in the near future?
Yes absolutely. She's British and she's practically in nappies but I think she's amazing.
Work it out for yourself, I haven't even approached her yet.
Thanks everybody, great questions. I'm off now, more politics and perversion to get on with. Good night all and a big slurpy kiss whether you want it or not x

CNN on the phone transcript: 07/03/02

From the CNN website, here's a transcript from George's phone-in to
TalkBack Live....

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0207/03/tl.00.html

Listen, musician George Michael is standing by to defend his controversial
                   new video. You don't want to miss this conversation.
TALKBACK LIVE continues in a moment.

                   Up next: George Michael's "Shoot the Dog" video takes a
shot at America's response to September 11. He says he hopes it will make
people laugh and dance. We'll see what it makes you want to do right
after this.

                   (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

                   NEVILLE: Welcome back to TALKBACK LIVE, everybody.

                   George Michael is defending his music video "Shoot the
Dog." In it, he gooses the queen, hops into bed with the prime
minister's wife, and portrays Tony Blair as George Bush's lapdog. He also criticizes
the U.S.' response to September 11.

                   Let's take a look.

                   OK, the video gets a little bit more risque than that.
But, anyway, George Michael is in Europe and joins us now on the phone.

                   We want welcome you to TALKBACK LIVE, sir.

                   GEORGE MICHAEL, MUSICIAN: Hi, Arthel. Nice to meet you.
Nice to talk to you.

                   NEVILLE: Same here.

                   Listen, this is clearly satire. What message were you
trying to portray in the song?

                   MICHAEL: Well, I think, before I even give you the
message that I am trying to portray, I have to actually tell you that
there is no message whatsoever that criticizes the U.S.' response to the al
Qaeda attack. This song is really about a current situation, which is the
possible bombing of Iraq.
                   I would never criticize America for its response after
September 11. I think its response was perfectly natural and acceptable.

                   But, really, the criticism within this track is of Mr.
Blair for not involving the British public in any discussion on the possible bombing
of Iraq. And the fact that the satire makes fun of President Bush is more to
do with the fact that the British don't have a great deal of confidence in
President Bush, or many of us don't. The fact that he is the American president
is relevant, of course.
                   But it is really not intended as an attack either on the
response to al Qaeda or on the American system in general.

                   NEVILLE: OK, hang on for me, George Michael, because I
want to go ahead and put up some of your lyrics on the screen.

                   It says: "Nine, nine, nine, gettin' jiggy. People, did
you see that fire in the city? It's like we're fresh out of democratic. Got to
get yourself a little something semiautomatic. Yes."

                   So, what does that mean?

                   MICHAEL: Well, really, the criticism there is of the
attack itself.

                   The line is -- actually, I'll be completely honest. This
was a song that I was recording in September last year. It was a song trying
to describe the danger that was evolving between what I would call the secular
Western world, relatively secular Western world, and the fundamentalist
factions within the Middle East.

                   The line about -- what I am basically saying there is
that they -- that -- well, al Qaeda is obviously the subject, that they took the
law into their own hands, that democracy was not a part of it. I don't think that
should be misconstrued as some kind of criticism. It's a reference to what
happened, and saying that, basically, things are going crazy.

                   NEVILLE: And so your idea here was to go ahead and have
your song be a catalyst for a political debate.

                   MICHAEL: In Britain principally, yes.

                   I think it should be remembered that it was never
intended to be released in America, because I simply think that would have been --
well, apart from bad timing, it would have been disrespectful. And it was
never intended for release in America. It will not be released as a single
in America. I don't have -- I have not even decided on my record company for
worldwide release.

                   The fact that it is released in Europe is because, for
the first time, an artist is being released by a record company without a record
contract. So, nothing has been decided for America. There was no plan to
release it in your country. And I think it would have been disrespectful to
make this issue in a country which obviously has suffered much loss, and very
recently. This was absolutely an attack on Tony Blair, principally, and the
perspective which is really predominant in Europe right now, that he is not
questioning enough of

                   Mr. Bush's policy. Now, of course, this has changed this
week. But since September 11, there has not seemed to be any discrepancy
between Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair's views. And many people are -- as I
am sure many Democrats in the states -- are not exactly thrilled that
Mr. Bush is the man in control right now.

                   NEVILLE: Let me get back to something you said earlier,
that -- you said that this was not intended to be released in the U.S. It
isn't now. Probably it won't be released here. But you are a...

                   MICHAEL: I would never have contemplated releasing this
track with this subject matter at this time or any time in the immediate
future, as a single for sure.

                   NEVILLE: But all I am saying, though, you are popular
here as well. So does it surprise you, though, that it got over here?

                   MICHAEL: Well, it doesn't surprised me that it got over
here. The manner in which it got over there -- which is, strangely
enough, both the competitor of the tabloid that I spoke to and supported in this
country over this issue, which actually shares my view. Its rival paper is
another Rupert Murdoch paper called "The Sun." And I have a great suspicion
that it was actually "The Sun" that called "The New York Post" and said,
"Look, blast this guy, "which is what they did, libelously and extremely
salaciously.

                   And, yes, I am surprised at this reaction. I am
surprised that "The New York Post" thought they could go that far and misrepresent me
to the degree that they implied that I am actually a sympathizer of al
Qaeda, which, apart from anything else, puts my life in danger.

                   NEVILLE: Bottom line: You were not being anti-American.
You were criticizing...

                   MICHAEL: I was anti-Bush, absolutely not anti-American.

                   NEVILLE: Criticizing Mr. Bush, Criticizing Mr. Blair,
but not anti-American.

                   MICHAEL: It's anti-Mr. Blair and anti-Mr. Blair's
reluctance to challenge Bush. It is not anti-American in any sense. And I have
to be -- to put it very plainly, I would consider myself -- I would say I have
been in love five times in my life. And three times -- one of them is currently
-- I have a 6-year relationship with a man from Texas. And it's going
strong. If I hate Americans, then I am a glutton for punishment, because I
seem to fall in love with them all the time.

                   NEVILLE: Because Americans are great.

                   (LAUGHTER)

                   MICHAEL: Absolutely. NEVILLE: Hey, George Michael,
listen, let me ask you this. I am going to put you on the spot a little bit
here -- and letting everybody know that. You don't have to agree to this,
but I am wondering, if you wouldn't mind -- you have got a lot of fans here in
the audience -- I am wondering if you would be willing to take a couple of
questions.

                   MICHAEL: Absolutely. Absolutely. I would be more than
delighted, yes.

                   NEVILLE: OK.

                   Then I am going to ask you to stand by for me. I have to
take a break.

                   And you at home, stand by. We'll be back on the other
side with George Michael.

                   (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

                   NEVILLE: Stand up, though, for me, Amanda. Yes, you have
to stand up here, because you know how we do it on TALKBACK LIVE. We
continue the conversation during the break. Amanda had some
interesting things to say.

                   We have George Michael standing by on the phone with us
in Europe. We are talking about his latest video, "Shoot the Dog."

                   And, Amanda, you had what to say?

                   AMANDA: Oh, I was saying that I do not think it was
against America. It was more focused on Bush and Blair, like he wanted it to
be. And him not releasing it in America was a good decision, because it
was, like, we went through the tragedy. And, of course, we wouldn't find it
tasteful because of what happened. But you have to think he has a right to
his own opinion.

                   NEVILLE: George Michael, I know you are listening. So,
any time you want to jump in here, feel free.

                   MICHAEL: Who am I speaking to, by the way?

                   NEVILLE: You're talking to Amanda right now.

                   MICHAEL: Oh, hi, Amanda. How you doing?

                   Well, I think, absolutely, I would agree with that
point. I think that satire is used for political purposes all the time. But,
obviously, there's a time and a place. And I really, really -- I have never really --
until this whole issue in "The New York Post" came up, I wouldn't even have wanted
the video shown. I was hoping that there wouldn't be too much fuss.

                   But, at the end of the day...

                   (PHONE RINGING) MICHAEL: I'm sorry. There's a phone
ringing in here.

                   NEVILLE: You are so popular. You've got all those phone
calls coming in.

                   MICHAEL: I know. I'm so popular.

                   NEVILLE: I'll tell you what. If you'll hang on for me,
George Michael, because I have Tara, who is calling in from Canada right
now, who would like to say something.

                   Go ahead, Tara.

                   CALLER: Hey, George.

                   MICHAEL: Hi.

                   CALLER: Congratulations on speaking your mind.

                   MICHAEL: Thank you, Tara. Thank you.

                   I think it is -- in the current climate, it can be very
difficult to speak your mind. But sometimes, when I think -- I believe we are
all in danger. And I think this discussion needs to be widened.

                   CALLER: I think -- I hope you release this in Canada.

                   MICHAEL: Well, I don't know. I would have to see how
people felt about that in Canada. This was really aimed at widening the
discussion in Britain.
                   And I think there are other people that are doing the
same thing in Britain.
                   But, of course, when somebody who is really bang in the
middle of the mainstream says something like this, it kind of gets
more attention, which is why I chose to do it.

                   I must admit, I was very nervous to do it. But sometimes
I think you have to go with your instincts and go with what your heart is
telling you.

                   NEVILLE: OK, I have Leah from Florida here.

                   LEAH: Yes.

                   And you can't tell me that you did not intend to slam
our country when you slam our president. By portraying him going to bed with
your prime minister, you slam our country. And people can say that we do it
ourselves, but excuse me. You can talk about your own family, but I'll
be danged if I am going to let somebody else step in from the outside and
talk about them.

                   MICHAEL: Well, I...

                   (CHEERING)

                   (BOOS)

                   NEVILLE: OK, but I have -- George Michael, before you
respond -- George Michael, before you respond, I want to let know that we
have some mixed reaction here in the audience. We had a lot of people
who were booing what Leah had to say, as well as cheering.

                   But Chris over here is -- oh, George, you know what? I
am running out of time, so I am going to let you respond before we go.

                   Go ahead, George.

                   MICHAEL: I would like to -- I understand how volatile
people feel about this. I understand totally that, at a time like this,
there is a lot of support for the president. And, really, even though I do not have a
great deal of belief in President Bush, I think, in all honesty, that it was not
intended to offend Americans. And I think there are many Americans that
probably share my view that there are people with less personal interests
in this particular issue.
                   And don't let us forget that.

                   NEVILLE: George Michael, thank you for coming to
TALKBACK LIVE.
                   Thank you for getting your...

                   MICHAEL: Thank you. Thank you.

                   NEVILLE: I think you got your point across, OK?

                   MICHAEL: Thank you very much.

                   NEVILLE: All right, we are out of time.

                   I am going to be off for the holidays tomorrow and
Friday. But CNN's Carol Lin will fill in for me. I'll see you again on Monday.

                   I'm Arthel Neville. Have a great Fourth of July. And be safe.

At the bottom of the page you will find The big Mirror interview.

But first, stills from the STD video:

Thanks, Knobby. :o)

Thanks, Bianca. :o)

Thanks, everyone !

The Mirror Interview:

Part 1:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=11996638&method=full&siteid=50143

WORLD EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
                        GEORGE MICHAEL
                        I read Pilger in the Mirror ..and I got angry at
the world
                        By Piers Morgan

                        SEPTEMBER 11 was a shocking day for the world, and
a life-changing experience
                        for many people.

                        For pop superstar George Michael, the horrific
events unfurling in New York also
                        represented a weird and distressing coincidence.

                        Watching the World Trade Center towers collapsing
on TV in a North London
                        recording studio, George burst into tears.

                        He felt anguish for the thousands dying in the
mayhem and also bewilderment -
                        because he'd spent the past few months writing a
song based on the very world
                        turmoil that led to the attack.

                        That song, Shoot The Dog, was delayed for obvious
reasons.

                        It's being released this week, amended slightly to
bring it up to date.

                        The single's cover includes a front page of the
Daily Mirror, headlined Howdy
                        Poodle, criticising the Prime Minister's apparent
sucking up to President Bush.

                        It's the first time a national newspaper has been
used by a major artist in this way.

                        And George Michael knows Shoot The Dog represents
the biggest risk of his
                        controversial career.

                        Even bigger than his arrest for getting too
friendly with a Los Angeles policeman in
                        that now infamous public loo incident.

                        THE song is a vintage George dance track - upbeat,
catchy, toe-tapping. But the
                        lyrics are, not to put too fine a point on it,
sensational.

                        The frothy love epithets that dominated his earlier
albums have been jettisoned for
                        an extraordinary political statement that will
spark either uproar or support
                        depending on your standpoint.

                        They expose the culture of fear, retribution and
often mindless bigotry pervading
                        world affairs right now - and particularly in America.

                        One line reads: "Mustapha, Mazeltov, the Gaza Boys,
all that holy stuff. I get the
                        feelin' when it all goes off, they're gonna shoot
the dog, they're gonna shoot the
                        dog."

                        Another sneers: "Nine nine nine gettin' jiggy.
People did you see that fire in the
                        City? It's like we're getting fresh out of
democratic. Gotta get yourself a little
                        something semi-automatic, yeah..."

                        But the real eye-lid snapper mocks Tony Blair's
cosy poodle-style relationship with
                        George Bush, with a bare-knuckle sex jibe to boot.
It says: "So Cherie, my dear,
                        could you leave the way clear for sex tonight? Tell
him: 'Tony, Tony, Tony, I know
                        that you're horny but there's somethin' bout that
Bush ain't right'."

                        It's hot stuff and George knows that anything could
happen once it's released later
                        this week. "I've been advised that radio stations
which rely on government licences
                        might ban it - but I want it heard, not banned. It
could get slated, it could land me
                        right in the s**t.

                        But I hope it just gets people debating. "Because
there's never been a more
                        important time to talk than now. "To be perfectly
honest, this makes my experience
                        with a certain policeman in Los Angeles look like a
tea party," he laughs as we chat
                        in his North London recording studio. GEORGEis
anxious. Excited, but worried, too.
                        Because this song could either make or break the
next phase in the extraordinary
                        life and times of Britain's most successful
contemporary songwriter.

                        "I know this is dangerous territory," he says.
"I've never done anything so political
                        before. I've spent years shouting my mouth off
about serious issues over dinner
                        tables but never really had the confidence to
express my views in a song.

                        "But I really feel this is such a serious time for
us all that being silent is not an
                        option." George had been working on the track for
several months before
                        September 11.

                        It was a massive departure for him to be writing
about politics and international
                        affairs. But one that just naturally evolved as he
grieved for his mother, who died
                        two years ago.

                        He recalls: "I was pretty depressed about my
mother's death. In fact, I was as down
                        as I've ever been. It was evenworse than when my
lover Anselmo died and I found
                        it hard to cope.

                        "I was moping around the house, smoking spliffs,
drinking too much and watching a
                        load of serious late-night television like Question
Time and Newsnight because I
                        couldn't sleep. "And I noticed a lot of stuff about
the growing fear of a war between
                        the secular world and the fundamentalist world.

                        "It was something I'd never really thought about
but the more I learned, the more
                        fearful I became that it might happen - and that
Britainmight be caught right in the
                        middle of it. "Tony Blair was being seen as
America's strongest ally at a point when
                        the Middle East was feeling increasingly bullied by
the West, and America in
                        particular, and when many developing countries were
getting their hands on some
                        serious weapons of destruction.

                        "And it occurred to me that Britain was starting to
become a moredangerous place
                        than it used to be for that reason.

                        "And I simply wanted to write a song that said to
everybody, 'people let's be aware
                        of this situation and understand that there's some
very pissed off people out there
                        and that America - and us, for that matter - need
to start to listen to them a little'. "I
                        see politics in very human terms. In other words,
even though there is a lot of
                        complication and complexity to politics,what it
really boils down to is human
                        reaction between different factions, at least when
you're talking about the
                        possibility of war.

                        "The way I saw it was it's a bit like being at
school and being one of those kids that
                        makes friends with the tallest, biggest toughest
guys in the playground to make sure
                        that nobody beats you, nobody picks on you.

                        "Now that's a very sensible, strategic way to
behave if you're not the strongest boy
                        in the class.

                        "But it's not necessarily a clever way to behave if
the other kids have got really
                        pissed off with the bully and have got some nasty
weapons."THEsong was nearly
                        finished when George was called to watch the TV by
a producer at his studio on
                        September 11.

                        He recalls: "He ran in and said, 'you're not going
to believe what you're about to
                        see' and when I saw it, it was just after the first
plane had hit, so it just looked like a
                        tragic accident.

                        "Then the second plane hit and everybody in the
studio realised it was deliberate
                        and started to freak out and within an hour - apart
from being as terrified as
                        everybody else - I was just totally freaked out
that what I had been writing about
                        was happening in front of my eyes." As George
watched the screen, tears streamed
                        down his face.

                        "I cried simply because it was such a shocking,
sickening attack on humanity, you
                        know, beyond any callous acts that you could ever
remember. It was just the worse
                        thing to even conceive of doing something as evil
as that.

                        "But I felt confused because I'd written this song
for a reason but now the reason
                        was very puzzling... I certainly didn't want to
look opportunistic, so I sat on the song
                        and didn't know what to do with it." George feared
the worst as America fuelled
                        itself with an overt lust for vengeance and
retribution.

                        "I think I was as terrified as anybody else with
moderate views that Mr Bush was not
                        necessarily the best man for the job, that he might
be too trigger- happy.

                        "I mean, you're talking about a man who signed the
highest number of death
                        warrants of any governor in America and I was
afraid he'd just go mad.

                        "Then I was relieved that there seemed to be
restraint being shown and an effort
                        made to get a consensus going before anything was
done. But then the bombers
                        went into Afghanistan and started blitzing
everything and I just watched in horror..."
                        As George recoiled at America's gung-ho response
and Britain's tacitapproval, he
                        clicked on to the Mirror's website and saw John
Pilger's dramatic front page article,
                        This War's A Fraud. George says: "It was not the
normal tabloid stuff and obviously
                        John Pilger's a hugely-respected journalist, so I
read it keenly.

                        "I was appalled by the massive discrepancy between
what he was saying and what
                        the rest of the media was telling us.

                        "The Mirror kept asking more and more questions and
I thought it was so refreshing
                        to see a paper doing this - not just accepting what
the government was
                        saying.HEadds: "I was surprised to read all the
Mirror coverage of the war because I
                        thought it was brave, refreshing, bold and
politically astute.

                        "I very rarely agree with anything I read in the
tabloids but I did agree with a lot of
                        your stuff. "Because I live in Britain and felt
apprehensive, I wanted to be sure our
                        leaders knew what they were doing.

                        "But apart from the Mirror, there was very little
of this kind of debate getting into
                        mainstream media and that angered me.

                        "People were just not talking about it properly and
anyone who raised concerns was
                        being branded a traitor or unpatriotic." George
bristles at the potential accusation
                        of treachery. "I'm an extremely patriotic person,"
he snorts.

                        "One of the most patriotic you will ever meet. "I
live here, the only time I went out
                        of the country and didn't pay tax was when I was on
a 10-month tour, so it was a
                        six-week absence for tax reasons. Every other year
of my life I've paid my full tax.

                        "I've travelled the world and I absolutely know
that England is the place that I want
                        to be. "I just believe that as a country we're not
being allowed to discuss the fact
                        that Britain's the second most dangerous place on
earth right now.

                        "I don't know if it's 'undoable'. At the moment
we're definitely a target and if we're a
                        target, we deserve to discuss why we're a target.
"I'm not a nationalist or a racist. I'm
                        very proud of England, more than anything for its
multiculturalism.

                        "Despite all that's said, we're actually a lot less
racist than most countries I have
                        visited."GEORGEis aware that his views might
further anger the public in America,
                        where his career has already hit a suspiciously
homophobic blip following his
                        adventures in that LA loo. But he stresses: "I'm
not anti- American. I've lived with
                        Kenny, a Texan, for six years. And I lived out
there for a couple of years - so I know
                        and like Americans. "I don't consider Americans
bullies but I do consider the
                        American government bullying - they've largely
controlled the world for the past 50
                        years with money, political power and military force.

                        "And they control the US media by making all the
news very localised. "Before
                        Watergate, there was apparently much more
international news coverage in
                        America and the people were much better informed.

                        But now there's hardly any overseas content. "And
my fear about Mr Blair and his
                        desire to be seen as our first President is that
he's happy to see us distracted when
                        there are very important issues to be decided upon,
because he doesn't want the
                        complication of public opinion.

                        "He doesn't seem to want to have a big debate about
his decisions when, in fact,
                        they are unbelievably important to all of us.

                        "This is the most dangerous period of our lives. I
think my post- war generation all
                        feel more concerned about our future now than we
ever have. "And we want to be
                        sure that our leaders are listening to us and
making the right decisions."HEadds:
                        "It's all very well cosying up to America and
talking up our special relationship but
                        we have a large Islamic population here.

                        "Our government needs to reassure the Islamic
population that we are not going
                        into the Middle East with a gung-ho attitude,
blindly following America... and that
                        we are known for our restraint and reason. "There
must be a lot of Islamic people
                        feeling veryuncomfortable in Britain right now and
that's not right." George's
                        biggest concern is that America will drag Britain
into a war with Saddam Hussein.

                        He says: "It's obvious they can't find Osama bin
Laden and obvious that Bush is
                        under pressure from his peopleto do something - and
all this talk of Iraq gave me
                        the chills

                        because it smacked of wanting to finish his dad's
unfinished business and get rid of
                        Saddam. "There's also the fact that Americans
understandably wanted to know who
                        was going to take the blame for this and wanted to
feel safer.

                        Unfortunately, I think theyhave been shown the
issues in very simplistic terms."We
                        have to understand that Saddam is a hero to his people.

                        "He switched to Islam after the invasion of Kuwait
to get Arab support, even though
                        he rules through terror. "He's a man who wants to
be seen as a world power and, by
                        frightening us, he is becoming a world power. "And
if we corner him he is
                        toodramatic not to go out with a bang. He has
nothing to lose. "The other night I
                        watched John Simpson's BBC documentary about Saddam
and it was just fantastic.

                        "But why the hell was that on so late at night? Why
was that not a mainstream
                        show? "He explained the whole Iraq thing simply and
brilliantly - arguing the case
                        for waiting and seeing where Saddam is going before
we do anything stupid."THE
                        singer fears it may end up like a cowboy film,
"where the baddy is cornered in a bar
                        and has no option but to go out in a blaze of glory.

                        "If we just storm in there now there'll be a
disaster that will destroy any chance of
                        stability in that region for a very, very long
time." George could talk for England, let
                        alone sing for it. But it's good talk.

                        He keeps up his fluent, intelligent and challenging
chatter for several hours. He's
                        well-informed, hugelyopinionated and doesn't give a
monkey's if people think he
                        should just keep quiet and sing nice tunes.

                        "To all those who say 'who the f*** does he think
he is?' I say, well I'm a concerned
                        Englishman living in a very dangerous time for this
country, who is fortunate
                        enough to have a platform to speak out.

                        "I just hope that this record helps in a tiny way
to consolidate the idea that we don't
                        automatically do as we're told in terms of our
relationship with America. "No more
                        than that." But George is well aware of the
maelstrom of indignant fury that might
                        erupt this week.

                        "This is the most political thing I've ever done
and it's a massive and totally
                        unnecessary risk for me. "I don't know how it will
go down, particularly in America.
                        But it's important to me that I should be free to
express myself.

                        "This is the first time I've really had the guts to
go for something knowing I might
                        get critically savaged for it. There's always
beenthis nagging worry of people
                        saying, 'look, mate, you're a rich pampered pop
star - what the f*** do you know
                        about it?' "But now I feel confident enough to just
go for it. And I should have a
                        right to say these things without being ripped to
pieces.

                        " To the obvious charge that he might be exploiting
world events for commercial
                        gain, George is determinedly robust. "Of course, I
want to sell this record - there's
                        no point making it otherwise. But this is something
I really care about. This matters
                        to me. "I'd be happier to get a real debate going
than having a big hit record."
                        SHOOT The Dog pokes fun at both Tony and Cherie
Blair, so what does George
                        think of them? "I'm not anti-Blair. I met Tony
Blair a few months before the 1997
                        election and I think he's remained the same decent
man he seemed then.

                        "But he's quite religious and I'm not sure that
ever mixes very well with politics.
                        "Especially when you pair him up with an
outspokenly Christian President -
                        because then we have a clash of two religious
cultures, Islam and Christianity and
                        that can make things much more difficult. "Blair
clearly thinks it's really sexy to be
                        up there with Mr Bush on the world stage. I think
he's also motivated by a real
                        desire to be a positive influence.

                        "But he doesn't seem to want to listen to anyone in
the process." George was
                        surprised and relieved to see Britain's PM standing
up to Bush on the issue of
                        Arafat leading the Palestinians. "He's finally
shown some balls and he's right.

                        "If you start telling the Palestinians they can't
choose their own leader then you are
                        doing exactly what makes life dangerous for us
right now. It's patronising
                        them."MUCH as George "absolutely detests" the idea
of the suicide bombers, he
                        believes everybody has the right to their own
elections.

                        "Blair was expressing a European view and I think
if he wants to be a world leader
                        who can actually have something positive to say,
surely he should try to be an
                        intelligent, mediating and restraining voice - a
mouthpiece for Europe not just
                        Britain.

                        "I don't actually believe our future is any safer
with America than with Europe and I
                        think that there's a horrible feeling in Europe at
the moment about the British.

                        "Blair should cut all the spin, stop treading on
eggshells all the time and start
                        giving it to us straight. "Good or bad. The public
are in the mood to embrace a
                        politician who speaks the truth, however unpalatable.

                        "If he can turn it round now, then that would be
great. But I suspect it may be too
                        late. "All the spin has killed a lot of our trust
in him. "As for Cherie, it was a shame
                        she got such a hammering over those suicide bomber
remarks, because she's a nice
                        lady who was only saying what a lot of people think
- even if she screwed up how to
                        say it.

                        "But the PM's wife is always a good vehicle for
satire, so I put her in the song to
                        make a point and make people laugh.

                        "I want people to listen to this record, enjoy it,
laugh at it, and then think about it.
                        That's all." Shoot The Dog is released this week.

                        TOMORROW: THE TRUTH ABOUT ME AND KENNY

Part 2:

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=11999682&method=full&siteid=50143

THE GEORGE MICHAEL INTERVIEW DAY
2
Jul 2 2002

By Piers Morgan

I'D carefully avoided George Michael for more than a decade after perhaps the
most calamitous cock-up in showbusiness journalism history.

Acting on thoroughly good information, I disclosed to the world that
George was the
father of a lovechild by a young German girl he'd impregnated on tour.

Unfortunately by the time the first edition of the downmarket red-top rag
I was then
working for hit the streets we'd tracked down the mother - who was 13, a
nutty
George Michael fan and, according to her own mother, the victim of a torrid
late-night sexual encounter with a local skinhead.

We pulled the unbelievably defamatory story and prayed George never saw it.

He did. And laughed out loud.

He still finds it amusing now.

"That was hilarious," he says. "And what's even funnier is that she came
after me for
years for maintenance and even got the German government involved. Can you
believe that?

"I have tried to politely explain a few rather obvious flaws in the
likelihood of me
being the father - but she was having none of it."

Finally meeting a superstar who you've written scurrilous and salacious
gossip about
for 15 years can be a dangerous pursuit.

But George is in a forgiving mood.

Though woe betide anyone who fancies having a little pop at him about any
personal matters as a result of his controversial new record Shoot The Dog.

He says: "I know people will be rooting around trying to dig up the
latest dirt on me
and all I can say is they're welcome to.

"Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? I've lived with Kenny (Goss) for
six years, we
have a great relationship and love each other very dearly.

"But like a lot of gay couples in long-term relationships we are not
monogamous.
Either of us.

"And we're both perfectly comfortable with that fact, thank you."

AS revelations go, this is quite a corker, coming as it does about three
hours into
our chat and after seven cups of tea and a tuna sandwich.

His explanation for the fairly open state of his relationship is brief,
to the point and
hilarious.

"This is not an uncommon state of affairs in long-term gay relationships.
It's not
open at all in any emotional sense, just purely physical.

"And that's the way we choose to live and if people don't like it then,
for want of a
better phrase, they can stick it up their..."

Yes, thanks George. I think we get the gag. The deaths of his lover Anselmo
Feleppa and mother knocked the stuffing out of this charismatic,
naturally cheery
and fun-loving singer.

"It was a very rough time, of course it was. But I think I came out of it
stronger,
definitely.

"It took me far longer to get over Mum than Anselmo but that's only natural I
suppose. And as for any further press 'revelations' I spent years
struggling with my
sexuality and myself and the prospect of shame and ridicule.

"And I'm certainly not to going to waste any more of my life or happiness
worrying
about it now.

"But now I feel rather liberated. I think having a keen sense of humour
was my
saving grace really.

"I see a lot of famous people get into trouble and they never seem to
handle it very
well when, in fact, laughing at yourself is the only answer.

"When I was caught out in that toilet with my policeman friend, I had to
admit that I
wasn't remotely ashamed.

"I really wasn't - and I couldn't fake it. I am a gay man leading a very
normal gay
life and all that entails. The only person I have to explain myself to is
my partner.

"And we both feel very similar about these kind of things in terms of
relationships.
Provided you practise safe sex there has probably never been a better or
freer time
to be a gay man.

"So there's nothing the media can throw at us that will make any
difference. All I'd
say is that if they do drag up a one-night stand then I hope it's a
decent one.

"I suspect they won't because there's still a classic hypocrisy in
exposing gay
celebrities where Michael Barrymore's the Marquis de Sade and Angus
Deayton is a
well-hung Tarzan - though that seems very, very unlikely to me!

"But I'm ready for it. I am happier now than I've ever been and old
enough and
wise enough to deal with it all.

"And I will fight for my community, be that musical or otherwise and
people had
better know that about me because it won't ever change. It's time we
accepted gay
men for what they are as opposed to a tea-and-biscuit version. You name
me a gay
artist that doesn't make everyone shudder when they actually start to express
anything masculine and gay.

"I mean, Graham Norton is very funny and talented and deserves his TV
profile. But
let's face it, he's only two steps away from John Inman and that's
30-year-old
stereotype stuff.

"I've no objection to that portrayal, but it's not the whole picture by
any means. It's
just the one people seem more comfortable with.

GEORGE ran into trouble when his last single Freeek hit the streets
because it was
the first time he'd been so openly gay in a video.

He admits: "It was strange for all of us in that respect. I think a lot
of my normal fans
were put off by the rather dark, forceful, masculine video.

"I was actually referring to internet porn, not typical George
night-on-the-town, but it
got lost on a lot of people. All I can say is that the S and M outfit
does nothing for
Kenny.

"It was all OK when people weren't really sure if I was gay, but then
they knew and
it hit them in the face a bit.

"And it wasn't so much a backlash as women who used to fantasise about me not
really feeling very comfortable about it.

"But I'm proud of it, despite what Elton says, the cheeky devil. I knew a
lot of my
fans wouldn't go for it, but it still made No 1 in seven or eight countries.

"Over the years some people say they felt deceived because I'd not come out
before but I can honestly say I stopped making my lyrics gender-specific
once I knew
inside me I was at least bisexual and probably gay. And that was from the
age of 24
or so, when I made Faith.

"I kind of gave people what they wanted without lying to them and I tried
to imply
in every way I could that I was not completely straight but nobody took
the bloody
hint."

T HE long-awaited new album is due out by Christmas and George reckons
he's got
a winner.

"It's not going to be an extension of Freeek," he says. "It's going to be
much more
standard George Michael fare but I'm excited by it.

"I know everyone says this - but I really think it's some of my best work
for a long
time."

But the nerves are jangling to the point of rigidity.

"I don't really know what people will think, whether radio will be a bit
nervous to
play my stuff after Freeek or not. I've gone out on a limb and there's no
way back.
It's fun, exciting - but scary, too."

George Michael hasn't really got a clue what's going to happen this week
when his
new record hits the airwaves.

But he strikes me as someone ready for a bit of a ruck, glad he's finally
written
something quite serious and thought- provoking and confident enough in
himself to
deal with whatever fortune comes his way.

And at the end of the day, as he rightly points out, George lives here,
has paid
many millions of pounds in taxes here, and he's perfectly entitled to
have his say.

Because the rest of us do, let's face it.