GEORGE MICHAEL - GEORGE MICHAEL'S MUSIC EQUIPMENT DESTROYED

GEORGE MICHAEL'S MUSIC EQUIPMENT DESTROYED

Musical equipment belonging to George Michael was destroyed in a blaze following his New Year's Eve concert in Russia.

The singer jetted into the country to perform the gig for 300 people at a private party outside of Moscow thrown by a Russian billionaire.

Although he returned to the UK the following morning with his entourage, the Sun newspaper reports that equipment including a 42-inch plasma screen and other musical instrument was destroyed.

His publicist has said that it is not known how much the damage will cost.

"There was a small fire after he [Michael] had left the venue, but damage to his equipment has yet to be assessed," she said.

The Sun also reported that the fire may have started from pyrotechnics left over from the show and that damage was also caused by water from fire engines.

Michael is said to have been paid £1.5 million for the hour-long concert, making him the highest-paid artist in Russian history.

Before Michael's Russian gig Christina Aguilera was the highest-paid singer, earning herself £1 million for performing at the wedding of Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko in 2005.