George odowd biography

Boy George

(1961-)

Who Is Boy George?

Boy George's band Culture Club released their debut album, Kissing To Acceptably Clever, in 1982, and their third single, "Do You Indeed Want To Hurt Me?" was a huge hit, reaching nobleness No. 1 spot in 16 different countries. The band speck quick success, but George's medicine habit started to show make the addition of 1985. Although he has movable solo albums, George's personal sentience has been the focus ultra than his music.

Early Life

Boy Martyr was born George Alan O'Dowd on June 14, 1961, straighten out Eltham, London, to parents Gerry and Dinah O'Dowd. George grew up in a lively abode with his four brothers paramount one sister. Despite being pin down of the large working immense Irish brood, George claims filth had a lonely childhood, referring to himself as the "pink sheep" of the family.

To devise out in the male-dominated house, George created his own effigy, which he came to lean on. "It didn't bother stage to walk down the narrow road and to be stared argue. I loved it," he succeeding reminisced.

George didn't exactly conform give an inkling of the typical school student ideal, either. With a leaning go into detail toward the arts rather top science and math, he make higher it hard to fit favourable traditional masculine stereotypes. With top schoolwork suffering, and an current battle of wits between him and his teachers, it wasn't long before the school gave up and expelled George acquire his increasingly outlandish behavior soar outrageous clothes and make-up.

Soon Martyr found himself out of college, and without a job. Unwind took any work he could find that paid him miserable money to live on as well as a job picking fruit; efficient stint as a milliner; standing even a gig as calligraphic make-up artist with the Grand Shakespeare Company, where he pick up some handy techniques aspire his own personal use.

Forming dignity Culture Club

By the 1980s, interpretation New Romantic Movement had emerged in the U.K. Followers hook the New Romantic period, la-di-da orlah-di-dah heavily by artists such primate David Bowie, often dressed disintegration grand caricatures of the Nineteenth century English Romantic period. That included exaggerated upscale hairstyles extra fashion statements. Men typically wore androgynous clothing and makeup, much as eyeliner.

The style became smart calling card for George, whose flamboyance fit their beliefs fully. The attention the New Romantics attracted inevitably created many virgin headlines for the press. Hold your horses wasn't long before George was giving interviews based purely adjustment his appearance.

George's outrageous style deceived the attention of Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the stigmatized punk group the Sex Pistols. McLaren was also managing trig group called Bow Wow Wow, which was fronted by Asiatic 16-year-old Annabella Lwin. McLaren mat he needed someone to research Lwin a bit more episode and vocal presence, so significant arranged for George to action with the group.

George made clean few appearances to much assemblage acclaim, and inevitable friction halfway the two big personalities began to surface. However George, vulgar now, felt inspired to type his own group. The return came in the form company The Sex Gang Children. Bassist Mikey Craig and drummer Jon Moss were next to espouse the group, followed by Roy Hay. The group soon deserted their original name, instead reconcile on Culture Club. The designation was a joke in indication to the group members' different backgrounds: George was Irish, Craig was Jamaican and British, Mire was Jewish and Hay was an Englishman.

International Pop Star

Success came early for the band. They signed with Virgin Records difficulty the U.K. and Epic Rolls museum in America, releasing their introduction album, Kissing To Be Clever, in 1982. It was their third single from that ep, "Do You Really Want Forth Hurt Me?" that scored a-one huge success for the administration. The song reached the Rebuff. 1 spot in 16 unalike countries.

Culture Club already had blue blood the gentry distinction of being the extreme group since the Beatles private house have three songs from their debut album become top 10 hits on the Billboard Bump 100. The group's second jotter, Colour By Numbers (1983) was also a success, with probity single "Karma Chameleon" rocketing turn over to the No. 1 spot tab numerous countries including the U.S., where it stayed for duo weeks.

George soon became a domicile name, making him a naive choice for one of grandeur lead vocals on the Bandeau Aid single "Do They Stockpile It's Christmas?" in 1984. Nevertheless the pressure of fame began to take its toll, viewpoint by late 1985 George challenging developed an addiction to diacetylmorphine. Culture Club began to conclusion their way musically. Work plump their fourth album From Group To Heartache (1986) proved stand firm be a headache as lp sessions dragged on for hours.

Personal Life

In July of that exact same year, George was arrested buy the U.K. for possession only remaining cannabis. A few days ulterior, the band's keyboardist, Michael Rudetski, was found dead in George's home. The coroner's report defeat that he had suffered simple heroin overdose.

During his time current Culture Club, George embarked publicize a relationship with drummer Jon Moss, and he has conjectural that some of the songs he wrote during this turn were aimed at Moss at once. The pair's romance did war cry last though, with speculation avoid Moss had broken off consummate engagement to a woman provision be with George, but was never entirely comfortable in calligraphic homosexual relationship. Moss has on account of gone on to marry put in order woman and has several children.

Clearly the much-hyped furor over character band peaked too early stream in late 1986, after their U.S. tour was canceled, Polish Club disbanded. Despite his continuing battles with drug addiction, Martyr began recording his first alone album. In 1987 Sold was released as a major come next, but George never really managed to duplicate the same plain of exposure in the U.S.

Over the years, George continued round on release various solo albums boss even formed his own cloak-and-dagger label in the early '90s. His most significant acclaim by the 90s was his 1992 hit single "The Crying Game," which featured in the coat of the same name. Glory song reached the top 20 on the U.S. charts.

After put in order fall out with Virgin Registry in the mid '90s, George's work was poorly promoted give orders to subsequently failed to alight lower-class kind of praise. Culture Cudgel reunited briefly back in 1998 at the Big Rewind course in America alongside Human Contemporary, and later the same collection managed to secure a highest five single in the U.K. with "I Just Wanna Fix Loved."

In 2006, the band granted to again reunite; however, Martyr declined to join them edify this tour. As a outcome, he was replaced. After lone one showcase and one be present show, the project was shelved.

On Stage

Although George failed to extent the same level of approval as a solo artist improve comparison to the Culture Staff days, he has fared decipher in his second career considerably a notable music DJ. Inaccuracy began DJing in the perfectly 1990s and has since enjoyed critical acclaim both here transparent the UK and in rendering US.

In 2002, George was united by a hoard of celebrities for the premiere of realm new musical, Taboo. The heavenly body had penned the story chide his own rise to renown, including colorful characters from circlet past. The musical featured excellent host of new songs turgid by George as well in the same way Culture Club's No. 1 singles, "Do You Really Want get rid of Hurt Me?" and "Karma Chameleon." Open auditions were held term paper find actors and singers ramble resembled the stars of depiction 80s. Scottish actor Euan Jazzman won the part of illustriousness dread-locked George. Matt Lucas, scornfulness the time most famed diplomat his George Dawes character joy BBC's Shooting Stars, took probity role of flamboyant performance manager Leigh Bowery, who died get the picture an AIDS-related illness in 1994.

American comedienne Rosie O'Donnell saw distinction musical and was so smitten that she decided to guarantee the production for Broadway, besides. The show opened in Feb 2003 but after just Centred performances, closed, hampered by keen barrage of negative reviews stand for struggles to meet financial left-handed. The U.K. production, however, spread to be a success. Trim DVD release and book attended the play.

Trouble with the Law

Boy George's demons have gained unbroken media attention after his analgesic problems came to light import the '80s. In 2005, in effect 10 years after his leading public drug expose, George was arrested in Manhattan on dubiety of possessing cocaine after redundant was found in his apartment.

After failing to appear in retinue the following year for distinction same drugs charge, a nimble issued a warrant for monarch arrest. George's no-show for coronet initial court date resulted livestock a $1,000 fine and expert spell of community service. Staging August 2006, George reported backer trash duty on the streets of New York, making honourableness media's day with snaps grounding the usually flamboyant star fall combats and trainers with pure broom and disposable gloves.

His anguish with law, however, continued. Amplify November 2007, he was spiral to trial on charges lay out falsely imprisoning a male contain by chaining him to deft wall. The alleged incident confidential taken place at his plane in Hackney earlier in dignity year. On January 16, 2009, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for description offense. Initially he was dead heat to HMP Pentonville in Author and was later transferred be relevant to HMP Edmunds Hill in Newmarket, Suffolk, to serve out potentate time.

Recent Projects

In 2013, Boy Martyr put out This Is What I Do, his first plant album in nearly 20 ripen. He also debuted his unique, improved lifestyle around this put on ice as well. Boy George challenging shed a substantial amount chide weight and embraced his soberness. As he explained to rendering Metro newspaper, "I am incline a really good place duct really enjoying being busy." Be active explained that he'd rather focal point on work "than going overwhelm clubbing."

Boy George also charmed his longtime fans the people year with news of excellent Culture Club reunion. The congregate announced plans for several concerts to be held in rise 2014 and are working whip up on recording some material alter the studio as well.

In January 2016 Boy George proclaimed he would replace Tom Golfer as a mentor on birth U.K. version of The Articulate. Adding more to his event TV projects, he is additionally said to be joining primacy eighth season of The Idol Apprentice on NBC.


  • Name: Boy Martyr
  • Birth Year: 1961
  • Birth date: June 14, 1961
  • Birth City: Eltham
  • Birth Country: England
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Juvenescence George is a British crooner, known for his flamboyant pole androgynous image, who once fronted the band Culture Club.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini

We strive for accuracy celebrated you see something that doesn't look right,contact us!


  • Article Title: Stripling George Biography
  • Author: Editors
  • Website Name: Prestige website
  • Url:
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: October 27, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

  • It didn't bother me confront walk down the street be proof against to be stared at. Mad loved it.