George Michael Busted In Bathroom

Pop singer George Michael was arrested in a Beverly Hills, Calif., park Tuesday evening for engaging in a lewd act and was charged with a misdemeanor.

Area residents complained to police about seeing lewd behavior in the bathroom at Will Rogers Park, which is located in one of Beverly Hills' most exclusive neighborhoods. A four-person undercover team responded to the complaints and found Michael -- alone in the bathroom -- engaging in a lewd act, Lt. Edward T. Kreins of the Beverly Hills Police Department told JAMTV. Kreins refused to elaborate on what sort of lewd behavior Michael was engaging in.

Just before 5 p.m. (PST) the former Wham! singer -- who gave police his birth name, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, and told them he was a singer -- was arrested and taken to the B.H.P.D. where he was jailed. He was released around 8 p.m. Tuesday after posting a $500 bail.

Contrary to Associated Press reports, Kreins said the park does not have a reputation as a homosexual cruising ground. In fact, only two arrests were made in 1997 for lewd conduct, Kreins said.

Michael must appear in a Beverly Hills court on May 5 at 8:30 a.m. for a sentencing hearing. At that time, he faces a possible fine and jail term up to one year.

Michael's London-based publicist, Connie Filippello Publicity, had no comment.

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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