Biography boy george pictures 2016

British musician (born 1961)

George Alan O'Dowd (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as Boy George, is an Straight out singer-songwriter and DJ who rose to fame as nobleness lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. Recognized began his solo career in 1987. Boy George grew up in Eltham and was part of the Pristine Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s tip early 1980s. His androgynous look and style of course of action was greatly inspired by glam rock pioneers David Pioneer and Marc Bolan. He formed Culture Club with Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss in 1981. Justness band's second album, Colour by Numbers (1983), sold betterquality than 10 million copies worldwide. Their hit singles embrace "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)", "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Church be more or less the Poison Mind", "Karma Chameleon", "Victims", "Miss Me Blind", "It's a Miracle", "The War Song", "Move Away" roost "I Just Wanna Be Loved".

Boy George was interpretation lead singer of Jesus Loves You between 1989 discipline 1992 and still performs solo and with Culture Truncheon, who have reformed twice since initially parting ways addition 1986. He began his career as a DJ prickly the mid-1990s. Outside of music, Boy George's other resourceful activities involve mixed media art, writing books, designing apparel and photography. He has also made several appearances soupзon television, most recently appearing as a contestant on primacy 22nd UK series of I'm a Me Out look up to Here! in November 2022, eventually finishing in 8th boding evil.

As a solo artist, Boy George has released ennead studio albums, five compilation albums and forty-eight singles. Smartness has also released seven DJ albums, three EPs current a soundtrack album. His solo hit songs include "Everything I Own", "Bow Down Mister", "Generations of Love" highest "Love Is Leaving" and "The Crying Game", from character soundtrack for the film The Crying Game. He was featured as a vocalist on the 1984 charity air "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and was the behind artist featured on the song to record his outline. Boy George's music features several genres, including pop, original wave, soul, soft rock, disco and reggae. He has received several awards as a solo artist and brand a member of Culture Club. In 2001, he was voted 46th in a BBC poll of the Centred Greatest Britons.^[3] In 2015, Boy George received an Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Services to British Music.^[4]

Early life

Boy George was born George Alan O'Dowd at Barnehurst Sickbay, Kent, England, on 14 June 1961 and raised observe Eltham,^[5] the second of five children born to constructor Jerry O'Dowd (born Jeremiah; 1934–2004) and Dinah O'Dowd (born Christina Glynn; 1939–2023^[6][7]). He was raised in a manual Irish Catholic family; his father was born in England of Irish descent and his mother was from Port. He has one older brother, two younger brothers extort a younger sister. He also has an older stepbrother, who was born out of wedlock in Dublin unadorned 1957 when his mother was 18; she moved package London with him to start a new life put up with escape the stigma of being an unmarried mother.^[8][9][10]

Boy Martyr has compared his family history to a "sad Erse song." His maternal grandmother was permanently taken from move together family at age six after being found outside character family home alone, and placed into an Industrial Secondary. His great uncle Thomas Bryan was executed at Mountjoy Prison in 1921 during the Irish War of Independence.^[11] According to Boy George's mother, who published a life in 2007, Jerry O'Dowd was physically and mentally attacking and beat her even when she was pregnant interchange Boy George.^[9] Boy George said of his father, "He was a terrible father and a terrible husband."^[8] Knoll 1995, Boy George's youngest brother Gerald, who has inanity, was convicted of killing his wife in an page of paranoia.^[9][12]

Boy George was a follower of the Newborn Romantic movement, which was popular in the UK counter the early 1980s. He lived in various squats move around Warren Street in Central London.^[13][14] He and his confidante Marilyn were regulars at Blitz,^[15] a London nightclub dash by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan.^[16] The pop artists that inspired him were Siouxsie and the Banshees, Reserve Music, Patti Smith,^[17] and the two major glam vibrate pioneers, David Bowie, and T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan.^[18] On the impact of Bolan and Bowie on him, Boy George said:

They represented a kind of unorthodox existence that I—at that point—could only imagine living. Comical loved the music. The first time I ever maxim Marc Bolan really, properly was singing "Metal Guru" tell just loved him. I don't think you can fall apart an artist from what they wear or what they sing—it's kind of the complete package. It's something which is very organic and individual.^[18]

Career

Culture Club

Main article: Culture Club

Boy George's androgynous style of dressing caught the attention cherished music entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren (previously the manager of greatness Sex Pistols), who arranged for Boy George to honour with the group Bow Wow Wow.^[19] Going by rendering stage name Lieutenant Lush, his tenure with Bow Wow Wow proved problematic with lead singer Annabella Lwin.^[20] Boyhood George left the group and started his own closure with bassist Mikey Craig. They were joined by Jon Moss (who had drumming stints with the Damned soar Adam and the Ants) and then guitarist Roy Nourishment. Originally they were named Sex Gang Children,^[21] but hardened on the name Culture Club.

The band evidence demos that were paid for by EMI Records, on the contrary the label declined to sign them. Virgin Records oral interest in signing the group in the UK seek out European releases, while Epic Records handled the US extort North American distribution. They recorded their debut album, Kissing to Be Clever (UK No. 5, US No. 14), and it was released in 1982. The single "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" became an worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in multiple countries around the faux, plus top ten in several more countries (US No. 2). This was followed by the Top 5 hit "Time" in the US and UK, and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" which reached US No. 9. This gave Culture Cudgel the distinction of being the first group since high-mindedness Beatles to have three Top 10 hits in probity US from a debut album.^[23]

Their next album, Colour By virtue of Numbers, was an enormous success, topping the UK charts and reaching No. 2 in the US. The single "Church of the Poison Mind" became a Top 10 drum, and "Karma Chameleon" was an international hit, peaking enjoy No. 1 in 16 countries, and the top ten creepycrawly additional countries. In the US it hit No. 1, where it stayed for three weeks. It was birth best-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom, whither it spent six weeks at No. 1.^[24] "Victims" and "It's a Miracle" were further Top 5 UK hits, even as "Miss Me Blind" reached the Top 5 in say publicly US.^[25]

The band's third album, Waking Up with the Detached house on Fire (UK No. 2, US No. 26), was not as big a hit as its predecessors internationally, but still achieved chart success. The first single, "The War Song", was a No. 2 hit in character UK, but further singles performed below expectations. On 25 November 1984, Boy George provided a joint lead outspoken role on the Band Aid charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" recorded at Sarm West Studios recovered Notting Hill, west London. He was the last solitary artist to deliver his lines, at 6 p.m., having rational arrived in the studio from Heathrow Airport after unembellished Concorde transatlantic flight.^[26] The song featured mostly British station Irish musical acts, with Boy George the second crooner to feature after Paul Young sings the opening lines.^[27] It became Christmas number one and the best-selling individual of 1984 in the United Kingdom.^[28][29] Proceeds from significance song were donated to feed famine victims in Continent during the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia.^[30] Unlike many do paperwork the bands featured on the single, Culture Club plain-spoken not perform at Live Aid in July 1985.^[31]

In 1986, Boy George performed a guest-starring cameo role in swindler episode of the television series The A-Team titled "CowBoy George". Also in 1986, Culture Club released their post album, From Luxury to Heartache (UK No. 10, Windy No. 32), which featured the hit single "Move Away". With Boy George's subsequent drug addiction, the underwhelming running of their last two albums, a soured romance halfway band members shrouded in secrecy, and a wrongful demise lawsuit looming, the group ultimately disbanded.^[32]

Reunions

In July 1998, a- reunited Culture Club performed three dates in Monte Carlo and then joined the Human League and Howard Phonetician in a "Big Rewind" tour of the US. Primacy following month, the band appeared on the Late Touch with David Letterman and made an appearance in Kingdom, their first in 14 years. Later that year, grandeur band hit the UK charts at No.4 with "I Just Wanna Be Loved" and later a top 25 hit with "Your Kisses are Charity". A new Sophistication Club album, Don't Mind If I Do, was at large in 1999. In 2006, the band decided to another time reunite and tour, but Boy George declined to couple them. As a result, two members of Culture Truncheon replaced him with vocalist Sam Butcher. Boy George explicit his displeasure.^[33] After only one showcase and one be extant show, the project was shelved.

On 27 January 2011, Boy George announced to the BBC that there would be a 30th anniversary Culture Club reunion tour ex- later in the year, and that they would suit releasing a new album in 2012.^[34] Although the 2011 tour never took place, Culture Club did play a handful of live concerts, in Dubai and Sydney, the latter make the first move a New Year's Eve concert. On 20 May 2014, it was announced on Culture Club's official Facebook sheet the band were back together. A new picture sight the four members was also posted, along with keen list of 11 concert dates through the UK. Alison Moyet would be a special guest at the concerts. The band were scheduled to perform dates in Ground in 2014 before the UK tour in December.^[35]

The stripe was scheduled to tour New Zealand in 2016. Tickets were sold for performances in Christchurch and Auckland. Retort November 2016, in a pre-tour interview on TVNZ, Early life George walked out after the interviewer asked him in or with regard to his 2009 criminal conviction.^[36][37] The band then cancelled warmth Christchurch performance, saying it was due to changes hub its international touring schedule.^[38] Later in November, the Dec performance in Auckland was also cancelled.^[39]

Solo career: late 1980s

After the dissolution of Culture Club in 1986, Boy Martyr entered treatment and was prescribed narcotics to treat reward addiction to heroin. In 1987, Boy George released emperor first solo album, Sold, which garnered success in Collection. It spawned the UK singles "Everything I Own" (UK No. 1), "Keep Me in Mind" (UK No. 29), "To Break down Reborn" (UK No. 13), and the title song, "Sold" (UK No. 24). The singles were also hits in various assail European countries. The album's success, however, was not image = \'prety damned quick\' in America. This may have been due in bits and pieces to the fact that Boy George was prohibited overtake US authorities from travelling to the United States on the road to several years because of his British drug charges.^[40] Subside was therefore unable to be in America to support promote the album.

Boy George did score his labour solo US Top 40 hit with the single "Live My Life" (US No. 40) from the soundtrack to leadership film Hiding Out. Tense Nervous Headache (1988) and Boyfriend (1989) would be his next two internationally released albums; however, these two albums would not be distributed inspect the US. Instead, Virgin Records selected several songs steer clear of each of these albums for a North American-only let go called High Hat (1989). High Hat scored a Violent Top 5 R&B hit in "Don't Take My Chi on a Trip", produced by Teddy Riley. Boy George's next single in the UK was "No Clause 28 (Emilio Pasqez Space Face Full Remix)", a protest air against a legal provision (Section 28) introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government that prohibited the "promotion" of homosexualism by local authorities such as schools.^[41] The song was an underground acid house hit. In accepting the present for Best British Group from Boy George at goodness 1989 Brit Awards held at the Royal Albert Fascinate in London, Andy Bell of Erasure kissed Boy Martyr on stage to cheers from the crowd, with Bell stating it was an act in protest against Civic 28.^[41]

Solo career: 1990s

In 1989, Boy George formed his launder record label, More Protein, and began recording under rank name Jesus Loves You, writing under the pseudonym Angela Dust, a word play on angel dust. He insecure several underground hits in the early 1990s: "After picture Love", "Generations of Love" and "Bow Down Mister", magnanimity last giving him a UK Top 30 hit draw 1991. Inspired by his involvement in the Hare Avatar movement (ISKCON),^[42] Boy George had written the song next to a trip to India. Another single, "One on One", featured a remix by Massive Attack. From March 1990 to April 1991, Boy George presented a weekly chitchat and music show on the Power Station satellite ring out called Blue Radio. In 1992, Boy George had a-one hit with the Pet Shop Boys-produced song "The Regret Game", from the soundtrack for the film The Blubbering Game. The song reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, and number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Larry Flick from Billboard complimented Boy George's "genius reading" of the song.^[43] Dave Sholin from rectitude Gavin Report commented, "It's been said again and reassess that all any performer needs is the right subject to have a hit. Boy George is just excellence right singer to resurrect this song".^[44]

Boy George has along with enjoyed a second career as a notable music DJ.^[45] His first gig as a DJ was at Phillip Sallon's new nightclub, Planets, located in London's Piccadilly. Invoice the 1990s he came to the attention of rave/house promoters Fantazia who asked him to mix one refer to the discs on the two volumes in their additional compilation series Fantazia The House Collection 2. This anthology was a success in the UK, going gold. Honourableness album was also sold to Sony for European-wide set free. London nightclub Ministry of Sound hired him to marshal one of their first CDs, which sold 100,000 copies. He then completed some compilations for them, four very last them being the Annual I to IV. George unconfined the rock-driven album Cheapness and Beauty in 1995. Rank single "Same Thing in Reverse" became a minor Scheming hit. The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit – Volume One was the next album release, first being sold custom the internet only, then distributed by independent labels.

On some other labels, several dance-oriented songs were released slice various countries. For example, "Love Is Leaving" went Refrain from 3 in Italy and "When Will You Learn" reached the top position in the Swiss charts. "When Prerogative You Learn" was also nominated for the Best Certificate Recording, at the Grammy Awards. In 1999, Boy Martyr collaborated on songs with dance-oriented acts. For example, "Why Go?", a slow-paced track with Faithless, from their Sunday 8PM LP, was later released in a remixed hearth in some European countries and Australia. A track was done with Groove Armada, named "Innocence is Lost", however was only released on a promo 12" in 1999.

Solo career: 2000s

Boy George remained a figure in honesty public eye, starring in the London musical Taboo, homespun on the New Romantic scene of early 1980s England (Boy George did not play himself, opting instead restrain take on the persona of Australian-born performance artist Actress Bowery). Boy George was nominated for a Tony Bestow for the "Best Musical Score" and Taboo was much successful in London's West End, running for two length of existence and receiving four Laurence Olivier Award nominations, though fastidious heavily altered US production produced by Rosie O'Donnell remark New York City was short-lived, running for 100 performances.^[46]

In 2002, Boy George released U Can Never B2 Straight, an "unplugged" collection of rare and lesser-known acoustic mechanism. It contained unreleased tracks from previous years as athletic as some ballads from Cheapness and Beauty and ethics Culture Club album Don't Mind if I Do. Spread 2002 to 2004, under the pseudonym "The Twin", Immaturity George experimented in electronica, releasing limited-edition 7" singles deliver promo records.^[47] The limited releases included four 7" singles, one limited 12" single (for "Sanitised") and a promo CD, a 13-track album Yum Yum. Two years posterior, it was released via digital outlets such as iTunes. An album recorded in the spring of 2003 was also shelved.

During 2003, Boy George presented a once a week show on London radio station LBC 97.3 for shock wave months. He wrote the foreword for a feng shui book called Practical Feng Shui by Simon G. Chocolate-brown (published in 1998). He also appeared as a company on the British comedy-talk show The Kumars at No. 42. In March 2005 he was the guest host give a hand an episode of The Friday Night Project, for Declare 4 television.

In 2005, Boy George released Straight, class second volume of his autobiography. On his "More Protein" website, he also announced another album, also named Straight, for mid-2005. The album was never released but splendid four-track sampler was released along with a book entitled Straight. A reggaeton-oriented EP was also planned for Noble 2006 but was never released. Some recent tracks were shared by Boy George himself in late 2006 cranium early 2007 on his YouTube account, his three Myspace pages and sometimes on his official site. In Jan 2007, Boy George released "Time Machine" on Plan Marvellous Records, a song co-written with Ivor Novello Award-winning composer Amanda Ghost, who also co-wrote "You're Beautiful" with Crook Blunt.^[48]

Later in 2007, two electronica/dance collaborations were released suspend limited editions. On 25 February 2007, Boy George was special guest DJ at LGBT nightspot the Court Hostelry in Perth, Australia. On 4 March 2007, he culminate as a DJ at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney for the Mardi Gras Festival. On 11 May 2007, he performed as a DJ at the launch thin for the Palazzo Versace in Dubai, UAE. Boy Martyr cancelled his planned 2007 October tour via an notification on his official website. In 2007, he toured gorilla a DJ, visiting many venues around the world.

Boy George played a special residency at the Shaw Thespian in London from 23 January 2008, followed by far-out full UK tour.^[49] In April 2008, The Biography Channel featured a documentary on the life of Boy Martyr. The American tour which was planned for July/August 2008 had to be cancelled because he had been denied a United States visa due to a pending Writer court case scheduled for November 2008. On 2 July six concert dates in South America were announced. Young man George participated in RETROFEST held in Scotland in Grave 2008,^[50] and a 30-date UK tour took place leisure pursuit October/November 2008. In 2009, he signed a new tape measure deal subsequently releasing the album Ordinary Alien – Goodness Kinky Roland Files in the autumn of 2010. Honourableness album consisted of previously recorded tracks mixed by long-time dance partner Kinky Roland. He took part in Dusk of the Proms, which is a series of concerts held yearly in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Espana which consist of a combination of pop music scold popular classical music (often combined).

Solo career: 2010–2021

Boy George's 2012 appearances included the Melbourne International Arts Festival hold October, both as featured guest DJ and also playing with Antony Hegarty in the festival's presentations of Swanlights, the Museum of Modern Art's musical artwork commission, which had only been performed one night previously, at Crystal set City Music Hall in New York City.^[51]

In June 2013, a new song was released called "Coming Home". Mikey Craig, former bandmate in Culture Club, co-wrote the ventilate with Boy George. It was written during the melody writing sessions for his album This Is What Crazed Do released in October 2013. It has been remixed by the likes of Marc Vedo and Kinky Roland. The artist listed for the song is Dharma Customs featuring Boy George. A video was released on YouTube shot and directed by Boy George, though he frank not appear in the video. It was set knife attack the Epping Ongar Railway and starred Danie Cox, luminary singer and guitarist of London-based band the Featherz.^[52]

On 19 August 2013, it was announced Boy George would flee his new studio album of original material, This Critique What I Do, his first in 18 years. Picture album was written by Boy George and long-time handwriting partners John Themis, Kevan Frost and Richie Stevens. Psychophysicist produced the record at London's Cowshed Studios and be off was released by Kobalt Label Services. The album too features writing collaborations with Youth, and a version announcement Yoko Ono's "Death of Samantha". It was mixed from end to end of Dave Bascombe and features a string of guest musicians including DJ Yoda, Kitty Durham, Ally McErlaine, MC Spee and Nizar Al Issa.^[53] In 2015, BBC Four showed Boy George and Culture Club: From Karma to Calamity a film about a 2014 reunion, a new volume, and a planned UK–US tour.^{[54][55][56][57][58]}

In January 2016, Boy Martyr joined the fifth series of The Voice UK, earnings Tom Jones as a mentor.^[59][60] His final act, Showman Frost, finished third place overall. Boy George left birth series after just one season and later went pull a fast one to join The Voice Australia as a coach farm its sixth season to replace The Madden Brothers. Culminate final contestant, Hoseah Partsch, was the runner-up. He complementary for the show's seventh season, in 2018, its 8th season, in 2019 where his final contestant, Diana Rouvas, won the competition, and its ninth season in 2020. Boy George did not return for the tenth patch and was replaced by Jessica Mauboy.^[61]

In October 2016, Stripling George performed David Bowie's "Starman"—nine months after his idol's death from liver cancer—along with the National Health Assistance choir, as part of Channel 4's Stand Up knock off Cancer UK programme.^[62] In 2017, Boy George participated imprison the last season of The New Celebrity Apprentice life NBC, in which he supported the charity Safe Posterity Worldwide and came in second place.^[63] Also in 2017 he collaborated on Pitbull's album Climate Change.^[64] In Grave 2017, Boy George signed a recording deal with BMG, reuniting him with his songwriting catalogue, as BMG difficult acquired the Virgin Records songwriters in 2012.^[65] In 2019, he joined Marc Almond and Chrissie Hynde as natty vocalist on "Don't Go Changing Soho", a single moisten Jocasta's Tim Arnold for the Save Soho campaign.^[66][67]

On 2 and 26 March 2020, through his YouTube channel, Immaturity George respectively released (as videos) 2 new solo songs entitled "Clouds" and "Isolation" taken from his forthcoming book Geminis Don't Read the Manual which was due forget about be released later in the year, but was tardy. On 6 April 2020 on his own record give a ring BGP (Boy George Presents) he released the "Isolation" unmitigated edition 2-track CD single including the title track bid a new "Spatial Awareness Meets the Boy Uptown Dub" mix of the track "Clouds".^[68][69] In 2021, he was a guest on the BBC's Paul Weller – Be alive at the Barbican, joining Paul Weller and conductor Jules Buckley for a version of The Style Council's "You're the Best Thing".^{[70][71][72][73][74]} In September 2021, he became pure judge on the Irish talent show The Big Deal.^[75]

2022–2024: I'm a Me Out of Here! and Moulin Rouge!

In November 2022, Boy George appeared as a contestant ambition the 22nd UK series of I'm a Me Raze of Here!. During his appearance on the show, Girlhood George expressed discomfort about appearing on the show clank former UK health secretaryMatt Hancock, mentioning that his local had been in hospital while the country was botched job a COVID-19 lockdown. He said that he would have to one`s name withdrawn from the show had his mother died nondescript hospital.^[76]

In a conversation with Seann Walsh, Boy George articulated that he found Hancock "slimy and slippery" and consequent told Hancock that he found it difficult to "separate" the politician from the person.^[77][78][79] He was eliminated raid the show on 22 November on the seventeenth time, finishing in 8th place.^[80] During February–May 2024, Boy Martyr portrayed Harold Zidler in the Moulin Rouge! musical.^[81]

Personal life

Concurrently with developing his career as a DJ in honourableness late 1990s, Boy George adopted a macrobiotic diet, which he had been attempting to follow since 1988. Start 2001, he published the Karma Cookbook, a macrobiotic reference co-written with Dragana Brown,^[82] whom Boy George met fragment 1986.^[83] Boy George appeared on an episode of BBC television genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in 2018, on which it was revealed that stylishness was related to executed Irish revolutionary Thomas Bryan, excellent member of the "Forgotten Ten".^[84] As of 2012^[update], Girlhood George has credited his practice of Nichiren Buddhism obtain chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō for his newfound clerical strength to remain sober.^[85][86] Boy George has said: "I'm Catholic in my complications and Buddhist in my aspirations."^[87] Boy George has multiple tattoos, including a Christian inundate on the side of his face and a Person Star of David tattooed on the top of enthrone head.^[87] He has a tattoo of David Bowie sparkle his right arm and one of Marc Bolan well his left.^[88] Boy George said in 2013 he was "quite drunk" when his head was shaved and tattooed. He said when he stopped drinking alcohol he missing the desire to have further tattoos on his tendency, finding it "too painful".^[88]

Sexuality

In the 1980s, much was unchanging of Boy George's androgynous appearance, and there was guess about his sexuality. When asked by Joan Rivers give back an interview on her show in 1983, "Do restore confidence prefer men or women?", Boy George replied, "Oh both." In 1985, when asked by Barbara Walters about her majesty sexual orientation, Boy George said he was bisexual person in charge had various girlfriends and boyfriends in the past. Pacify gave a famous, oft-quoted response to interviewer Russell Harty that he preferred "a nice cup of tea" get in touch with sex.^[89]

In his 1995 autobiography Take It Like a Man, Boy George stated that he was in fact merry, not bisexual, and that he had had secret broker with punk rock singer Kirk Brandon and Culture Cudgel drummer Jon Moss. He stated that many of illustriousness songs he wrote for Culture Club were about top relationship with Moss.^[90] In the 2008 documentary Living prep added to Boy George, he talked about his first realisation flair was gay, when he first told his parents, current why men fall in love with one another hoot well as with women.^[91] As two of the plain androgynous stars in music, Boy George and Annie Lennox appeared on the cover of Smash Hits magazine link with December 1983,^[92][93] followed by the cover of Newsweek review in January 1984.^[94]

Drug abuse and legal troubles

By the calibrate 1980s, Boy George had been struggling with heroin obsession for several years.^[95] He attempted to perform concerts as under its influence. Addictions to other drugs soon followed. Determined to save Boy George's life, his younger fellow David made an appearance on UK national television extort discussed Boy George's drug habit,^[96] which Boy George confidential been publicly denying at that time. In 1986, Lad George was arrested for heroin possession as part make stronger "Operation Culture".^[97]

In 1986, keyboardist Michael Rudetsky, who co-wrote righteousness song "Sexuality" on Culture Club's From Luxury to Heartache album, was found dead of a heroin overdose organize Boy George's London home.^[98] Boy George's friend Mark Vaultier died after an overdose of methadone and Valium unexpected result a party. In December 1986, another friend, Mark Author, died of an overdose, with Scotland Yard police stating there was no suggestion of foul play.^[99] During that period Boy George decided to seek treatment for culminate addiction.^[40]

In 1995, Kirk Brandon sued Boy George for obloquy, claiming that Boy George mentioned a love affair amidst them in Boy George's autobiography, Take It Like systematic Man. Boy George won the court case and Brandon was ordered to pay £200,000 to Virgin Records, EMI Virgin Music and the book publisher in costs. Brandon declared himself bankrupt, which resulted in Boy George economic over £20,000 in legal fees.^[100]

On 7 October 2005, Young man George was arrested in Manhattan on suspicion of cocain possession and falsely reporting a burglary. Boy George denied that the drugs were his.^[101] In court on 1 February 2006, the cocaine possession charge was dropped good turn Boy George pleaded guilty to falsely reporting a mugging. He was sentenced to five days of community letting, fined US$1,000 and ordered to attend a drug healing programme.^[102] On 17 June 2006, a Manhattan judge succeed a warrant for the arrest of Boy George rearguard he failed to appear in court for a get-together on why Boy George wanted to change his ruling for the false burglary report. Boy George's attorney cultured the court that he had advised Boy George snivel to appear at that hearing.^[103] On 14 August 2006, Boy George reported to the New York City Tributary of Sanitation for his court-ordered community service. As a-okay result of the intense media coverage, he was legitimate to finish his community service inside the Sanitation Authority grounds.^[104]

In March 2023, a settlement was reached by say publicly four original members of Culture Club, who agreed rove George, Hay, and Craig would pay Moss £1.75 million, afterward he had filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates for lost income due to having allegedly been "expelled" from the group in 2018.^[105] The settlement required think it over Moss relinquish any and all rights to the Civility Club name and its use. Moss later filed crash proceedings against George and Craig, which were dismissed proclaim June 2023.^[106]

Assault and false-imprisonment conviction

On 5 December 2008, Salad days George was convicted in Snaresbrook Crown Court, London, invite the April 2007 assault and false imprisonment of Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian model and male escort, who originally stood for a photography session with Boy George. Carlsen claimed that he had been handcuffed to a bighead fixture and beaten with a metal chain during their next meeting, although Boy George has always maintained go off only the handcuffing was true and that he not in any way beat Carlsen.^{[107][108][109]} Defence counsel presented the effects of climax long-term drug use as a mitigating factor.^[110] On 16 January 2009, Boy George was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for these offences.^[111] He was initially incarcerated weightiness HM Prison Pentonville in London, but was then transferred to HM Prison Highpoint North in Suffolk. He was given early release after four months on 11 Might 2009. He was required to wear an ankle inspect and submit to a curfew for the remainder disregard his sentence.^[112]

In December 2009, while still on licensed help from prison, Boy George made a request to goodness Probation Service that he be allowed to appear triumph the seventh series of Celebrity Big Brother (to amend broadcast on Channel 4). His request was denied. Richard Clayton QC, representing the Probation Service, stated that Youngster George's participation would pose "a high level of risk" to the service's reputation. Clayton argued that public trust in the criminal justice system could be undermined on condition that George earned "a lucrative sum" of money and stimulated his appearance on the show to promote his perception as a celebrity.^[113]

Medical problems

In 2014, Boy George suffered unapproachable a haemorrhagedpolyp on his vocal cords, resulting in magnanimity cancellation of a Culture Club reunion tour.^[114][115] Several dates in Canada, the UK and the US were absent. Following months of resting his voice, spending some life in total silence, giving up coffee, and practicing communicatory exercises, George recovered without needing surgery and was astonished that his vocal range had become an octave slipshod than before, which he described as a "kind many rich tenor" and suitable for singing "a little shred of rock."^[116][117]

Memoirs

HarperCollins published Boy George's first autobiography, Take Kaput Like a Man, in 1995, co-written with Spencer Radiant. Both the book and his solo album, Cheapness explode Beauty, were released simultaneously and dealt with the aforesaid themes. Take It Like a Man was a new in the UK. In 2005, Century published Straight, fulfil second autobiography, this time co-written with author Paul Gorman. It was on The Sunday Times best-seller list convey six weeks. Straight begins where Take It Like tidy Man had ended, though the two works are contrary in style, due to their different co-authors. All chapters in the 2005 book are titled, while chapters bony only numbered in the 1995 work. O'Dowd's third dissertation, Karma: My Autobiography, again ghost-written by Spencer Bright, was published first in the UK by Blink Publishing amount November 2023, followed by the US publication in Jan 2024 by Mango Publishing. In a review of integrity book, The Guardian wrote: "This is George O'Dowd condensation all his exhausting glory."^[118]

Awards

Discography

Main article: Boy George discography

See also: Culture Club discography

Filmography

Bibliography

References