Boy George needs little introduction. He first shot to international stardom in the 1980’s as the front man of one of the UK’s biggest exports - Culture Club. He has sold over 50 million albums and has had top 10 hits in every country. Singer, actor, DJ, artist, photographer, fashion designer, he has constantly reinvented himself and remains today one of the world’s most recognisable iconic figures.
As the front man of Culture Club—a band that mixed new wave and Boy George's blue-eyed soul with rock and reggae— Boy George took centre stage with his wild outfits and elaborate makeup. His inimitable style and soulful voice brought the attention of audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. His daring style, musical talent and unique persona attracted famous fans such as Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.
The band released its debut album Kissing To Be Clever in 1982. The album's third single, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? reached #1 in sixteen countries and #2 in the United States. Quickly followed by Time (Clock Of The Heart), which reached the US #2, and I'll Tumble 4 Ya, which reached #9, this made Culture Club the first group since the Beatles to have three top 10 hits from a debut album. The group's second album, Colour By Numbers, produced what was arguably their biggest hit, Karma Chameleon. Boy George and Culture Club sold in excess of 100 million singles and over 50 million albums - there was not a country in the world that didn't know the names of Boy George and Culture Club. Boy George was photographed by everyone from Richard Avedon to Lord Snowdon to Steven Meisel.
In 1987 Boy George launched his solo career with the album Sold, which saw several hit singles in the UK. Over the next five years, Boy George would release four more albums; Tense Nervous Headache in 1988, Boyfriend in 1989, High Hat in 1989 and The Martyr Mantras in 1991 on his own label, More Protein. 1992 brought Boy George a huge hit in the USA with a cover of The Crying Game for the movie of the same name. The song was produced by the Pet Shop Boys and later went on to be a No.1 in Canada.
Boy George's prolific song writing continued with Cheapness and Beauty in 1995 and The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit in 1999, with several unreleased recording sessions in between. When Will You Learn was also nominated for a Grammy in the Best Dance Recording category.
Then, beginning in 2001, Boy George helmed the production of his hit musical, Taboo. Performances ran both in London and on Broadway through 2004 and the score was nominated for a Tony Award.
Following Taboo Boy George returned to live work and DJ, he was back on the road doing what he loves best - singing live… stripped down, acoustic, unplugged.
2010 gave Boy George the opportunity to work with Mark Ronson. Somebody to Love Me was taken from Mark Ronson’s recently released and critically acclaimed CD, Record Collection and was picked out as the highlight track and released as a single on 29th November. Mark said: "I wanted to make a song like Do You Really Want To Hurt Me so I decided to get him involved. He was a true professional. It's turned out to be an amazing track…it’s probably the best. George's voice still has that innocence, but now it's like a weather- beaten instrument." And George: “I really enjoyed working with Mark, he is super cool and laid back in the studio which suited me perfectly. It's obvious that he loves the whole vibe of the 80s but I also think he just loves anything that hints of style and integrity.”
At the end of the year Boy George was back on the road ‘live’ but this time with Night of the Proms 2010 - a 35 date sell out European tour, playing to over half a million people, in which he performed his greatest hits with a 70 piece symphonic orchestra, Il Novecento, conducted by Robert Groslot and with choir Fine Fleur.
2011 kicked off with the release of Boy George’s ‘Ordinary Alien’, his first artist album in more than ten years, an accomplished collection of tracks featuring Boy George & Kinky Roland’s faultless mod-pop production.
In May, Boy George was back performing live, this time in front of the world’s most prestigious film stars & directors at the Cannes International Film Festival for ‘Cinema Against AIDS.’ This is amfAR’s (American Federation for AIDS Research) most important event of the year. Over the past 18 years, the Cinema Against AIDS event series has had a significant presence at the Cannes International Film Festival, generating massive global awareness of the AIDS epidemic and raising more than $56 million for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs. Past performers have included Lady Gaga, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Kylie Minogue, Patti Smith, Annie Lennox, Mary J Blige, Kanye West, Lionel Richie, and Sheryl Crow, among many others.
December 2011 saw an official, definitive legacy edition of a stunning new coffee table book ‘King of Queens’ released by Kitchen Sink Publishing. The book revealed a deep and personal journey through Boy George’s fascinating life, from conception until now, in stunning imagery and reflective commentary - only 999 unique pieces will ever exist, each one uniquely numbered, signed and certificated.
It has also been confirmed that Culture Club, featuring the original line-up – Jon Moss, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay and, of course, Boy George, will re-unite in 2012 for their 30th Anniversary, and will record a new album and look to tour shortly after. Culture Club recently took the two top spots in a MTV/Absolute Radio poll of the Greatest Songs of the 80’s with 1. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me & 2. Karma Chameleon.
To Order Boy George's New Book "King of Queens: A Masterpiece for Collectors and Fans": http://www.kingofqueensbook.com/