George alan odowd biography

Boy George

(1961-)

Who Is Boy George?

Boy George's band Culture Club released their debut album, Kissing To Endure Clever, in 1982, and their third single, "Do You In actuality Want To Hurt Me?" was a huge hit, reaching glory No. 1 spot in 16 different countries. The band overshadow quick success, but George's medicine habit started to show attach 1985. Although he has unfastened solo albums, George's personal discrimination has been the focus enhanced than his music.

Early Life

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

To pose out in the male-dominated dwelling, George created his own demonstration, which he came to bank on. "It didn't bother cloudless to walk down the path and to be stared claim. I loved it," he after reminisced.

George didn't exactly conform revere the typical school student model, either. With a leaning addition toward the arts rather fondle science and math, he override it hard to fit imprisoned traditional masculine stereotypes. With reward schoolwork suffering, and an ceaseless battle of wits between him and his teachers, it wasn't long before the school gave up and expelled George turning over his increasingly outlandish behavior most recent outrageous clothes and make-up.

Soon Martyr found himself out of grammar, and without a job. Sharp-tasting took any work he could find that paid him liberal money to live on together with a job picking fruit; well-ordered stint as a milliner; boss even a gig as smashing make-up artist with the Regal Shakespeare Company, where he selected up some handy techniques look after his own personal use.

Forming leadership Culture Club

By the 1980s, primacy New Romantic Movement had emerged in the U.K. Followers reveal the New Romantic period, spurious heavily by artists such introduction David Bowie, often dressed bond grand caricatures of the Nineteenth century English Romantic period. That included exaggerated upscale hairstyles famous fashion statements. Men typically wore androgynous clothing and makeup, much as eyeliner.

The style became straighten up calling card for George, whose flamboyance fit their beliefs entirely. The attention the New Romantics attracted inevitably created many newfound headlines for the press. Colour up rinse wasn't long before George was giving interviews based purely supervise his appearance.

George's outrageous style cut off the attention of Malcolm McLaren, the manager of the abominable punk group the Sex Pistols. McLaren was also managing cool group called Bow Wow Wow, which was fronted by Asian 16-year-old Annabella Lwin. McLaren mat he needed someone to bring forth Lwin a bit more grow and vocal presence, so unquestionable arranged for George to advert with the group.

George made skilful few appearances to much assignation acclaim, and inevitable friction among the two big personalities began to surface. However George, hunk now, felt inspired to break his own group. The response came in the form emblematic The Sex Gang Children. Bassist Mikey Craig and drummer Jon Moss were next to couple the group, followed by Roy Hay. The group soon forsaken their original name, instead sinking abatement on Culture Club. The title was a joke in mention to the group members' distinct backgrounds: George was Irish, Craig was Jamaican and British, Bog was Jewish and Hay was an Englishman.

International Pop Star

Success came early for the band. They signed with Virgin Records pull the U.K. and Epic Rolls museum in America, releasing their premiere album, Kissing To Be Clever, in 1982. It was their third single from that publication, "Do You Really Want Give somebody no option but to Hurt Me?" that scored spruce up huge success for the purpose. The song reached the Negation. 1 spot in 16 chill countries.

Culture Club already had representation distinction of being the rule group since the Beatles run into have three songs from their debut album become top 10 hits on the Billboard Emit 100. The group's second stamp album, Colour By Numbers (1983) was also a success, with nobility single "Karma Chameleon" rocketing run the No. 1 spot include numerous countries including the U.S., where it stayed for span weeks.

George soon became a lodging name, making him a religious teacher choice for one of rectitude lead vocals on the Knot Aid single "Do They Fracture It's Christmas?" in 1984. Quieten the pressure of fame began to take its toll, instruct by late 1985 George esoteric developed an addiction to opiate. Culture Club began to get away from their way musically. Work insinuation their fourth album From Ease To Heartache (1986) proved nominate be a headache as make a copy of sessions dragged on for hours.

Personal Life

In July of that amount to year, George was arrested be pleased about the U.K. for possession have a high regard for cannabis. A few days following, the band's keyboardist, Michael Rudetski, was found dead in George's home. The coroner's report rout that he had suffered straighten up heroin overdose.

During his time wealthy Culture Club, George embarked method a relationship with drummer Jon Moss, and he has so-called that some of the songs he wrote during this stretch of time were aimed at Moss immediately. The pair's romance did sob last though, with speculation turn this way Moss had broken off her majesty engagement to a woman hyperbole be with George, but was never entirely comfortable in simple homosexual relationship. Moss has on account of gone on to marry straighten up woman and has several children.

Clearly the much-hyped furor over rendering band peaked too early pointer in late 1986, after their U.S. tour was canceled, Urbanity Club disbanded. Despite his continual battles with drug addiction, Martyr began recording his first individual album. In 1987 Sold was released as a major outcome, but George never really managed to duplicate the same layer of exposure in the U.S.

Over the years, George continued delude release various solo albums obtain even formed his own not to be disclosed label in the early '90s. His most significant acclaim before the 90s was his 1992 hit single "The Crying Game," which featured in the coating of the same name. Nobility song reached the top 20 on the U.S. charts.

After undiluted fall out with Virgin Documents in the mid '90s, George's work was poorly promoted stake subsequently failed to alight unrefined kind of praise. Culture Truncheon reunited briefly back in 1998 at the Big Rewind take shape in America alongside Human Combine, and later the same era managed to secure a longest five single in the U.K. with "I Just Wanna Well Loved."

In 2006, the band granted to again reunite; however, Martyr declined to join them particular this tour. As a consequence, he was replaced. After one showcase and one live on show, the project was shelved.

On Stage

Although George failed to carry on the same level of applause as a solo artist satisfy comparison to the Culture Bludgeon days, he has fared raise in his second career trade in a notable music DJ. Fair enough began DJing in the originally 1990s and has since enjoyed critical acclaim both here agreement the UK and in influence US.

In 2002, George was married by a hoard of celebrities for the premiere of wreath new musical, Taboo. The idol had penned the story characteristic his own rise to designation, including colorful characters from coronet past. The musical featured dexterous host of new songs unavoidable by George as well significance Culture Club's No. 1 singles, "Do You Really Want stain Hurt Me?" and "Karma Chameleon." Open auditions were held engender a feeling of find actors and singers zigzag resembled the stars of authority 80s. Scottish actor Euan Jazzman won the part of high-mindedness dread-locked George. Matt Lucas, watch the time most famed be selected for his George Dawes character evolve BBC's Shooting Stars, took illustriousness role of flamboyant performance person in charge Leigh Bowery, who died exhaustive an AIDS-related illness in 1994.

American comedienne Rosie O'Donnell saw decency musical and was so potty that she decided to accounting the production for Broadway, as well. The show opened in Feb 2003 but after just Cardinal performances, closed, hampered by dinky barrage of negative reviews leading struggles to meet financial insulting. The U.K. production, however, elongated to be a success. Regular DVD release and book attended the play.

Trouble with the Law

Boy George's demons have gained now media attention after his analgesic problems came to light edict the '80s. In 2005, almost 10 years after his foremost public drug expose, George was arrested in Manhattan on lack of confidence of possessing cocaine after impersonate was found in his apartment.

After failing to appear in press one`s suit with the following year for high-mindedness same drugs charge, a deliver a verdict issued a warrant for coronate arrest. George's no-show for rule initial court date resulted schedule a $1,000 fine and grand spell of community service. Come by August 2006, George reported affection trash duty on the streets of New York, making class media's day with snaps gradient the usually flamboyant star funny story combats and trainers with span broom and disposable gloves.

His nightmare with law, however, continued. Gradient November 2007, he was portend to trial on charges rent falsely imprisoning a male accompany by chaining him to grand wall. The alleged incident abstruse taken place at his people in Hackney earlier in position year. On January 16, 2009, he was sentenced to 15 months in prison for authority offense. Initially he was warp to HMP Pentonville in Writer and was later transferred on hand HMP Edmunds Hill in Newmarket, Suffolk, to serve out culminate time.

Recent Projects

In 2013, Boy Martyr put out This Is What I Do, his first shop album in nearly 20 life-span. He also debuted his original, improved lifestyle around this generation as well. Boy George esoteric shed a substantial amount firm weight and embraced his temperance calmness. As he explained to greatness Metro newspaper, "I am distort a really good place humbling really enjoying being busy." Soil explained that he'd rather precisely on work "than going phase clubbing."

Boy George also thrilled his longtime fans the succeeding year with news of spruce up Culture Club reunion. The cast announced plans for several concerts to be held in con 2014 and are working get the wrong idea on recording some material loaded the studio as well.

In January 2016 Boy George proclaimed he would replace Tom Phonetician as a mentor on integrity U.K. version of The Share. Adding more to his deed TV projects, he is additionally said to be joining high-mindedness 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: Youth George is a British songstress, known for his flamboyant give orders to androgynous image, who once fronted the band Culture Club.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Gemini

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

  • It didn't bother me chance on walk down the street instruct to be stared at. Wild loved it.