Los Angeles, greatest hits, touring and sexuality. These are just a few of the subjects British superstar George Michael talked about during his first internet chat, live Thursday afternoon.

Amidst server errors and false starts, Michael spent 90 minutes candidly answering all sorts of fan questions, from inane to strictly personal. Although the chat was billed as 'anything-goes' Michael warned at the start, "There are some things that are off-limits for the simple reason that I'm not here to feed the press tonight."

LOS ANGELES

A hot topic was Michael's recent arrest and fine in Los Angeles on lewd conduct charges. During the chat, he seemed relaxed and repeatedly joked about the events. Asked about his view on becoming a positive role model for gay youth, he jokingly responded, "I guess I don't really see myself as being a role model for anyone ... unless gay youths are looking for advice on how to get arrested, I suppose."

The light-hearted atmosphere continued throughout the chat. Later, when asked what he had in his CD player, after a long pause, he answered, "Mezzanine by Massive Attack... me, me, and some more stuff by me."

Michael even managed to get in a few light-hearted digs at the press during the chat. When a question arose about his reported plans to move to Ireland, he coyly responded, "sorry to disappoint Irish fans, but the press are LYING! I never saw the house, I don't have 80 million pounds and I've never been to Los Angeles!"

NEW PROJECTS

On the subject of upcoming projects, Michael alluded to both the new hits album and a tour. For the hits album, he said he was finishing work on three new tracks, "and they are rather bloody good."

It also looks likely that 1999 will see a full-blown tour again. It will be the first George Michael tour since the Cover to Cover tour of the early 1990s. Michael made his feeling regarding touring felt, "even though my fans know that I hate touring I really feel that it will be a rewarding thing to do." He then added, "and the support that people have shown me in the last few months has really touched me."

SEXUALITY

During the chat, Michael was possibly the most candid he has ever been about his sexuality. During a question on being 'out', Michael explained that there's a world of difference between being 'out' in terms of friends and family and being 'out' as a celebrity, which "apparently means making sure that the entire world, including people who don't give a toss, know who and what you are doing with your genitals".

In another dig at the recent events in Los Angeles, Michael continued, "I have been an openly gay man with everyone in my life for a long time and that was good enough for me. As for my fans, I think I tried to tell them everything I could through my work, as opposed to using the media. But in all honesty, I think I blew that particular strategy in a big way."

OTHER STARS

Other questions during the chat involved Michael's opinion of current and past stars. "I really think that she WAS the Spice Girls", was his response to a question regarding Ginger Spice, who was rumoured to be spending some post-Spice time with George. "No disrespect to the others, I met them and they are all great girls, but let's be honest, who were YOU looking at when you watched the Spice Girls."

The tone turned more somber when Frank Sinatra's name came up. "I think he was the finest singer of his time... and probably ours too." That's where the compliments stopped as Michael added, "but I did not respect him because his connections, and his actions towards others were well documented. Respect is earned by what you do, not just what you do with the gifts that God has given you."

One of last few questions centered around Michael's heritage as he was asked whether he'd ever consider singing in Greek like Vassili Popaconstantino. After a rather lewd joke about the name, he said, "I've tried but it always sounds like someone trying not to throw up. It's a great language, just not one that I can manage."

More than 2000 people crammed onto the MSN UK web server Thursday for the live chat. Thousands more questions had been submitted in the three weeks prior to the chat, through both MSN and Michael's Aegean Records site. Fans can expect the greatest hits album soon, while the tour reportedly will start in England in March of 1999.