George Michael - George Michael: 'Jackson Was Stifled By Celebrity Status'

GEORGE MICHAEL is convinced MICHAEL JACKSON's creativity was stifled by his superstar status, because his hit records tapered off as his fame grew.

The pinnacle of the King of Pop's success came in the 1980s with the release of his 1982 album Thriller, which remains the singer's best-selling record.

None of Jackson's subsequent albums ever matched Thriller, which went on to sell more than 100 million copies, and the star's last studio album, Invincible, sold just over 10 million copies after its release in 2001.

And Michael is convinced Jackson, who died in June (09), was unable to tap into the same creative forces in his latter years because his worldwide fame hampered his work.

He says, "(Jackson's death) was sad and a bit surreal, too. Jackson's influence on the industry was massive and he made some incredible albums, especially in the '80s. But I do feel there was some lost potential there. Maybe that level of celebrity simply puts a stop to any musical brilliance."