Wow. So much has happened since I last wrote. Please forgive me for being so absent. I have been jet-setting around the globe again, but am writing this from the solitude of my NY apartment, I am home. Finally. Well, at least for now.

So the Hong Kong trip was a great success. Had a ball meeting old friends at the Elements gig. Got a chance to even hang out in that fabulous city for a few days. The Grand Hyatt came through again with providing me my HK home away from home. It was like visiting my family. The fans that turned up at Elements truly made me feel so welcome. I must return to HK as often as I can. One can never eat too much dim sum!

Then I flew back to London for 2 more QUEEN SYMPHONIC gigs, one at Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire (in the Sherwood Forest!), and the last one at the spectacular Arundel Castle. These concerts have been truly such amazing experiences. To see such wonderful places in England, and playing to literally thousands of Queen fans who love the concerts has been incredible. I will never forget them, and I hope we can do more of these. Such awesome fun!

I have been so involved with watching as much of the Olympics as I could, and was so moved by such striving for perfection. The triumph of the human spirit above all adversity will always be my greatest inspiration. To see people at the climax of their careers is such awe inspiring stuff. Also, watching the closing ceremony brought me back 8 years ago when I was a volunteer at the closing ceremony of the Sydney Games in 2000. I was on the Elle Macpherson float at the Aussie Icons parade, dancing around with an 8 foot camera. The best things was just running around and dancing with all the athletes. It was truly like a huge International party. The whole world uniting under the banner of love and friendly competition. I was so moved by the spirit of the athletes and the perfection and precision of the Chinese performers. It truly is the greatest show on Earth. To be In London as they did the ‘hand-over’ ceremony was kinda cool too, The 2012 London games will be so cool and awesome. I’m sure very  different to the Beijing games, but just as spectacular, in a very British way!

But I am home. I have just under a week’s break before starting rehearsals here in New York for HANDEL’S MESSIAH ROCKS. I am very excited about this new project. This is a new take on George Frederic Handel’s MESSIAH, first performed in 1742. The new arrangements for orchestra, rock band, choir and soloists are nothing short of breath-taking. The single performance is scheduled for 21 September, 2008 in Boston, but they plan to film the concert and televise it on PBS, and if all goes well, there might even be more concerts like this later on.

Have I mentioned I’m home? Almost unbelieveable. I have been travelling now for 11 months, and am so excited about finally unpacking my bags and being with my girls. New York is my home now. I feel it and love it.

I am home.

Always love,

MiG
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I am writing this aboard yet another flight. This time with Cathay Pacific on my way to Hong Kong from London. I can’t sleep. I had planned to sleep the whole way, but my body clock is having other thoughts. I’m usually good at telling my body what time it is, despite the truth, but today it ain’t listening. I’ve got to go straight to sound check for this Elements gig from the airport. I think it’s going to be a long day…

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last finished touring with WE WILL ROCK YOU, but the QUEEN connection just keeps me going. I spent a week in Ibiza, Spain to witness the original ‘Scaramouche’ (Hannah Jane Fox) marry the head sound engineer at the Dominion Theatre (Simon Sayer), surrounded by my old mates from the London show. The wedding was sublime. A match made in heaven, on a heavenly island. Ibiza is more beautiful than I had ever imagined! I am definitely going back one day.

And then yesterday I found myself in front of thousands of people singing QUEEN songs with the English National Orchestra, an 8 piece rock band, and a few other WWRY West End stars (Mazz Murray, Ricardo Afonso and Rachael Wooding) at Calke Abbey in Derbyshire. I am yet to find a day when I will say I am tired of Queen. The music is so brilliant and rich, there is so much still to explore within these songs that have been my constant companion for such a time now. The crowd seemed to really go ballistic over the show, complete with fireworks. The potential to take this show everywhere is enormous. The marriage of Queen rock with the orchestra is perfect. Another match made in heaven.

Well, I will be landing soon. No sleep. Maybe I am too excited to be in Hong Kong again. I hope to catch up with some old friends and take in some sights I failed to do the last time I was there.

Hope all is great in your world. I can see it from up here…

Always,

MiG
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I can’t believe I have come to the last day of the tour. Tomorrow will be the final 2 shows of this journey which started in September last year. I have had such an incredible adventure. It has been a voyage of discovery in so many ways. I am filled with so many mixed emotions, but the overpowering one at the moment is sadness. I have made so many beautiful new friends on this tour. Our touring company has been such a joy to be a part of. I am so proud of all of them. In many ways I feel like their big brother, leading them on this magical journey, through strange and exotic lands and witnessing the wonderment in their eyes. From Johannesburg to Auckland to Seoul to Singapore to Hong Kong to Bangkok, this has been an extraordinary tour that has changed my life. I have learned so much and grown so much and I hope I leave this tour a better man than when I started. There are so many roads ahead, and exciting journeys await me, and I am so keen to get going on them. But for the moment, I am just going to miss my new family, as most of them I will probably not see again for a very long time. I have grown to love them all. They have been my little world for such a long time, and saying goodbye is breaking my heart. I send them my love and wish them well, and I hope they know how they have moved me, and touched my soul.

I am hanging up my ‘Galileo’ boots tomorrow and will miss him greatly too.  He has been a dear old friend who never fails to bring me joy.

I leave Bangkok tomorrow night for London, and I say thank you to the Land of Smiles. You have definitely smiled on me.

Goodbye everybody, I‘ve got to go
Got leave you all behind and face the truth


Always love,

MiG
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We have opened here in Bangkok and all is going well. We were not sure how the audiences would react with the language barrier and other factors, but we were relieved to see the delight and enthusiasm of the Thai people for our little show. I think we are going to be ok here in this crazy, amazing place for the short time we are here.

Have not have a chance to do much sightseeing as we have been busy with tech rehearsals all week, but I did manage to go to an island beach off the coast of Pattaya, just 2 hours out of Bangkok. Despite having engine trouble on the boat on the way back to the mainland, it was such a magnificent way to spend a day of your life.

The people of Thailand have been so kind, warm and welcoming. I am infatuated  with the whole country.

I had neglected to tell you about something from my recent trip to London. I saw the English National Opera’s production of CANDIDE. Totally incredible! I must say, I am quite ignorant when it comes to opera, but the direction, design and choreography of this production was a visual spectacular: so clever, so moving, so powerful. I truly felt I was having a magical theatrical experience… it didn’t hurt that my wife Simone was on stage again, even more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.

Thank you to all those who sent their sympathy wishes about Stu Sobol. I am sure his family will be thankful for your thoughts and prayers. I have dedicated my performance in WE WILL ROCK YOU in Thailand in honour of his memory. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was one of his favourite songs of all time. Stu, this one’s for you.

Always love,

MiG
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It is with a heavy heart that I bring you the news that my ex-manager Stu Sobol, passed away in his home a few days ago from complications with pneumonia.  He leaves behind his wife and two children and a legacy in the music business, whose absence will surely be felt. At THE FIRM, Stu was instrumental in kicking off my career, as well as those of A Perfect Circle, Seether, Three Days Grace, Vanessa Carlton, Yellowcard, Hawthorne Heights, Ryan Star and Zach de la Rocha, among others. He was a very gentle and kind man with a larger than life heart who truly cared for his artists and treated me with love and respect. He took me under his wing and taught me many things about what it truly meant to be an artist.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, his freinds and to those closest to him at The Firm. He will be very sadly missed.

It was an honour and a privilege to know and work with him.

Always love,

MiG
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I am back at an airport writing this. This time I am at Heathrow, Terminal 4 about to board my Qantas flight to Bangkok. I had the most magical week in London. I know I keep saying how great every place I visit is, but London has really been showing off this time. I have forgotten how beautiful this city is. It is probably one of my favourite cities in the world, if not my absolute No.1 city. The architecture alone is breathtaking. Every street is a Kodak moment. The weather is a little dodgey but I did have a couple of sunny days which is pretty exciting in England. London was my home for several years and I will always have a soft spot for this crazy town. If only it wasn’t so expensive! Wow! Nice when you’re earning Pounds, but…wow!

The gig yesterday at Warwick Castle was amazing.  A capacity crowd of 7,000 people braved the rain and the traffic on the M40 to see us 4 singers, the English National Orchestra and the Queen Symphonic Rock band belt out 2 sets of awesome QUEEN songs. Our encore of DON’T STOP ME NOW was accompanied by a rainbow of fireworks over the historically picturesque town of Warwick. So great to see so many friends and fans out there. Even when it rained during the concert, nobody ran for cover. They simply just opened their umbrellas or put their anorak hoods over their heads. Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the heavy rain… Such a blessing to work with Mazz Murray, Rachael Wooding and Ricardo Afonso. Ricardo’s voice should be illegal. Oh. My. God!!! Thanks to Richard Sidwell and Pete Harrison for the gig. Such a pleasure!

They just called my flight, so gotta fly (that kills me every time!). Bangkok, here I come!

Always,

MiG
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Am writing this from the departure lounge at JFK airport, on my way to London. I have just changed my socks as they were soaking wet! The Philippine-American Friendship Day Celebrations in Jersey City was spectacular! Spectacular in that the weather was outrageous! It started as such a hot and sunny day. Even though they forecasted rain, I thought that the weather guys got it wrong. It was a beautiful day. However, within what seemed seconds, the weather turned. As soon as I got out of my car in Jersey, a lightning bolt struck and the immediate thunder was deafening. Suddenly the heavens opened up and the rain came, thick and heavy. The wind blew down stalls and I struggled with the sound crew to keep the roof from flying away over the PA equipment. A man broke his arm in the ensuing storm, as a table flew on top of him. And as quickly as the storm started, it ended. The sun came out, and the crowd cheered. It took a while to dry the stage and reset the equipment, and just when it was time to re-start the festival, the wind came again and it looked like it was going to storm all over again. The officials decided to call it quits. I thought that it was such a shame to let people go home without a show, so I jumped on a table and rallied the group to sing WE WILL ROCK YOU with me! The feeling in the camp was great because it was as though we weren’t going to let anyone stop us having a good time. The organizers may think that today was a wash-out, but for me it was a great wet day out with friends and family, good food and good humour. My new moto (thanks Cuzzie!) is ‘DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH!’ and that was what we did today. It was a really great day.

I have to say a big thank you to all of those who have welcomed me home. It has been a very long road, and I am only half way home. It has been wonderful re-uniting myself with my precious little dog, but am so looking forward to finally being with my wife after 2 months apart. Your constant love and support has kept me going through all these times and have made me feel that all this is worth it.

May I also take this opportunity to thank everyone for the amazing gifts you gave to me while abroad as well as those waiting for me when I returned home. I was finally able to visit the Decca offices here in NY and they gave me those parcels that had been waiting for me while I was gone. So many amazing gifts! From those given to me at the various stage doors, to the beautiful gift that was crocheted for me here at home. THANK YOU! 

Thank you to all of you for being so thoughtful. You spoil me!

Guess what? The flight is delayed.

DON’T FORGET TO LAUGH!!

Always love,

MiG
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I have fallen in love with New York in the summer! It has been such a joy to walk my dog Powder in Central Park and watch her run around like there’s not a care in the world. I sometimes envy that. But I wouldn’t change my life for anything, as I am soon to be re-united with my wife Simmy, as I am flying to London on Sunday straight after the Philippine-American Friendship Day celebrations in New Jersey. I have not seen her since the beginning of May. This is a crazy life!

I will be in London for but a week. I will be performing at Warwick Castle on 6 July with a 60 piece orchestra, 8 piece rock band and 3 other singers for the The Music Of QUEEN – A Rock And Symphonic Spectacular! I did a similar gig last August with the Bournemouth Symphony orchestra and it was one of my favourite gigs ever. I seem to be making quite a career out of the music of QUEEN, so thanks guys! This definitely beats working for a living. However, it is quite exhausting. I am not complaining, but it’s 3.24am here and I have just finished packing and cleaning the house for our new border. Poor Powder has no idea what’s going on.

I must sleep now, so I’ll keep this brief. Just wanted to check in and say hi and howdy from the MiG Apple. Hope all is great in your side of the world.

Always love,

MiG
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I have had such an amazing experience this weekend that will stay with me forever. Through the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION, and with great support from the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and all at WE WILL ROCK YOU, we were able to show some very special children what it would be like to perform on a professional stage, and to rock out in front of a live audience. These kids came on stage and we put them through their paces, teaching them ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘We Are The Champions’.  These guys were awesome, learning the songs and movements so quickly.

Then it was show time! Their parents were seated in the auditorium, and with full lights, full band, full sound, the curtain came up and we gave them a show of a lifetime! The kids rocked out with the cast of WWRY and proved that they were the true champions of the world. The smiles on their faces were all we needed. Music truly is the universal language and what kid doesn’t want to rock out?! It was such a beautiful day for everybody and I am so in awe of the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION and the amazing work they do.

Again, another lesson in putting things into perspective.

So it was with renewed oomph that we took the stage at JJ’s on Monday night to earn money for the MAW Foundation. It was a cracker of a night. The place was packed and jumping to such an awesome crowd. Thank you to all those who came to support us and this wonderful cause.

My thanks have to go out to all at the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION, Club JJ’s, The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Lunchbox Productions, Universal Music and Tom Lee Music. I also have a huge debt of gratitude to the WWRY band (Ryno, Nick, Llewellyn, Etienne, Edwin and Matt) and my gorgeous Killer Queens on Bvs (Annie, Lucy and Megan). You have blessed me beyond comprehension.

Less than a week left in Hong Kong. I am going to miss this wonderful city. I wish it would stop raining! Enough already!! I hope all is well in your world.

Always love,

MiG
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I find myself staring out of my hotel window at the spectacular view that is Hong Kong. I will never tire of this sight, and am trying to soak it in as much as I can. I have less than 2 weeks of it left. There is still so much I have not done here, but have tried to keep myself fresh for the show and for my duties. I am counting my many blessings and am so grateful for all the love I have felt and the good fortunes that have come my way.

It is with this that I have a heavy heart with the news that my Yaya (nanny) Emilia has suffered a massive stroke in Manila and is fighting for her life in hospital. She has given her life in service of me and my family. She has been like my second mother, taking care of my brother and me in Australia for a year. She has shown nothing but love and affection to me and my family and she is truly one of the sweetest people to have ever walked this Earth. I do not know a life without her around. If I could just ask for her to be in your thoughts and prayers, I would be most grateful.

I have been busy preparing for the gig at JJ’s on 16 June, and am very excited about playing in such a great venue for such a brilliant cause. The Make A Wish Foundation has been making dreams come true for thousands of kids for decades. There are no words that can give justice to the magic they do.

Hope you and yours are well, happy and loved.

Always,

MiG
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We have just experienced three days of national mourning for those victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Sichuan, China. There is much sadness and suffering and the cruel loss of so many young children has pulled a blanket of sorrow over the earth. I continue to pray for the souls and the families of the innocent victims, the injured, the homeless and the grieving. It is almost too much to think what they must be going through. And to think so many deaths could have been avoided had the buildings been built properly in the first place. There are so many questions that need to be answered. So many wrongs need to be accounted for. They must not have died in vain. I hope that in their memory, a complete re-evaluation of the safety of all buildings everywhere is done to safeguard us all from this ever happening again.

Everything seems to pale in comparison to the earthquake in China and the cyclone in Myanmar, but I am in Hong Kong and the show has well and truly opened. The response has been nothing short of spectacular and a successful season here is almost guaranteed. I guess there is always a place for an escape from the stresses of life and tragedy. If we can make people laugh and forget their woes for even a short while, it doesn’t seem so pointless.

Everything is put into perspective.

I had a visit from my good friend Warwick from England. He and his brother and carer came to Hong Kong to see the opening of WWRY. This was Warwick (Wazza!)’s first time out of the UK and even on a plane. The joy he gave to everyone who met him was inspirational. It was such a surprise and I was so honoured that he would go to such a length to see me here in Hong Kong, I am not worthy.

Everything is put into perspective.

I shall never want for anything but to be happy and healthy and to be surrounded by the laughter and love of my dear ones. That is all that should ever matter.

Having said that, Hong Kong is going off! This city is too amazing and wonderful to describe. Every sector of the city is as awesome as the next one in its own way. The people have won my heart and I have fallen in love with this place.

Sending you all my love to you and yours,

Always,

MiG
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