George Michael has written a blog post to explain the reasoning for cancelling his upcoming tour of Australia. The former Wham man has blamed "major anxiety" brought on by his recent bout with pneumonia for the axed dates.
Michael said he would be completing the remaining UK dates of his Symphonica Tour before seeking treatment and that tickets for his Australian concerts would be refunded.
The statement on Michael's official website read as follows:
"I have today announced the cancellation of the shows in Australia which breaks my heart. By way of explanation all I can say at this time is that since last year's illness I have tried in vain to work my way through the trauma that the doctors who saved my life warned me I would experience. They recommended complete rest and the type of post traumatic counselling which is available in cases like mine but I'm afraid I believed (wrongly) that making music and getting out there to perform for the audiences that bring me such joy would be therapy enough in itself. Unfortunately I seriously underestimated how difficult this year would be and although I was right to believe that the shows would bring me great happiness and that my voice would recover completely (I truly think that some of my recent performances have been my best ever) I was wrong to think I could work my way through the major anxiety that has plagued me since I left Austria last December.
All that's left for me to do is apologise to my wonderful Australian fan base and to promise faithfully that as soon as I completed these shows here in the UK I will receive the treatment which is so long overdue.
— George Michael"
