George Michael pays tribute to doctors

Los Angeles - George Michael paid tribute to the medical staff who saved his life as he resumed his European tour on Tuesday.

The Careless Whisper singer was forced to postpone his Symphonica tour last November after falling seriously ill with pneumonia while in Vienna, Austria, and he was given life-saving surgery in one of the city's hospitals.

Fortunately, George, 49, made a full recovery and donated 1 000 tickets to the doctors and nurses who helped him so they could see him take to the stage in Vienna's Stadthalle Wien.

He told the crowd: "I'd like to take the opportunity to say that there are a number of people without whom none of us would be here tonight.

"This is one of the greatest honours of my life, to sing to the men and women who saved my life."

Near-death experience

He then went on to perform a cover of Nina Simone's Feeling Good, which was a request from one of the doctors which treated him.

Backed by the Czech National Symphony orchestra, he also covered Nina's My Baby Just Cares For Me, Rihanna's Russian Roulette, Rufus Wainwright's Going To A Town and The Police's Roxanne, as well as singing many of his own hits including Father Figure and Patience.

He ended the show with a performance of his new single White Light, which he wrote about his near-death experience.

Before singing the song, he said: "One last treat for you all before we go. I think given the manner of men and women who did save my life, we could not go without singing this song. Let's hear it for the people who saved my life."