London - Despite the buzz around his forthcoming tour and rumours about him driving under the influence of drugs, singer George Michael is in relaxed mood as he speaks to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa at his home in North London.
British singer George Michael, during his first show of the 25 Live Tour, at Cidade of Coimbra Stadium, in Coimbra, centre of Portugal, 12 May 2007. EPA/PAULO NOVAIS
Michael is to be the first musical performer at the brand new Wembley Stadium on June 9 as part of his new 25 Live Stadium Tour which starts in Denmark in May 18.
Michael's British dates include Norwich, Manchester, Glasgow and Plymouth. The star, who is no stranger to Wembley's stage, will perform at the 90,000-capacity venue as part of his British and European stadium tour.
He played several gigs at the old stadium both with Wham and as a solo artist. However, last year's tour with his 25 Live album was the first after a gap of 15 years.
In his jeans, sneakers and blue fleece-shirt, Michael doesn't resemble the popstar persona he turns into on stage. His famous stubble still suits him quite well though and as he lays back in the thick cushions of the sofa, he looks perfectly relaxed.
'This period of my life is probably the most relaxed so far,' he says.
Michael who did 50 shows last year with the 25 Live Tour, which was a celebration of his career so far, has opted for an open-air tour with the same album for this summer's tour.
The advantage, he says, is that 'more people get to see you ... You're playing larger venues so a lot more people who want to see you can come to see you. Other than that I think stadium shows are a real excitement to them. If the show is good, it makes them special.'
Michael describes 'as a joy from start to finish' the experience of being back on stage after a gap of 15 years.
'I thought it would be difficult but obviously the person I was when I was 25 and touring on my own stuff, that was a different person. And that person couldn't cope with a lot of the things that this person finds quite easy,' he said.
When asked about the difference between his 'real self and the side he shows to the public,' Michael says he is more integrated now. 'Obviously there's still a show man there. But I don't feel embarrassed by him any more.'
Michael was made uncomfortable by all the attention from 'screaming women' he received in the 1980s and 90s, the decades during which he chalked up 11 British No.1 singles and six US No.1 singles.
'I was just embarrassed by that kind of adulation. There was something about it. And I suppose also because when I was younger I was closeted. And I had all these screaming women. They are still screaming, strangely enough. I don't know why. But it's much more acceptable when they know that you are gay,' he said.
Despite his phenomenal success since the early 1980s, first with Wham and then as a solo artist, Michael's personal life has been far from untroubled.
Now in a long-term relationship with partner Kenny Goss, he confesses that the 1990s were a nightmare for him.
'The 90s were just a long line of disasters for me. It's just what life is like sometimes,' he says.
In 1991, he met Brazilian dress designer, Anselmo Feleppa, and they stayed together until Feleppa died of a brain haemorrhage in 1993. In April 1988, he was arrested for 'committing a lewd act' in in a public toilet in California.
After that, he became more open about his sexuality and coming out changed all aspects of his life for the better.
'I think it matters in all kinds of creative processes. And now that I'm perfectly at ease with who I am, the whole thing, I think that all of that pain was necessary to reach this point,' he said.
Despite the fact that he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of drugs on May 9 in a London court, Michael is upbeat about his life and his future.
'In terms of people I care about and people I love nothing terrible has happened. So I'm less afraid of life than I was maybe five or six years ago.'
He hopes that his fans will see beyond the portrayal of such events in the media.
'I think people have an idea about modern media. I think they understand how negative publicity sells much more than positive publicity. I trust my fans to know the truth and to know that things are not normally what they seem in the press in this country, Michael said.
For a legendary popstar who has sold over 85 million records globally, his hopes for the future are relatively modest - to continue to have 'a creative career, a happy relationship and to maintain my health.'
Describing himself as a 'lucky bastard' his 'dream is that I manage to hold on to my good fortune as long as I can. My good fortune, not my fortune,' he laughs.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur 
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