Pop veteran George Michael is hoping to be back onstage by the summer (12) after losing his voice during a recent battle with pneumonia.
The Faith hitmaker was hospitalised in Vienna, Austria at the end of November (11), when he was diagnosed with the potentially deadly lung infection. He scrapped his remaining 2011 tour dates and spent four weeks under doctors' care, before returning home just in time for the Christmas holidays.
Michael is currently continuing his recovery on a tropical vacation and he is hoping his vocals will be back on top form by the summer.
In a series of Twitter.com posts on Monday (30Jan12), he writes, "Hi boyz n gelz (boys and girls), still enjoying a little time in the southern hemisphere, voice is slowly recovering, spent the afternoon writing in the sun. Have no idea whats going on in the real world, which is just how I like it... First real holiday in many years. Bliss..."
The singer is now eyeing a September (12) start date to pick up his tour where he left off - and he wants to treat his fans to brand new material when he makes his live comeback.
He continues, "realistically I can't see my vocal cords being ready till the summer, but then I have to think about people losing out if ....they are on their summer hols. So September seems the most likely. Sorry about that everyone. Rest assured I will use the time wisely... As in... working on improving the show, mixing the live tracks, finishing brand new tracks!
"Pneumonia may have been a b**tard thing to go thru (through), but normally when I suffer you guys benefit somehow."