Boy George Biography, Photos and Posters

Boy George

Biography

Born: June 14, 1961
Hometown: Kent, England
Instrument: Vocalist
Music Training:
Awards: 1983 Grammy Best New Artist
Top Recordings: "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," "Time (Clock of the Heart)," "Church of the Poison Mind," It's a Miracle," "Miss Me Blind," "Move Away," "The Crying Game"
Boy George biography: George Alan O'Dowd the cross dressing lead singer of the 80s new wave rock group Culture Club was the son of Dinah and Jerry O'Dowd a boxing club manager. During the early 70s he was an ardent follower of glam rock artists David Bowie and T. Rex.

During the post punk late 70s George, best known for his extravagant style, became a regular at London's new romantic clubs. He briefly joined Bow Wow Wow at the invitation of Malcolm McLaren, but soon left to form his own group In Praise of Lemmings with bassist Mikey Craig. After guitarist Jon Suede joined the group they changed their name to Sex Gang Children. They were soon joined by professional drummer Jon Moss and George changed the groups name to Culture Club when Roy Hay replaced Jon Suede. After their demos for EMI Records were rejected they signed a contract with Richard Branson's Virgin Records in early 1982. Neither of their first offerings "White Boy" and "I'm Afraid of Me" made the charts, but Boy George began to capture the imagination of the British fashion press. By the fall their latest effort "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," hit the top of the U. K. charts while the album Kissing to Be Clever reached the fifth spot on the charts. "Time (Clock of the Heart)" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" both reached number 2 on the U. S. charts. Shortly thereafter "Church of the Poison Mind," attained the same spot on the British charts. By the time their follow up album Colour By Numbers was released in the fall of 83 they had become the most popular group in both the U. K. and the U. S. and their single "Karma Chameleon" became the top seller on both sides of the Atlantic. Both "It's a Miracle" and "Miss Me Blind" made the top 10 in 1984 while their album Waking Up With the House on Fire reached number 2 in the U. K. it was a disappointment in the U. S.

The year 1985 would soon prove to be the beginning of the end for the group. Craig, Moss, and Hay chose to pursue other venues for the time being while George who had earlier denounced drug use became himself addicted to heroin. His romance with Moss, which was concealed from the public began to fall apart. Although the groups initial reunion release "Move Away," made the charts in April their album From Luxury to Heartache lasted only a few months on the charts. Meanwhile George, fighting his heroin addiction, was arrested for Marijuana possession. With George now also addicted to prescription drugs the groups disbanded in 1987. In 1992 his cover of Dave Berry's "The Crying Game" was featured in the Academy Awards nominated film of the same name.
Disbanded: 1987

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