Coroner Says George Michael Died of Natural Causes

A British coroner says George Michael died of natural causes as the result of heart disease and a fatty liver.

Darren Salter, senior coroner for Oxfordshire, says 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 heart’s ability to pump blood is limited, while myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle.

Michael died at his home in Oxfordshire county, southern England, on Dec. 25. He was 53. An initial autopsy failed to determine the cause of death.

Salter said Tuesday that because Michael died of natural causes, no inquest will be held. (AP)

London Olympics to End With Mega-Party Weekend

Nothing can stay a secret for long — including the musical lineup for the closing ceremony of the London Olympics.

Several names have emerged in the British media for Sunday’s musical and artistic extravaganza.

For the old folks: The Who, George Michael, members of Queen and Ray Davies of The Kinks.

For the pop folks: Annie Lennox, The Spice Girls, Pet Shop Boys, Take That, Fatboy Slim.

For the young and hip: Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Ed Sheeran, Emeli Sande and the Kaiser Chiefs.

Even Monty Python’s Eric Idle is tipped to appear for a mass rendition of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.”  (AP)

Winehouse Autopsy Fails to Establish Death Cause

Police say an autopsy on singer Amy Winehouse has not established what killed her.

The Metropolitan Police said Monday that further toxicology tests are needed and the results are expected in two to four weeks.

The singer was found dead Saturday at herLondonhome aged 27-years old.

Her mother, Janis Winehouse, tellsLondon’s Sunday Mirror her daughter “seemed out of it” the day before she died.

Fans have been piling up candles, pictures and flowers outside herCamdenhome as a tribute to the five-time Grammy winner.

A funeral will be held Tuesday.

Dave Mustaine of Megadeth reacted to Amy Winehouse’s death by saying, “I wish you would have said yes, yes, yes. We will miss you.”

Josh Groban says, “Drugs took her gift, her soul, her light, long before they took her life. RIP Amy.”

Kelly Clarkson tweets, “What a waste of a gifted person.”

Ted Nugent tweets, “B sure to tellurchildren that Amy Winehouse suicide is insane stupid.”

Lady Gaga tweets, “Amy changed pop music forever, I remember knowing there was hope, and feeling not alone because of her. She lived jazz, she lived the blues.”

Adele says Winehouse “paved the way” for singers like her, and “made people excited about British music again.” She said she’s “grateful to be inspired by her.”

Singer George Michael called her “the most soulful vocalist this country has ever seen” — and said he hopes “she is at peace now.”

Billy Corgan says, “Sad to hear about Amy Winehouse. I mourn any time one of our own passes on. A tragedy…no doubt. Truly sad.”

Tommy Lee tweets, “Amy Winehouse died. That’s a lifestyle choice. The 87 who were murdered inOslo,Norway. That’s (expletive) tragic.”

Nikki Sixx says, “Drugs suck. How much clearer does the message have to be? R.I.P. Amy Winehouse.”

Meanwhile, sales of her music have skyrocketed since the news of her death on Saturday.

Her “Back To Black” album is number one — and number six — on the iTunes album chart. “Back to Black: B-Sides” is number 7.

Her first album, “Frank,” is number 3, and “Frank (B-Sides)” is number 23.

EBay is full of t-shirts with variations on the theme “RIP Amy.”

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

You Know You’re Old…

 

You know you’re old when you get excited to hear that George Michael is going on tour….but then sad when you read he won’t be singing ‘I Want Your Sex.’

Photo by Andrew MacPherson

From the Associated Press:

GEORGE MICHAEL TOUR WON’T INCLUDE “I WANT YOUR SEX”UNDATED (AP) — George Michael feels he’s “too old” to be singing some of his hits, so he won’t be doing “I Want Your Sex” or “Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go”) when he tours the U-S for the first time in 17 years. Michael will be singing songs from his upcoming album “Twenty-Five” that drops April first. He tells USA Today that he’s looking at this tour as the end of the “first phase” of his career. He says he doesn’t want to sing in stadiums anymore. Michael says he would like to be “the Tony Bennett” for his generation. The tour kicks off June 17th in San Diego.