British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

**Lamplighter** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:26 am

He died yesterday afternoon aged 53.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4065534/George-Michael-dies.html

RIP George. LL

**bb1** Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:28 am

Lost for words now.

And there are still six days of 2016 to go.

**Lamplighter** Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:30 am

bb1 wrote:Lost for words now.
And there are still six days of 2016 to go.

Not many candidates for an RIP left, my dear! LL

**bb1** Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:43 am

Oh, don't tempt fate, LL, not with the swathe the Grim Reaper has been cutting this year.

**Lamplighter** Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:53 am

bb1 wrote:Oh, don't tempt fate, LL, not with the swathe the Grim Reaper has been cutting this year.

I can't remember a year when so many have left us. LL Sad

**Lamplighter** Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:53 am

In Memoriam Ruud Merx
On December 17, 2016, during André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra’s tour through Ireland and the United Kingdom, trombone player Ruud Merx (47) was struck by a severe heart attack while asleep. He was immediately taken to a hospital in Leeds. The Maestro and the members of the Johann Strauss Orchestra were so devastated that they could no longer perform. Ruud did not wake up from his coma and André canceled the remaining 6 concerts of the tour. André had Ruud’s family flown in and later on he had them fly back with Ruud to Maastricht. The fans were also devastated and posted comments and a thread of Candles of Hope on Facebook. Today, December 22, we received the sad notification that Ruud had passed away in a Maastricht hospital. Our sincere condolences go out to Lin, Oscar, Lisa and the entire family. Our condolences also to André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra for their devastating loss.

Farewell Ruud, you will be missed!! Rest in Peace.

British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died Wp0efbb11e_05_06

Rust in vrede, de mens van de muziek. Lamplighter

**bb1** Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:29 am

So young - 47 is nothing nowadays!

**lily** Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:28 pm

George Michael was a favorite of mine. Such awesome talent. Crying or Very sad

**Lamplighter** Mon Dec 26, 2016 3:56 pm

I know little of him, but his performance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert of 'Somebody to Love' was, I freely admit, awesome. LL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYAR8RigqDA

**lily** Mon Dec 26, 2016 4:20 pm

LL, he had his own special soft jazzy/rock feel to songs. Rather sexy to be honest.

This is one of them.....

**bb1** Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:00 pm

**lily** Mon Dec 26, 2016 10:52 pm

Love that guy! What a kind hearted guy he was.

**Lamplighter** Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:15 am

Enjoy this, lily, turned up on BBC tribute to George. LL

**lily** Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:39 pm

Thanks LL. hug

**bb1** Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:46 pm

I wish the papers would stop dwelling on the less savoury parts of George's life, when the man is barely cold. He undeniably had his problems and demons, but he was also kind and generous, and seems to have done an awful lot of good - sometimes anonymously, for total strangers.

**lily** Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:57 pm

Dirt sells, Bonny. Very unfortunately. mad

**Sabot** Tue Dec 27, 2016 6:00 pm

I thought that he was a brave soul. He did this amazing interview when after the police caught him cottaging, and attempted to shame him. And for why, one might ask? It was hardly the crime of the century. And would have gone entirely unnoticed if he hadn't been who he was

Probably not enough to say on the subject. But he might have done better with a bit more kindness.

**Pedro Silva** Tue Dec 27, 2016 7:01 pm

awesome singer, another of my favourite singers.

**Pedro Silva** Tue Dec 27, 2016 7:02 pm

lily, your words are mine: "What a kind hearted guy he was."

**lily** Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:11 pm

Thank you Pedro. He truly was.....

**Pedro Silva** Tue Dec 27, 2016 8:26 pm

you welcome my friend, your words are mine.

**Lamplighter** Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:35 pm

George Michael died of natural causes, British coroner says

LONDON (AP) March 07, 2017 — George Michael died of natural causes as the result of heart disease and a fatty liver, a British coroner said Tuesday. Darren Salter, senior coroner for the county of Oxfordshire in southern England, said a post-mortem has found that the singer died of "dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver."

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the left ventricle of the heart becomes stretched and weakened, limiting the heart's ability to pump blood. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.

The former Wham! singer-songwriter was found dead at his country home in Oxfordshire on Dec. 25. He was 53. An initial autopsy failed to determine the cause of death for the star, who had battled health problems and drug addiction.

https://www.mail.com/int/entertainment/music/5015884-george-michael-died-natural-causes-british-coroner.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

**bb1** Tue Mar 07, 2017 8:41 pm

I hope the ghouls leave George's family and friends in peace now.

Sponsored content

British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Andre Rieu trombone player dies while on tour in UK

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died

Re: British pop star George Michael, the musician who first shot to fame with the 1980s duo Wham!, has died