BOY GEORGE: The Androgynously Stylish 80s Star

“I’ve always felt like an outsider. Even within the groups that I was meant to be part of: gay culture, pop music…”

TRQ: Boy George Born June 14, 1961

Singer, songwriter, and deejay Boy George is most widely known as the androgynously stylish front for the band Culture Club. Emerging from the British New Romantic movement of the 1970s – 80s, Boy George’s award-winning career spans four decades. From his meteoric rise to fame, facing the challenges of celebrity, to navigating the ever-changing entertainment industry, Boy George the artist continues creating with his authenticity intact. 

Boy George was born George Alan O’Dowd on June 14, 1961, in Bexleyheath in South London, England. His family is Irish Catholic. He describes his family’s story to a “sad Irish song.” His working-class father was a builder and boxing coach. His mother was a caregiver in a nursing home. With five siblings, George struggled for attention and emotional support. He describes his father as physically and mentally abusive. His younger brother suffers from schizophrenia and killed his wife during a paranoid episode.

From an early age, George knew he was different. He wore exuberant hats and platform shoes to church and school, which landed him in trouble. He dropped out of school and searched for a relatable social circle. 

He once said, “I’ve never felt at home in any world… I’ve always felt like an outsider. Even within the groups that I was meant to be part of: gay culture, pop music… I was a great wanderer when I was a child, I’d wander off on my own, miles and miles and miles. Happily occupy myself doing whatever. And I’m a bit like that now.”

George found friends in the clubs of London, and together they went to his first live concert to see David Bowie. Inspired by Bowie, Siouxsie, and the Banshees, and Marc Bolan, George’s sense of style caught the attention of photographers and Malcolm McLaren, manager of the Sex Pistols. Mikey Craig, a bassist, approached George about forming a band. The culturally eclectic Culture Club was born with Craig (Jamaican) playing bass, George (Irish) performing vocals, Jon Moss (Jewish) on drums, Roy Hay (English) on keyboards.

Culture Club’s first two albums were enormous hits. Kissing to be Clever (1982) and Colour by Numbers (1983) succeeded because of George’s voice and provocative appearance. Singles like “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” (1982) and “Karma Chameleon” (1983) shot to the top of the charts. In dresses, braids, and elaborate geisha drag, George appeared in striking makeup that required hours of application.  

Unsurprisingly, George’s appearance drew attention, curiosity, and brutal criticism. When asked by Joan Rivers and Barbara Walters about his sexual orientation, he answered that he was bisexual, attracted to both men and women. However, he famously insisted that he preferred “a nice cup of tea” to sex. Unknown to many, George and bandmate Moss had carried on a relationship during Culture Club’s early years.

Also unknown to many, George struggled with addiction to heroin and other drugs during the 80s. In 1986, his addiction issues made headlines. George was arrested for heroin possession. Keyboardist Michael Rudetsky was found dead, having overdosed on heroin in George’s home. Friend Mark Vaultier fatally overdosed on methadone and Valium. Scotland Yard police found no evidence of foul play when friend Mark Golding also died of an overdose.

Worried, younger brother David took to UK national television in 1986 to try to save George’s life. George sought treatment for his addiction. That year, Culture Club broke up after releasing a string of underperforming singles.

By 1987, George had quit heroin and released his solo debut album, Sold. He has approached his solo career without seeking the overwhelming publicity of his Culture Club days.

His Grammy-nominated cover of The Crying Game’s title song (1995) is a highlight of his solo career. The song and video connect themes of gender, identity, and dark romanticism in a way singularly fitting for George. It was a hit.

That year, he also published the autobiography Take It Like a Man (1995), in which he disclosed that he was gay. In the book, George describes his relationships with Moss and punk rock singer Kirk Brandon. Brandon tried unsuccessfully to sue for libel, but George won his case and Brandon declared bankruptcy before paying the £200,000 ordered by the courts.

In 1998, he reunited with Culture Club for the Big Rewind Tour. 

In 2003, George scored and appeared in Taboo, the Tony-nominated musical based on performance artist and fashion designer Leigh Bowery. A hit in London, the production moved to New York with Rose O’Donnell as producer. Taboo ran for a hundred performances and closed on February 8, 2004.

Legal and health issues continued to plague George. He falsely reported a burglary in New York in 2006 and cleaned streets while doing community service. In 2009, he handcuffed and falsely imprisoned model and escort Audun Carlsen, for which he served four months in prison.

In the decade since, George says that he has not consumed drugs or alcohol. 

“I honestly really, really truthfully don’t think about that period of my life very much. Because it’s really unpleasant. And, actually, what I learned from that period was to shut up. If you knew me before then, I had no off button. And going through that whole experience really taught me to protect myself and to just be a little bit more selective about what I talk about.”

Boy George appeared as a judge on The Voice in Australia in 2016. In 2018, he returned to the UK. In 2019, Boy George confirmed that a biopic film was in the works. Hitchcock filmmaker Sacha Gervasi is on board as writer and director. George will is a producer. 

About the Authors

Troy Wise is currently a PhD student at UAL Central St Martins and teaches fashion and graphic design at London College of Contemporary Arts. His background is in marketing and is founder and co-editor of Image Amplified. He lives in, and is continually fascinated by, the city of London.

Rick Guzman earned his most recent MA at UAL Central St Martins in Applied Imagination in the Creative Industries. He currently holds two MA’s and an MBA in the New Media, Journalism and International Business fields. Co-editor at Image Amplified since its start, he lives in London, is fascinated by history and is motivated by continuing to learn and explore.

Sources:

Biography

GLBTQ Archive

Icon

Independent

The Guardian