Hindustan Times (Gurugram) - Hindustan Times (Gurugram) - City
George Michael tribute concert ‘may not go ahead’
Plans for a George
Michael tribute concert are in crisis as the late singer’s family are yet to give a go ahead. Former That’s Life host Dame Esther Rantzen, one of Michael’s charity friends, is organising the event and is set for a meeting with them soon. But sources say there is only a fifty-fifty chance for the concert will go ahead.
One source said: “The most important thing about organising this is that the family approve of everything. Esther and the organisers didn’t want to jump the gun and start making arrangements before they had spoken with them. At the moment, there is a big possibility it won’t happen because the family aren’t on board. The meeting will either make or break plans.”
His remaining family include his father Kyriacos Panayiotou and sisters, Melanie and Yioda. The star was buried last month at North London’s Highgate ceremony next to his mother Lesley Angold, who died in 1997. Melanie, 55, organised the emotional hour-long funeral which included tributes from Michael’s co-star Andrew Ridgeley and Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp. The late singer’s representative said: “We have been approached but nothing’s been decided.”