George Michael - George Michael Plays To Hospital Staff At Vienna Show

The singer thanked the doctors that treated his near-fatal affliction in the Austrian capital last year, and having made a full recovery, got back to the live shows in the city where it all nearly ended. In a gesture of gratitude, the Wham star treated 300 staff from Vienna's General Hospital to his gig at the Wiener Stadthalle, after postponing the tour in November when he fell ill. "This is one of the greatest honour, to sing to the men and women who saved my life," he said, before delving into a rendition of Nina Simone's Feeling Good at the request of one of the doctors. He went on to perform his new single, White Light, which was inspired by this near death experience. "I think given the manner of men and women who did save my life, we could not go without singing this song," he said.

Michael managed 46 of the original 65 dates of his European tour when he was taken ill hours before he was due to perform in Vienna. He was diagnosed with a very serious case of the disease, and spent a month in intensive care. He revealed last month he had been "very close" to death and the experience had left a five-week gap in his memory. He will perform in Paris for an Aids charity gala this weekend and then in Amsterdam before moving on to the UK.