George Michael To Open Wembley

Assuming that he doesn’t get lost or fall asleep at traffic lights on the way, George Michael is likely to be the first artist to step on stage at the new Wembley Stadium.

At one time last year, and as the construction work and arguments between Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and Australian builders Multiplex dragged on and on, The Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, and Take That all looked to have had the chance to be first in but saw it slip away as the opening of the new building was put back.

Bon Jovi, which was the last act to perform in the old stadium, also saw its chance to open the new one fall by the wayside.

Stadium managing director Alex Horne told BBC News that Michael is an appropriate opening act, as he’s already played there as part of Live Aid (1985), it was the scene of Wham!’s farewell concert a year later, he was back for a Freddie Mercury tribute in ’92 and was on the NetAid anti-poverty concert in 1999.

Michael’s June 9th show at the new national stadium is part of a European run of dates that follows last year’s hugely successful live performance comeback.

The European run starts in Aarhus, Denmark, on May 18th, with other confirmed shows running through the end of July.