{{Short description|British musician (born 1961)}} {{Use British English|date=November 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Boy George | image = 20260510 Senhit Boy George NZ93429 (cropped2).jpg | caption = Boy George in 2026 | birth_name = George Alan O'Dowd | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|6|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = Barnehurst, Kent, England | other_names = {{hlist|George|Angela Dust<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outinperth.com/7-things-might-know-boy-george/|title=7 Things You Might Not Know About Boy George|date=14 June 2014|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628174311/https://www.outinperth.com/7-things-might-know-boy-george/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | occupation = {{hlist|Musician|singer|songwriter|DJ|mixed media artist}} | years_active = {{Start date|1980}}–present | website = {{URL|boygeorgeandcultureclub.net}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes <!--See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians--> | genre = {{flatlist| * Pop * new wave * blue-eyed soul<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/boy-george-this-is-what-i-do | title=The Very Good Boy George | work=Interview | first=Gerry | last=Visco | date=22 April 2014 | access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref> }} | instrument = {{flatlist| * Vocals * turntables }} | discography = Boy George discography | label = {{flatlist| * EMI * Virgin * Epic * Sire * More Protein * Plan A * Very Me * Kobalt * BMG }} | current_member_of = Culture Club | past_member_of = {{flatlist| * Jesus Loves You * Bow Wow Wow * Band Aid }} }} }} '''George Alan O'Dowd''' (born 14 June 1961), known professionally as '''Boy George''', is a British musician, songwriter and DJ who rose to fame as the lead singer of the pop band Culture Club. He is also a solo artist and was the lead singer of the band Jesus Loves You. Boy George's music spans several genres, including pop, new wave, soul, soft rock, disco and reggae.
Boy George grew up in Eltham and was part of the New Romantic movement which emerged in the late 1970s to early 1980s. His androgynous look and style of fashion was greatly inspired by glam rock pioneers David Bowie and Marc Bolan. He formed Culture Club with Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss in 1981. The band's second album, ''Colour by Numbers'' (1983), sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Their hit singles include "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", "Time (Clock of the Heart)", "I'll Tumble 4 Ya", "Church of the Poison Mind", "Karma Chameleon", "Victims", "Miss Me Blind", "It's a Miracle", "The War Song", "Move Away" and "I Just Wanna Be Loved".
Boy George was the lead singer of Jesus Loves You between 1989 and 1992, which produced the hits "Bow Down Mister" and "Generations of Love". He began his career as a DJ in the mid-1990s. After commencing a career as a solo artist in 1987, Boy George has released 11 solo studio albums, five compilation albums and forty-eight singles. He has also released seven DJ albums, three EPs and a soundtrack album. His solo hit songs include "Everything I Own", "Love Is Leaving" and "The Crying Game", from the soundtrack for the film ''The Crying Game''. George has continued to perform with Culture Club, who have reformed twice since initially parting ways in 1986. Outside of music, Boy George's other creative activities involve mixed media art, writing books, designing clothes and photography. He has also made several appearances in television, which include a 4th season episode of The A-Team, the 22nd UK series of ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' in November 2022, eventually finishing in eighth place. In 2026, he was featured in Senhit's song "Superstar" with uncredited vocals, which represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest that year. Ultimately, San Marino failed to qualify.
Boy George has received several awards as a solo artist and as a member of Culture Club. In 2001, he was voted 46th in a BBC poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Top 100 Great Britons: 11–100 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/genres/factual/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021204214727/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/greatbritons/list.shtml/ |archive-date=4 December 2002 |access-date=30 December 2023 |publisher=BBC }}</ref> In 2015, Boy George received an Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for Outstanding Services to British Music.<ref>[http://theivors.com/boy-george/ "Boy George, The Ivors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101082201/http://theivors.com/boy-george/ |date=1 January 2018 }}. The Ivors. Retrieved 31 December 2017</ref>
==Early life== Boy George was born George Alan O'Dowd at Barnehurst Hospital, Kent, England, on 14 June 1961 and raised in Eltham.<ref name="biography.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/people/boy-george-433170|title=Boy George Biography: Singer (1961–)|publisher=Biography.com (FYI / A&E Networks)|access-date=28 January 2016|archive-date=14 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114213348/http://www.biography.com/people/boy-george-433170|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is the second of five children born to builder Jerry O'Dowd (born Jeremiah; 1934–2004) and Dinah O'Dowd (born Christina Glynn; 1939–2023<ref>{{cite news |last=Finn |first=Melanie |date=15 March 2023 |title=Boy George thankful for support after "devastating" death of mother Dinah (84) |work=Irish Independent |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/boy-george-thankful-for-support-after-devastating-death-of-mother-dinah-84-42386505.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="bbc201901">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46986242|title=Boy George: The things I've learned|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=27 January 2019|access-date=7 June 2019|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406131116/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-46986242|url-status=live}}</ref>). He was raised in a working-class Irish Catholic family; his father was born in England of Irish descent and his mother was from Dublin. He has one older brother, two younger brothers and a younger sister. He also has an older half-brother, who was born out of wedlock in Dublin in 1957 when his mother was 18; she moved to London with him to start a new life and escape the stigma of being an unmarried mother.<ref name="independent2007">{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Barry |title=My life with a handsome bastard |url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/my-life-with-a-handsome-bastard-26285263.html |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=Irish Independent |date=4 March 2007 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406124917/https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/my-life-with-a-handsome-bastard-26285263.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="guardian2007">{{cite news |last1=Iley |first1=Chrissy |title=Chrissy Iley talks to Boy George's mum Dinah O'Dowd |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jan/16/popandrock.biography |access-date=10 January 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=16 January 2007 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406123635/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jan/16/popandrock.biography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Boy George |url=https://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/b/boy-george |website=Wilde Life |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406125342/https://www.wilde-life.com/encyclopedia/b/boy-george |url-status=live }}</ref>
Boy George has compared his family history to a "sad Irish song." His maternal grandmother was permanently taken from her family at age six after being found outside the family home alone, and placed into an Industrial School. His great uncle Thomas Bryan was executed at Mountjoy Prison in 1921 during the Irish War of Independence.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crawley |first1=Peter |title=Boy George: 'My Irish family's story is like a great Irish song, a lament' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/boy-george-my-irish-family-s-story-is-like-a-great-irish-song-a-lament-1.3576314 |access-date=10 January 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=26 July 2018 |archive-date=27 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727231244/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/boy-george-my-irish-family-s-story-is-like-a-great-irish-song-a-lament-1.3576314 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Boy George's mother, who published a memoir in 2007, Jerry O'Dowd was physically and mentally abusive and beat her, including when she was pregnant with Boy George.<ref name="guardian2007"/> Boy George said of his father, "He was a terrible father and a terrible husband."<ref name="independent2007"/> In 1995, Boy George's youngest brother Gerald, who has schizophrenia, was convicted of killing his wife in an episode of paranoia.<ref name="guardian2007"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Brother of Boy George Convicted of Killing Wife |url=https://www.apnews.com/9d9d9c130b84860941c684f762ed2acf |access-date=10 January 2019 |work=Associated Press News |date=21 December 1995 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406125553/https://apnews.com/9d9d9c130b84860941c684f762ed2acf |url-status=live }}</ref>
Boy George attended Middle Park Infant School and later attended Eltham Green Secondary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/25305411.culture-club-boy-georges-links-eltham/|title=The Karma Chameleon superstar pop singer who was raised in Eltham|date=12 July 2025|website=News Shopper}}</ref> He has said that he found every possible excuse to avoid going to school, and that he was "'good at art, not bad at English – and appalling at maths'". He added, "'I left school with absolutely no qualifications. I missed every exam. Once I'd learned to read and write, I wasn't interested in school any more'".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musictimes.com/articles/101908/20240331/boy-george-denied-high-school-visit-over-fears-will-bring.htm|title=Boy George Denied a Visit to His High School Over Fears He Will Bring Back Its 'Bad Reputation'|first=Erika|last=Dee|date=31 March 2024|website=Music Times}}</ref> Boy George has said that he was dismissed from school at age 15 after he dyed his hair orange. He has worked as a fruit picker, a printer, a makeup artist, and a model.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/boy-george-first-people-magazine-feature-culture-club-interview-read-8425534|title=Inside Boy George's First PEOPLE Feature — Opening Up About Culture Club and His Genderfluid Style in 1983!|website=People|last=Fricke|first=David |date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
Boy George was a follower of the New Romantic movement, which was popular in the UK in the early 1980s. He lived in various squats around Warren Street in Central London.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timeout.com/london/music/boy-georges-old-squat-it-happened-here |title=Boy George's old squat: It happened here |work=Time Out |access-date=29 December 2013 |archive-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628233443/https://www.timeout.com/london/music/boy-georges-old-squat-it-happened-here |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/sep/03/criminalising-squatters-hurts-british-music |title=Criminalising squatters will hurt British pop music |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=29 December 2013 |date=3 September 2012 |last1=Myers |first1=Ben |archive-date=31 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731104142/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/sep/03/criminalising-squatters-hurts-british-music |url-status=live }}</ref> He and his friend Marilyn were regulars at Blitz,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theblitzkids.com/site_archive/theblitzkids/menuboy.html |title=Boy George |publisher=The Blitz Kids |access-date=25 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830193512/http://theblitzkids.com/site_archive/theblitzkids/menuboy.html |archive-date=30 August 2011 }}</ref> a London nightclub run by Steve Strange and Rusty Egan.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/13/steve-strange | title=Steve Strange obituary| first=Adam |last=Sweeting|date= 13 February 2015 |access-date= 28 January 2016| archive-date=29 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229102019/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/feb/13/steve-strange| url-status=live}}</ref> The pop artists that inspired him were Siouxsie and the Banshees, Roxy Music, Patti Smith,<ref>{{citation |first=Steve |last=Baltin |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/greatest-of-all-time/6760743/boy-george-top-5-pop-bands-of-all-time |title=Boy George Picks His Top 5 Pop Bands of All Time |magazine=Billboard |date=12 November 2015 |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=4 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204053440/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/greatest-of-all-time/6760743/boy-george-top-5-pop-bands-of-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref> and the two major glam rock pioneers, David Bowie and T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan.<ref name="Glam influence">{{citation |first=Robin |last=Murray |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/boy-george-how-to-make-a-pop-idol |title=Boy George: How To Make A Pop Idol |work=Clash |date=30 October 2013 |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220084907/http://www.clashmusic.com/features/boy-george-how-to-make-a-pop-idol |url-status=live }}</ref> On the impact of Bolan and Bowie on him, Boy George said:
{{Blockquote|They represented a kind of bohemian existence that I—at that point—could only imagine living. I loved the music. The first time I ever saw Marc Bolan really, properly was singing "Metal Guru" and just loved him. I don't think you can separate an artist from what they wear or what they sing—it's kind of the complete package. It's something which is very organic and individual.<ref name="Glam influence"/>}}
==Career== ===Culture Club=== {{Main|Culture Club}} Boy George's androgynous style of dressing caught the attention of music entrepreneur Malcolm McLaren (previously the manager of the Sex Pistols), who arranged for Boy George to perform with the group Bow Wow Wow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.annecarlini.com/ex_interviews.php?id=635|last=Trunk|first=Russell A.|year=2005|title='80s – Bow Wow Wow (2006)|work=Exclusive Magazine|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510205433/http://annecarlini.com/ex_interviews.php?id=635|url-status=live}}</ref> Going by the stage name Lieutenant Lush, his tenure with Bow Wow Wow proved problematic with lead singer Annabella Lwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smoothradio.com/features/boy-george-facts-net-worth-age-real-name-songs/|title=Boy George facts: Net worth, age, real name, songs and more|publisher=Smooth Radio|date=19 June 2018|access-date=27 June 2018|archive-date=28 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628015538/http://www.smoothradio.com/features/boy-george-facts-net-worth-age-real-name-songs/|url-status=live}}</ref> Boy George left the group and started his own band with bassist Mikey Craig. They were joined by Jon Moss (who had drumming stints with the Damned and Adam and the Ants) and then guitarist Roy Hay. Originally they were named Sex Gang Children,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.biography.com/musician/boy-george | title=Boy George | access-date=17 December 2021 | archive-date=3 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603185028/https://www.biography.com/musician/boy-george | url-status=live }}</ref> but they later settled on the name Culture Club. The band formed in 1981.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/boy-george-and-culture-club-drummer-jon-moss-get-candid-about-their-sexually-charged-first-meeting-absolutely-smitten-11747189|title=Boy George and Culture Club Drummer Jon Moss Revisit Their Sexually Charged First Band Rehearsal: 'Instant Flirtation'|website=People|last=Helligar|first=Jeremy|date=6 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/film-tv/boy-george-and-culture-club-release-new-single-for-the-first-time-in-20-years-296622/|title=Boy George and Culture Club release new single for the first time in 20 years|website=attitiude.com|first=Steve|last=Brown|date=31 July 2018}}</ref> {{Quote box | width = 29% | align = right | quote = Britain, home of the brave new world of pop, has kept lobbing them over. One need only look at the current charts, which are flecked with such dauntless new-music wunderkinds as Eurythmics and Madness, not to mention the unlikeliest pop scion of them all, by george: Boy George O'Dowd of Culture Club. | source = —Anglomania: The Second British Invasion, by Parke Puterbaugh for ''Rolling Stone'', November 1983<ref>{{cite news |title=Anglomania: The Second British Invasion |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anglomania-the-second-british-invasion-52016/ |access-date=29 April 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430072719/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/anglomania-the-second-british-invasion-52016/ |url-status=live }}</ref> }} thumb|Boy George visual classic with Culture Club. The band recorded demos that were paid for by EMI Records, but the label declined to sign them. Virgin Records expressed interest in signing the group in the UK for European releases, while Epic Records handled the US and North American distribution. They recorded their debut album, ''Kissing to Be Clever'' (UK No. 5, US No. 14), and it was released in 1982. The single "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" became an international hit, reaching No. 1 in multiple countries around the world, plus top ten in several more countries (US No. 2). This was followed by the Top 5 hit "Time" in the US and UK, and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" which reached US No. 9. This gave Culture Club the distinction of being the first group since the Beatles to have three Top 10 hits in the US from a debut album.<ref>{{cite web|title=Culture Club the distinction of being the first group since The Beatles to have three Top Ten hits in America from a debut album|url=http://www.electricsoulshow.com/component/tags/tag/447-culture-club-the-distinction-of-being-the-first-group-since-the-beatles-to-have-three-top-ten-hits-in-america-from-a-debut-album|website=Electricsoulshow.com|access-date=8 March 2017|archive-date=9 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309060937/http://www.electricsoulshow.com/component/tags/tag/447-culture-club-the-distinction-of-being-the-first-group-since-the-beatles-to-have-three-top-ten-hits-in-america-from-a-debut-album|url-status=live}}</ref>
Their next album, ''Colour By Numbers'', was an enormous success, topping the UK charts and reaching No. 2 in the US. The single "Church of the Poison Mind" became a Top 10 hit, and "Karma Chameleon" was an international hit, peaking at No. 1 in 16 countries, and the top ten in additional countries. In the US it hit No. 1, where it stayed for three weeks. It was the best-selling single of 1983 in the United Kingdom, where it spent six weeks at No. 1.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Scaping |chapter=Top 100 singles: 1983 |title=BPI Year Book 1984 |publisher=British Phonographic Industry |pages=42–43 |date=1984 |isbn=0-906154-04-9}}</ref> "Victims" and "It's a Miracle" were further Top 5 UK hits, while "Miss Me Blind" reached the Top 5 in the US.<ref>{{cite news |title=Culture Club chart history |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/culture-club |access-date=14 November 2021 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114154447/https://www.billboard.com/music/culture-club |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Boy George's outfit, Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood.JPG|thumb|upright|Reflecting his theatrical make-up and androgynous fashion, one of Boy George's outfits on display at the Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood]]
The band's third album, ''Waking Up with the House on Fire'' (UK No. 2, US No. 26), was not as big a hit as its predecessors internationally, but still achieved chart success. The first single, "The War Song", was a No. 2 hit in the UK, but further singles performed below expectations. On 25 November 1984, Boy George provided a joint lead vocal role on the Band Aid charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" recorded at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, west London. He was the last solo artist to deliver his lines, at 6 pm, having just arrived in the studio from Heathrow Airport after a Concorde transatlantic flight.<ref>Presenter: Midge Ure (21 October 2004). ''Band Aid: The Song That Rocked the World''. BBC (TV Documentary).</ref> The song featured mostly British and Irish musical acts, with Boy George the second singer to feature after Paul Young sings the opening lines.<ref>{{cite news |title=Flashback: Band Aid Raises Millions With 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-1984-geldof-761428/ |access-date=27 November 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=27 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127041125/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-1984-geldof-761428/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It became Christmas number one and the best-selling single of 1984 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Top 100 Singles |periodical=Music Week |publisher=Morgan-Grampian plc |location=London, England |page=37 |date=26 January 1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Scaping |chapter=Top 100 singles: 1984 |title=BPI Year Book 1985 |publisher=British Phonographic Industry |edition=7th |pages=46–47 |date=1985 |isbn=0-906154-06-5}}</ref> Proceeds from the song were donated to feed famine victims in Africa during the 1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643506/looking-back-at-live-aid-25-years-later.jhtml "Looking Back At Live Aid, 25 Years Later"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219224029/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643506/looking-back-at-live-aid-25-years-later.jhtml |date=19 December 2011 }}. MTV. Retrieved 22 October 2016</ref> Unlike many of the bands featured on the single, Culture Club did not perform at Live Aid in July 1985.<ref>{{cite web |first= David |last= Chiu |title= Goodbye Is Forever: Duran Duran, Live Aid & the End of the Second British Invasion |website= Medium |date= 10 July 2015 |access-date= 15 January 2017 |url= https://medium.com/cuepoint/goodbye-is-forever-duran-duran-live-aid-the-end-of-the-second-british-invasion-c961b7dd1b9c |archive-date= 10 January 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170110090539/https://medium.com/cuepoint/goodbye-is-forever-duran-duran-live-aid-the-end-of-the-second-british-invasion-c961b7dd1b9c |url-status= live }}</ref>
In 1986, Boy George performed a guest-starring cameo role in an episode of the television series ''The A-Team'' titled "CowBoy George".<ref>{{citation |last=Mordente |first=Tony |title=Cowboy George |date=11 February 1986 |work=The A-Team |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0504160/ |access-date=29 September 2025 |others=George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz}}</ref> Also in 1986, Culture Club released their fourth album, ''From Luxury to Heartache'' (UK No. 10, US No. 32), which featured the hit single "Move Away".{{cn|date=March 2026}}
With Boy George's subsequent drug addiction, the underwhelming performance of their last two albums, a soured romance between band members shrouded in secrecy,{{cn|date=March 2026}} and a wrongful death lawsuit looming,<ref name=rudetsky>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/archive/boy-george-flirts-with-tragedy-and-faces-a-lawsuit-vol-26-no-21/|title=Boy George Flirts with Tragedy and Faces a Lawsuit|work=People|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625021819/https://people.com/archive/boy-george-flirts-with-tragedy-and-faces-a-lawsuit-vol-26-no-21/|url-status=live}}</ref> the group ultimately disbanded in 1986.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/22/boy-george-and-culture-club-members-pay-ex-drummer-175m-after-legal-dispute|title=Boy George and Culture Club members pay ex-drummer £1.75m after legal dispute|first=Ben|last=Beaumont-Thomas|date=22 March 2023|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>
====Reunions==== In July 1998, a reunited Culture Club performed three dates in Monte Carlo and then joined the Human League and Howard Jones in a "Big Rewind" tour of the US. The following month, the band appeared on the ''Late Show with David Letterman'' and made an appearance in Britain, their first in 14 years. Later that year, the band hit the UK charts at No.4 with "I Just Wanna Be Loved" and later a top 25 hit with "Your Kisses are Charity". A new Culture Club album, ''Don't Mind If I Do'', was released in 1999. In 2006, the band decided to again reunite and tour, but Boy George declined to join them. As a result, two members of Culture Club replaced him with vocalist Sam Butcher. Boy George expressed his displeasure.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6043794.stm |title=Boy George slams new Club singer |work=BBC News |location=London, England |date=12 October 2006 |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-date=6 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206015618/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6043794.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> After only one showcase and one live show, the project was shelved. thumb|left|Boy George with Culture Club at the New Year's Eve concert in Sydney, Australia, December 2011|216x216px On 27 January 2011, Boy George announced a 30th anniversary Culture Club reunion tour sometime later in the year, and a new album for 2012.<ref>[http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/86557/boy-george-and-his-sparkly-hat-promise-culture-club-reunion/ "Boy George and His Sparkly Hat Promise Culture Club Reunion – Amplifier"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013075126/http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/amplifier/86557/boy-george-and-his-sparkly-hat-promise-culture-club-reunion |date=13 October 2011 }}. Yahoo! Music.com (27 January 2011). Retrieved 27 March 2011.</ref> Although the 2011 tour never took place, Culture Club did play two live concerts, in Dubai and Sydney, the latter being a New Year's Eve concert. In 2014, the band were back together, publishing a new picture of the four members was also posted, along with a list of 11 concert dates through the UK. Alison Moyet would be a special guest at the concerts. The band were scheduled to perform dates in America in 2014 before the UK tour in December.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/09/20/80s-pop-legends-culture-club-featuring-boy-george-are-returning-to-london-for-a-one-off-show-6139974/|title=Boy George's band Culture Club are playing a one-off London show|date=20 September 2016|work=Metro|access-date=26 January 2018|archive-date=27 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083932/http://metro.co.uk/2016/09/20/80s-pop-legends-culture-club-featuring-boy-george-are-returning-to-london-for-a-one-off-show-6139974/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The band was scheduled to tour New Zealand in 2016. Tickets were sold for performances in Christchurch and Auckland. In November 2016, in a pre-tour interview on TVNZ, Boy George walked out after the interviewer asked him about his 2009 criminal conviction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Toni Street: I won't get into a 'public slagging match' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/86074148/boy-george-walks-out-of-interview-with-toni-street-on-seven-sharp |access-date=19 May 2019 |agency=Stuff |date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424203029/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/86074148/boy-george-walks-out-of-interview-with-toni-street-on-seven-sharp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Watch: Boy George walks out of Seven Sharp interview, Christchurch show later cancelled |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11741562 |access-date=19 May 2019 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406122747/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11741562 |url-status=live }}</ref> The band then cancelled its Christchurch performance, saying it was due to changes in its international touring schedule.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Emily |title=Boy George cancels Christchurch show |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86080883/boy-george-cancels-christchurch-show |access-date=19 May 2019 |agency=stuff |date=4 November 2016 |archive-date=15 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415032840/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86080883/boy-george-cancels-christchurch-show |url-status=live }}</ref> Later in November, the December performance in Auckland was also cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |title=Culture Club cancel New Zealand tour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86710000/culture-club-cancel-new-zealand-tour |access-date=19 May 2019 |agency=Press |date=21 November 2016 |archive-date=22 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422091841/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/86710000/culture-club-cancel-new-zealand-tour |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Other career endeavors=== ====Late 1980s==== thumb|upright|Boy George in 1988 After the dissolution of Culture Club in 1986, Boy George entered treatment and was prescribed narcotics to treat his addiction to heroin. In 1987, Boy George released his first solo album, ''Sold'', which garnered success in Europe. It spawned the UK singles "Everything I Own" (UK No. 1), "Keep Me in Mind" (UK No. 29), "To Be Reborn" (UK No. 13), and the title song, "Sold" (UK No. 24). The singles were also hits in various other European countries. The album's success, however, was not duplicated in America. This may have been due in part to the fact that Boy George was prohibited by US authorities from travelling to the United States for several years because of his British drug charges.<ref name="drugs">{{cite news |title=Mr. Clean: Boy George Straightens Up His Act |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mr-clean-boy-george-straightens-up-his-act-83076/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |magazine=Rolling stone |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730170058/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/mr-clean-boy-george-straightens-up-his-act-83076/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was therefore unable to be in America to help promote the album.
Boy George did score his first solo US Top 40 hit with the single "Live My Life" (US No. 40) from the soundtrack to the film ''Hiding Out''. ''Tense Nervous Headache'' (1988) and ''Boyfriend'' (1989) would be his next two internationally released albums; however, these two albums would not be distributed in the US. Instead, Virgin Records selected several songs from each of these albums for a North American-only release called ''High Hat'' (1989). ''High Hat'' scored a US Top 5 R&B hit in "Don't Take My Mind on a Trip", produced by Teddy Riley. Boy George's next single in the UK was "No Clause 28 (Emilio Pasqez Space Face Full Remix)", a protest song against a legal provision (Section 28) introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government that prohibited the promotion of homosexuality by local authorities such as schools.<ref name="Brit Moments"/> The song was an underground acid house hit. In accepting the award for Best British Group from Boy George at the 1989 Brit Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Andy Bell of Erasure kissed Boy George on stage to cheers from the crowd, with Bell stating it was an act in protest against Section 28.<ref name="Brit Moments">{{cite news |title=Brit Awards 2021: From Geri to Jarvis – the biggest moments in show's history |url=https://news.sky.com/story/brit-awards-2021-from-geri-to-jarvis-the-biggest-moments-in-shows-history-11933822 |access-date=14 November 2021 |publisher=Sky News |archive-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114142154/https://news.sky.com/story/brit-awards-2021-from-geri-to-jarvis-the-biggest-moments-in-shows-history-11933822 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====1990s==== {{Listen|filename=01-Bow Down Mister (A Small Portion 2 B Polite Mix).ogg |title=Bow Down Mister (A Small Portion 2 B Polite Mix) excerpt|description=An excerpt from ''Bow Down Mister (A Small Portion 2 B Polite Mix)''}} In 1989, Boy George formed his own record label, More Protein, and began recording under the name Jesus Loves You, writing under the pseudonym Angela Dust, a word play on angel dust. He released several underground hits in the early 1990s: "After the Love", "Generations of Love" and "Bow Down Mister", the last giving him a UK Top 30 hit in 1991. Inspired by his involvement in the Hare Krishna movement (ISKCON),<ref>Boy George with Spencer Bright, ''Take It Like a Man'' (Harper Collins, First U.S. Edition, 1995) pp. 481–482. On page 482, he says, "I enjoy the rituals of offering obeisances to Krishna and chanting, especially when there are hundreds of devotees jumping and banging drums. At that moment it seems like the human ego is truly transcended. I do find the sexual attitudes far too rigid, though I admit the cycle of desire is fraught with anxiety and disappointment. I don't choose to cut off from it, maybe I enjoy the pain." On page 481 he says, "'Bow Down Mister' swept me up in a spiritual whirl and I became an unlikely queer envoy for Krishna Consciousness."</ref> Boy George had written the song during a trip to India. Another single, "One on One", featured a remix by Massive Attack. From March 1990 to April 1991, Boy George presented a weekly chat and music show on the Power Station satellite channel called Blue Radio. In 1992, Boy George had a hit with the Pet Shop Boys-produced song "The Crying Game", from the soundtrack for the film ''The Crying Game''. The song reached number 22 in the UK Singles Chart, and number 15 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' complimented Boy George's "genius reading" of the song.<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: D.C. Gets In Step With AIDS-Related Issues |magazine= Billboard |date= 10 April 1993 |page= 26 |access-date= 8 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-04-10.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick |archive-date= 17 December 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211217142637/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-04-10.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> Dave Sholin from the ''Gavin Report'' commented, "It's been said again and again that all any performer needs is the right material to have a hit. Boy George is just the right singer to resurrect this song".<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Dave |last= Sholin |title= Singles |magazine= Gavin Report |date= 19 February 1993 |page= 52 |access-date= 16 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-Report-1993-02-19.pdf |archive-date= 8 March 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210308151717/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Gavin-Report/90/93/Gavin-Report-1993-02-19.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref>
Boy George has also enjoyed a second career as a notable music DJ.<ref>For example, in 2001 he toured the U.S. and Canada as part of the "Big DJ, Small Club" series, sponsored by Benson & Hedges. Michel Raphael, "Bean there". ''National Post'', 14 August 2001: B1, B2.</ref> His first gig as a DJ was at Phillip Sallon's new nightclub, Planets, located in London's Piccadilly. In the 1990s he came to the attention of rave/house promoters Fantazia who asked him to mix one of the discs on the two volumes in their new compilation series ''Fantazia The House Collection 2''. This compilation was a success in the UK, going gold. The album was also sold to Sony for European-wide release. London nightclub Ministry of Sound hired him to compile one of their first CDs, which sold 100,000 copies. He then completed some compilations for them, four of them being the Annual I to IV. George released the rock-driven album ''Cheapness and Beauty'' in 1995. The single "Same Thing in Reverse" became a minor US hit. ''The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit – Volume One'' was the next album release, first being sold on the internet only, then distributed by independent labels.
On some other labels, several dance-oriented songs were released in various countries. For example, "Love Is Leaving" went Top 3 in Italy and "When Will You Learn" reached the top position in the Swiss charts. "When Will You Learn" was also nominated for the Best Dance Recording, at the Grammy Awards. In 1999, Boy George collaborated on songs with dance-oriented acts. For example, "Why Go?", a slow-paced track with Faithless, from their ''Sunday 8PM'' LP, was later released in a remixed form in some European countries and Australia. A track was done with Groove Armada, named "Innocence is Lost", but was only released on a promo 12" in 1999.
====2000s==== Boy George remained a figure in the public eye, starring in the London musical ''Taboo'', based on the New Romantic scene of early 1980s England (Boy George did not play himself, opting instead to take on the persona of Australian-born performance artist Leigh Bowery). Boy George was nominated for a Tony Award for the "Best Musical Score" and ''Taboo'' was highly successful in London's West End, running for two years and receiving four Laurence Olivier Award nominations, though a heavily altered US production produced by Rosie O'Donnell in New York City was short-lived, running for 100 performances.<ref>{{cite news|last=McKinley|first=Jesse|date=14 January 2004|title='Taboo' to Close Next Month, At a Loss for Rosie O'Donnell|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/nyregion/taboo-to-close-next-month-at-a-loss-for-rosie-o-donnell.html|url-status=live|access-date=1 April 2021|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=27 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127045340/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/14/nyregion/taboo-to-close-next-month-at-a-loss-for-rosie-o-donnell.html}}</ref>
[[File:Boy George At Ronnie Scotts.jpg|thumb|left|Boy George performing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London in 2003]] In 2002, Boy George released ''U Can Never B2 Straight'', an "unplugged" collection of rare and lesser-known acoustic works. It contained unreleased tracks from previous years as well as some ballads from ''Cheapness and Beauty'' and the Culture Club album ''Don't Mind if I Do''. From 2002 to 2004, under the pseudonym "The Twin", Boy George experimented in electronica, releasing limited-edition 7" singles and promo records.<ref>{{cite web|title=Boy George Biography|url=http://www.musictory.com/music/Boy+George/Biography|website=Musictory.com|access-date=28 March 2017|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050342/http://www.musictory.com/music/Boy+George/Biography|url-status=live}}</ref> The limited releases included four 7" singles, one limited 12" single (for "Sanitised") and a promo CD, a 13-track album ''Yum Yum''. Two years later, it was released via digital outlets such as iTunes. An album recorded in the spring of 2003 was also shelved.
During 2003, Boy George presented a weekly show on London radio station LBC 97.3 for six months. He wrote the foreword for a feng shui book called ''Practical Feng Shui'' by Simon G. Brown (published in 1998). He also appeared as a guest on the British comedy-talk show ''The Kumars at No. 42''. In March 2005 he was the guest host for an episode of ''The Friday Night Project'', for Channel 4 television.
In 2005, Boy George released ''Straight'', the second volume of his autobiography. A new album, also named ''Straight'', was announced for mid-2005, but never released; only a four-track sampler was released along with a book titled ''Straight''. A reggaeton-oriented EP was also planned for August 2006 but was never released. Some recent tracks were shared by Boy George himself in late 2006 and early 2007 on his YouTube account, his three Myspace pages and sometimes on his official site. In January 2007, Boy George released "Time Machine" on Plan A Records, a song co-written with Ivor Novello Award-winning songwriter Amanda Ghost, who also co-wrote "You're Beautiful" with James Blunt.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5322888.stm |title=Boy George 'enjoyed' street sweep |work=BBC News |date=7 September 2006 |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-date=26 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726180121/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5322888.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
thumb|Boy George performing as a DJ in Brazil, 2007|231x231px Later in 2007, two electronica/dance collaborations were released in limited editions. On 25 February 2007, Boy George was special guest DJ at LGBT nightspot the Court Hotel in Perth, Australia. On 4 March 2007, he performed as a DJ at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney for the Mardi Gras Festival. On 11 May 2007, he performed as a DJ at the launch party for the Palazzo Versace in Dubai, UAE. Boy George cancelled his planned 2007 October tour via his website. In 2007, he toured as a DJ, visiting many venues around the world.
Boy George played a special residency at the Shaw Theatre in London from 23 January 2008, followed by a full UK tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelondonpaper.typepad.com/thelondonblog/2008/01/boy-george-live.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127102402/http://thelondonpaper.typepad.com/thelondonblog/2008/01/boy-george-live.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 January 2008 |title=Review: Boy George live last night (thelondonpaper) |publisher=Thelondonpaper.typepad.com |date=24 January 2008 |access-date=1 October 2009 }}</ref> In April 2008, ''The Biography Channel'' featured a documentary on the life of Boy George. The American tour which was planned for July/August 2008 had to be cancelled because he had been denied a United States visa due to a pending London court case scheduled for November 2008. On 2 July six concert dates were scheduled for South America. Boy George participated in RETROFEST held in Scotland in August 2008,<ref>[http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/13299/FACT-FILE-Retrofest.4093903.jp "Fact File: Retrofest"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090110150130/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/13299/FACT-FILE-Retrofest.4093903.jp |date=10 January 2009 }}, ''Scotland on Sunday'', 25 May 2008</ref> and a 30-date UK tour took place in October/November 2008. In 2009, he signed a new record deal subsequently releasing the album ''Ordinary Alien – The Kinky Roland Files'' in the autumn of 2010. The album consisted of previously recorded tracks mixed by long-time dance-pop record producer Kinky Roland. He took part in Night of the Proms, which is a series of concerts held yearly in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain which consist of a combination of pop music and popular classical music (often combined).
====2010s==== thumb|upright|Boy George during the Here and Now Tour in 2011 Boy George's 2012 appearances included the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October, both as featured guest DJ and also performing with Antony Hegarty in the festival's presentations of ''Swanlights'', the Museum of Modern Art's musical artwork commission, which had only been performed one night previously, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=27 January 2012 |title=Antony and the Johnsons at Radio City Music Hall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/arts/music/antony-and-the-johnsons-at-radio-city-music-hall.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331070905/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/arts/music/antony-and-the-johnsons-at-radio-city-music-hall.html |archive-date=31 March 2017 |access-date=26 October 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
In June 2013, a new song was released called "Coming Home". Mikey Craig, former bandmate in Culture Club, co-wrote the song with Boy George. It was written during the song writing sessions for his album ''This Is What I Do'' released in October 2013. It has been remixed by the likes of Marc Vedo and Kinky Roland. The artist listed for the song is Dharma Protocol featuring Boy George. A video was released on YouTube shot and directed by Boy George, though he did not appear in the video. It was set on the Epping Ongar Railway and starred Danie Cox, lead singer and guitarist of London-based band the Featherz.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidbowie.com/news/see-danie-cox-and-feathers-london-free-51711|archive-date=10 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110003333/https://www.davidbowie.com/news/see-danie-cox-and-feathers-london-free-51711 |title=See Danie Cox and The Feathers in London For Free – David Bowie Latest News |publisher=Davidbowie.com |date=24 May 2013}}</ref>
On 28 October 2013, Boy George released ''This Is What I Do'', his first album of original material in 18 years. The album was written by Boy George and long-time writing partners John Themis, Kevan Frost and Richie Stevens. Stevens produced the record at London's Cowshed Studios and it was released by Kobalt Label Services. The album also contained writing collaborations with Youth, and a version of Yoko Ono's "Death of Samantha". It was mixed by Dave Bascombe and features a string of guest musicians including DJ Yoda, Kitty Durham, Ally McErlaine, MC Spee and Nizar Al Issa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a510922/boy-george-announces-first-new-album-in-18-years-this-is-what-i-do.html |title=Boy George announces first new album in 18 years 'This Is What I Do' |work=Digital Spy |date=29 August 2013 |access-date=29 August 2013 |archive-date=31 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831161957/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a510922/boy-george-announces-first-new-album-in-18-years-this-is-what-i-do.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, BBC Four showed ''Boy George and Culture Club: From Karma to Calamity'' a film about a 2014 reunion, a new album, and a planned UK–US tour.<ref name="bbc/b054v27d">{{cite web |title=Boy George and Culture Club: Karma to Calamity |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b054v27d |website=BBC Four |publisher=BBC |access-date=21 February 2023}}</ref><ref name="theartsdesk/boy-calamity">{{cite news |last1=Harsent |first1=Barney |title=Boy George and Culture Club: From Karma to Calamity, BBC Four |url=https://theartsdesk.com/tv/boy-george-and-culture-club-karma-calamity-bbc-four |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=theartsdesk.com |date=12 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Boy George and Culture Club: Karma to Calamity |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-g13aos/boy-george-and-culture-club-karma-to-calamity/ |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=Radio Times }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04n92gm|title=BBC One – Strictly Come Dancing, Series 12, Week 5 Results|publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref name="telegraph/11186166">{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Michael |title=Thom Evans leaves Strictly Come Dancing in shock elimination, review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/strictly-come-dancing/11186166/Thom-Evans-Strictly-Come-Dancing-2014-voted-off-review.html |access-date=21 February 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 October 2014}}</ref>
In January 2016, Boy George joined the fifth series of ''The Voice UK'', replacing Tom Jones as a mentor.<ref>{{cite news|title = How Boy George got a second chance|url = https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/how-boy-george-got-a-second-chance-gwgrh2qnqss|newspaper = The Times|access-date = 6 January 2016|date = 2 January 2016|last1 = Carpenter|first1 = Louise|archive-date = 6 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160106025039/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/magazine/article4646600.ece|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/14/tom-jones-losing-spot-the-voice-boy-george |title=Tom Jones heads for green, green grass of home after losing spot on The Voice |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 August 2015 |first=Alasdair |last=Glennie |access-date=17 August 2015 |archive-date=17 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817001228/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/14/tom-jones-losing-spot-the-voice-boy-george |url-status=live }}</ref> His final act, Cody Frost, finished third place overall. Boy George left the series after just one season and later went on to join ''The Voice Australia'' as a coach for its sixth season to replace The Madden Brothers. His final contestant, Hoseah Partsch, was the runner-up. He returned for the show's seventh season, in 2018, its eighth season, in 2019 where his final contestant, Diana Rouvas, won the competition, and its ninth season in 2020. Boy George did not return for the tenth season and was replaced by Jessica Mauboy.<ref>{{cite web |title=''The Voice Australia'' Replaces Boy George, Kelly Rowland, and Delta Goodrem |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/the-voice-australia/keith-urban-rita-ora-guy-sebastian-jessica-mauboy-named-coaches-for-the-voice-australia-c-1776291 |website=Seven Network |publisher=Seven West Media |access-date=15 December 2020 |location=Australia |date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215130546/https://7news.com.au/entertainment/the-voice-australia/keith-urban-rita-ora-guy-sebastian-jessica-mauboy-named-coaches-for-the-voice-australia-c-1776291 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In October 2016, Boy George performed David Bowie's "Starman"—nine months after his idol's death from liver cancer—along with the National Health Service choir, as part of Channel 4's ''Stand Up to Cancer UK'' programme.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boy George's David Bowie tribute moved fans to tears as he is urged to release Starman cover as charity Christmas single |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/boy-georges-david-bowie-tribute-moved-fans-to-tears-as-he-is-urg/ |access-date=30 July 2019 |publisher=Channel 4 |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730174455/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/boy-georges-david-bowie-tribute-moved-fans-to-tears-as-he-is-urg/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2017, Boy George participated in the last season of ''The New Celebrity Apprentice'' on NBC, in which he supported the charity Safe Kids Worldwide and came in second place.<ref>{{cite magazine|title = Vince Neil, Boy George Join 'Celebrity Apprentice'|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/vince-neil-boy-george-join-celebrity-apprentice-20160129|magazine = Rolling Stone|access-date = 29 January 2016|date = 29 January 2016|archive-date = 30 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160130093110/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/vince-neil-boy-george-join-celebrity-apprentice-20160129|url-status = live}}</ref> Also in 2017 he collaborated on Pitbull's album ''Climate Change''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.klatsch-tratsch.de/2016/10/08/pitbull-kennt-keine-reue/289277|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104002503/http://www.klatsch-tratsch.de/2016/10/08/pitbull-kennt-keine-reue/289277|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 November 2016|title=Pitbull bereut Wechsel zur Popmusik nicht|website=Klatsch-tratsch.de|date=8 October 2016}}</ref> In August 2017, Boy George signed a recording deal with BMG, reuniting him with his songwriting catalogue, as BMG had acquired the Virgin Records songwriters in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/boy-george-signs-to-bmg/069525|title=Boy George signs to BMG|website=Music Week|access-date=26 October 2018|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104064226/http://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/boy-george-signs-to-bmg/069525|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, he joined Marc Almond and Chrissie Hynde as a vocalist on "Don't Go Changing Soho", a single by Jocasta's Tim Arnold for the Save Soho campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/12/save-soho-campaign-song-features-80s-pop-legends/|title=New Soho song features 80s pop legends|date=3 December 2019|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628175737/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/12/save-soho-campaign-song-features-80s-pop-legends/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wearecult.rocks/a-tribute-to-soho-through-the-decades-by-the-people-who-were-there|title=A Tribute To Soho Through The Decades (By The People Who Were There)|work= We Are Cult|date=27 November 2019|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701193726/http://wearecult.rocks/a-tribute-to-soho-through-the-decades-by-the-people-who-were-there|url-status=live}}</ref>
On 2 and 26 March 2020, through his YouTube channel, Boy George respectively released (as videos) 2 new solo songs entitled "Clouds" and "Isolation" taken from his forthcoming album ''Geminis Don't Read the Manual'' which was due to be released later in the year, but was postponed. On 6 April 2020 on his own record label BGP (Boy George Presents) he released the "Isolation" limited edition 2-track CD single including the title track and a new "Spatial Awareness Meets the Boy Uptown Dub" mix of the track "Clouds".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hottwerk.co.uk/product-page/boy-george-isolation|title=Boy George – Isolation|website=Hottwerk|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623221052/https://www.hottwerk.co.uk/product-page/boy-george-isolation|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/boy-george-drops-new-single-clouds-1231711.html|title=Boy George drops new single Clouds|website=femalefirst.co.uk|date=6 March 2020 |access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=23 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123185803/https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/boy-george-drops-new-single-clouds-1231711.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ====2020s==== thumb|Senhit and Boy George during Eurovision Song Contest 2026 opening ceremony In 2021, Boy George was a guest on the BBC's ''Paul Weller – Live at the Barbican'', joining Paul Weller and conductor Jules Buckley for a version of The Style Council's "You're the Best Thing".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/paul-weller-orchestrated-songbook/|title=Paul Weller / An Orchestrated Songbook – SuperDeluxeEdition|website=Superdeluxeedition.com|date=21 June 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630135637/https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/paul-weller-orchestrated-songbook/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x9rb|title=BBC Two – Paul Weller Live at the Barbican|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819065204/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x9rb|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x0f2|title=BBC Radio 2 – Paul Weller Live at the Barbican|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630071623/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000x0f2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e3grn3|title=Paul Weller, Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra|website=BBC Music Events|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630073300/https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e3grn3|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celeste-boy-george-james-morrison-paul-weller-bbc-so-jules-buckley/|title=Celeste, Boy George and James Morrison to join Paul Weller live in concert with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Jules Buckley|publisher=BBC|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712095018/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2021/celeste-boy-george-james-morrison-paul-weller-bbc-so-jules-buckley/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2021, he became a judge on the Irish talent show ''The Big Deal''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Finn |first=Melanie |date=14 June 2021 |title=First look at Virgin Media's new show hosted by Vogue Williams |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/first-look-at-virgin-medias-new-show-hosted-by-vogue-williams-40539591.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816222634/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/first-look-at-virgin-medias-new-show-hosted-by-vogue-williams-40539591.html |archive-date=16 August 2021 |access-date=16 August 2021 |website=Irish Independent}}</ref>
In November 2022, Boy George appeared as a contestant on the 22nd UK series of ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''. During his appearance on the show, Boy George expressed discomfort about appearing on the show with former UK health secretary Matt Hancock, mentioning that his mother had been in hospital while the country was under a COVID-19 lockdown. He said that he would have withdrawn from the show had his mother died in hospital.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2022 |title=I'm A Celebrity: Boy George not happy with Matt Hancock being on the show |url=https://news.sky.com/video/im-a-celebrity-boy-george-not-happy-with-matt-hancock-being-on-the-show-12743646}}</ref>
In a conversation with Seann Walsh, Boy George said that he found Hancock "slimy and slippery" and later told Hancock that he found it difficult to "separate" the politician from the person.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boy George tells Matt Hancock he has been 'hating on him' in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! |publisher=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/boy-george-tells-matt-hancock-he-has-been-hating-on-him-in-im-a-celebrity-get-me-out-of-here-12750701 |access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=31 October 2022 |title=I'm A Celebrity 2022: Mike Tindall, Boy George and Chris Moyles in line-up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63423810 |access-date=12 November 2022 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jeffries |first1=Stuart |date=7 November 2022 |title=I'm a Celebrity review – two hours of sheer Matt Hancock-free hell |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/nov/07/im-a-celebrity-review-two-hours-of-sheer-matt-hancock-free-hell |access-date=12 November 2022}}</ref> He was eliminated from the show on 22 November on the seventeenth day, finishing in 8th place.<ref>{{cite web |date=22 November 2022 |title=Boy George is the fourth contestant to be eliminated from I'm a Celeb |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/im-a-celebrity-boy-george-eliminated-b2230960.html |access-date=22 November 2022 |website=The Independent }}</ref>
From February 6 through May 12, 2024, and again from March 18 through May 25, 2025, Boy George portrayed Harold Zidler on Broadway in the ''Moulin Rouge!'' musical at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kuo |first=Christopher |date=6 November 2023 |title=Boy George Will Join 'Moulin Rouge!' on Broadway in 2024 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/06/theater/boy-george-moulin-rouge-broadway.html |access-date=24 November 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Emmy |title=Photos: Boy George Returns to MOULIN ROUGE! on Broadway |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photos-Boy-George-Returns-to-MOULIN-ROUGE-on-Broadway-20250330 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=25 November 2024 |title=Boy George to Return to Cast of Broadway's Moulin Rouge! The Musical in 2025 |work=Playbill |url=https://playbill.com/article/boy-george-to-return-to-cast-of-broadways-moulin-rouge-the-musical-in-2025 |access-date=1 June 2026 |issn=0551-0678}}</ref>
In 2024, Boy George was among over 400 artists and public figures who signed an open letter supporting Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The letter urged the event's organisers to maintain the contest's non-political nature and to allow Israeli entrant Eden Golan to perform her song "Hurricane".<ref>{{cite news |last=Reynolds |first=Daniel |title=Helen Mirren, Boy George and Scooter Braun among celebrities endorsing Israel's inclusion in Eurovision 2024 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/eurovision/israel-gaza-eurovision-2024-open-letter-b2496171.html |work=The Independent |date=15 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Josh |title=Gene Simmons, Helen Mirren, Boy George sign open letter supporting Israel's inclusion in Eurovision |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/feb/15/gene-simmons-helen-mirren-boy-george-sign-open-letter-supporting-israels-inclusion-in-eurovision |newspaper=The Guardian |date=15 February 2024}}</ref>
Boy George is due to appear in the revival of ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' as King Herod for a limited engagement at the London Palladium, as one of the six King Herods in August 2026.<ref>Wild, Stephi [https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Boy-George-Jesse-Tyler-Ferguson-and-More-Will-Share-The-Role-of-King-Herod-in-JESUS-CHRIST-SUPERSTAR-20260223 Boy George, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and More Will Share The Role of King Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR] BroadwayWorld, 23 February 2026</ref>
Boy George represented San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 alongside Italian singer Senhit with the song "Superstar". San Marino were eliminated in the first semi-final on Tuesday 12 May.<ref name="avelino">{{cite web |last=Avelino |first=Gerry |date=7 March 2026 |title=🇸🇲 San Marino: Senhit (feat. Boy George) to Eurovision 2026 |url=https://eurovoix.com/2026/03/07/san-marino-senhit-feat-boy-george-to-eurovision-2026/ |access-date=7 March 2026 |website=Eurovoix }}</ref>
==Personal life== ===Ancestry=== Boy George appeared on an episode of BBC television genealogy series ''Who Do You Think You Are?'' in 2018, on which it was revealed that he was related to executed Irish revolutionary Thomas Bryan, a member of the "Forgotten Ten".<ref>{{cite news |last=McGreevy |first=Ronan |date=25 July 2018 |title=Boy George: The bits 'Who Do You Think You Are' didn't tell you about singer's Irish family |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/boy-george-the-bits-who-do-you-think-you-are-didn-t-tell-you-about-singer-s-irish-family-1.3576531 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603184915/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/boy-george-the-bits-who-do-you-think-you-are-didn-t-tell-you-about-singer-s-irish-family-1.3576531 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |access-date=16 December 2024 |newspaper=The Irish Times }}</ref>
===Drug abuse and legal troubles=== By the late 1980s, Boy George had been struggling with heroin addiction for several years.<ref>Boy George with Spencer Bright, ''Take it Like a Man'', London, Sigwick & Jackson, 1995</ref> He attempted to perform concerts while under its influence. Addictions to other drugs soon followed. Determined to save Boy George's life, his younger brother David made an appearance on UK national television and discussed Boy George's drug habit,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1986/08/01/Boy-George-Dont-ban-me-from-US/9055523252800/ | title=Boy George: 'Don't ban me from U.S.' | date=1 August 1986 | first1=Barbara | last1=Goldberg | agency=United Press International | access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref> which Boy George had been publicly denying at that time. In 1986, Boy George was arrested for heroin possession as part of "Operation Culture".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/boy-george-chained-male-escort-to-a-wall-in-his-flat-400244.html |title=Boy George 'chained male escort to a wall in his flat' |work=The Independent |location=UK |access-date=5 April 2009 |last=Dugan |first=Emily |date=14 November 2007 |archive-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402143253/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/boy-george-chained-male-escort-to-a-wall-in-his-flat-400244.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1986, keyboardist Michael Rudetsky, who co-wrote the song "Sexuality" on Culture Club's ''From Luxury to Heartache'' album, was found dead of a heroin overdose in Boy George's London home.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/08/07/american-musician-dies-in-boy-georges-home/|title=American Musician Dies In Boy George's Home|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=24 June 2018|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130648/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-08-07/news/8602260755_1_kevin-o-dowd-george-o-dowd-drug-related-death|url-status=live}}</ref> Boy George's friend Mark Vaultier died after an overdose of methadone and Valium at a party. In December 1986, another friend, Mark Golding, died of an overdose, with Scotland Yard police stating there was no suggestion of foul play.<ref>{{cite news |title=Friend of Singer Boy George Dies of Suspected Drug Overdose |url=https://www.apnews.com/66abea6efd05a93b125a54364afe1421 |access-date=30 July 2019 |work=AP News |archive-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730172640/https://www.apnews.com/66abea6efd05a93b125a54364afe1421 |url-status=live }}</ref> During this period Boy George decided to seek treatment for his addiction.<ref name="drugs"/>
In 1997, George was sued for malicious falsehood by singer Kirk Brandon. In his 1995 autobiography ''Take It Like a Man'', George stated that he had had a homosexual relationship with Brandon years earlier. Brandon denied that he had had sex with George and stated that stories about their alleged relationship had damaged his career as a musician. He also objected to the lyrics of a Boy George song, "Unfinished Business", which apparently were aimed at him: "I hear you married a Danish girl ... You break your promise easily." Brandon demanded damages from George, George's publishers, Sidgwick and Jackson, and also from Virgin Records and EMI Virgin Music Publishing. In April 1997, the court ruled in favor of George, adding that he did not believe Brandon when Brandon denied having had a physical relationship with George.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-independent.com/news/boy-george-the-love-of-his-life-and-a-night-dressed-as-boadicea-1269922.html|title=Boy George, the love of his life and a night dressed as Boadicea|date=28 April 1997|website=The Independent|last=Garner|first=Clare}}</ref><ref name="independent1">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sad-about-the-boy-1270092.html|title=Sad about the Boy|work=The Independent|access-date=28 October 2014|last=Daly|first=Emma}}</ref> The judge ordered Brandon to pay £200,000 to Virgin Records, EMI Virgin Music, and the book publisher in court costs. Following the lawsuit, Brandon declared bankruptcy, which resulted in George paying over £20,000 in legal fees instead.<ref>Boy George (with Paul Gorman) Straight, London: Century, 2005.</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2026}}{{better source|date=January 2026}}
On 7 October 2005, Boy George was arrested in Manhattan on suspicion of cocaine possession and falsely reporting a burglary. Boy George denied that the drugs were his.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4321328.stm "Musician Boy George has appeared in court ..."], BBC News, 8 October 2008</ref> In court on 1 February 2006, the cocaine possession charge was dropped and Boy George pleaded guilty to falsely reporting a burglary. He was sentenced to five days of community service, fined US$1,000 and ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4786814.stm "Singer Boy George has had a charge of possessing cocaine dropped by a New York court"], BBC News, 8 March 2006</ref> On 17 June 2006, a Manhattan judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Boy George after he failed to appear in court for a hearing on why Boy George wanted to change his sentence for the false burglary report. Boy George's attorney informed the court that he had advised Boy George not to appear at that hearing.<ref>[http://wcbstv.com/national/Boy.George.New.2.269050.html "Boy George Angers NYC Judge"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080629225629/http://wcbstv.com/national/Boy.George.New.2.269050.html |date=29 June 2008 }}, wcbstv from AP report, 17 June 2006</ref> On 14 August 2006, Boy George reported to the New York City Department of Sanitation for his court-ordered community service. As a result of the intense media coverage, he was allowed to finish his community service inside the Sanitation Department grounds and out of public view.<ref>[http://www.today.com/id/14343349 "A feisty Boy George reports for garbage duty"]{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110085856/http://www.today.com/id/14343349 |date=10 January 2014 }}, Today.com, 14 August 2006</ref>
On 5 December 2008, Boy George was convicted in Snaresbrook Crown Court, London, of the April 2007 assault and false imprisonment of Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian model and male escort, who initially stood for a photography session with Boy George. Carlsen alleged that he had been handcuffed to a wall fixture and beaten with a metal chain during their next meeting. Boy George maintained that only the handcuffing was true and that he never beat Carlsen.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2008/dec/05/2|title=Boy George guilty of falsely imprisoning male escort|first=Angela|last=Balakrishnan|date=5 December 2008|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Britton |first=Luke Morgan |date=16 February 2017 |title=Boy George opens up about 'psychotic episode' in which he chained male escort to a wall |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/boy-george-psychotic-episode-male-escort-1978834 |access-date=7 March 2023 |publisher=NME Networks}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Boy George opens up about his arrest|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA1LRzisDnA |via=YouTube |publisher=I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! |date=16 November 2022}}</ref> Defence counsel presented the effects of his long-term drug use as a mitigating factor.<ref name="SamJones">{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |last2=Lewis |first2=Paul |name-list-style=and |date=16 January 2009 |title=Boy George gets 15 months for falsely imprisoning male escort |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jan/16/boy-george-sentenced-handcuffing-male-escort |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110200749/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/jan/16/boy-george-sentenced-handcuffing-male-escort |archive-date=10 January 2017 |access-date=11 December 2016 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, England}}</ref> On 16 January 2009, Boy George was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for these offences.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 January 2008 |title=Boy George jailed for 15 months |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7832565.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118223131/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7832565.stm |archive-date=18 January 2009 |access-date=16 January 2008 |work=BBC News |location=London, England}}</ref> He was initially incarcerated at HM Prison Pentonville in London, but was then transferred to HM Prison Highpoint North in Suffolk. He was given early release after four months on 11 May 2009. He was required to wear an ankle monitor and submit to a curfew for the remainder of his sentence.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rosie|last=Swash|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/12/boy-george-released-early-jail|title=Boy George released early from jail|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London, England|date=12 May 2009|access-date=17 May 2018|archive-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618052403/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/12/boy-george-released-early-jail|url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2009, while still on licensed release from prison, Boy George made a request to the Probation Service that he be allowed to appear on the seventh series of ''Celebrity Big Brother'' (to be broadcast on Channel 4). His request was denied. The Probation Service argued that public confidence in the criminal justice system could be undermined if George earned "a lucrative sum" and used his appearance on the show to promote himself.<ref name="BBCNews1">{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8428048.stm | work=BBC News | title=Boy George loses Big Brother plea | date=23 December 2009 | access-date=26 April 2010 | archive-date=17 December 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211217142644/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8428048.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> They also said George's participation would pose "a high level of risk" to the service's reputation.<ref name="BBCNews1" />
In March 2023, a settlement was reached by the four original members of Culture Club, who agreed that George, Hay, and Craig would pay Moss £1.75 million, after he had filed a lawsuit against his former bandmates for lost income due to having allegedly been "expelled" from the group in 2018.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=22 March 2023 |title=Boy George and Culture Club members pay ex-drummer £1.75m after legal dispute |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/mar/22/boy-george-and-culture-club-members-pay-ex-drummer-175m-after-legal-dispute |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London, England |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref> The settlement required that Moss relinquish any and all rights to the Culture Club name and its use. Moss later filed bankruptcy proceedings against George and Craig, which were dismissed in June 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pilgrim |first=Tom |date=27 June 2023 |title=Bankruptcy proceedings against Culture Club members dismissed |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/jon-moss-culture-club-boy-george-high-court-london-b2364932.html |work=The Independent |location=London, England |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>
===Health=== Concurrently with developing his career as a DJ in the late 1990s, Boy George adopted a macrobiotic diet, which he had been attempting to follow since 1988. In 2001, he published the ''Karma Cookbook'', a macrobiotic cookbook co-written with Dragana Brown,<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/dragana-brown Profile of Dragana Brown] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306133828/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/dragana-brown |date=6 March 2017 }}; ''HuffPost''. Retrieved 5 March 2017.</ref> whom Boy George met in 1986.<ref>Mitchel Raphael, "Bean there". ''National Post'', 14 August 2001: B1, B2.</ref>
In 2014, Boy George suffered from a haemorrhaged polyp on his vocal cords, resulting in the cancellation of a Culture Club reunion tour.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kennedy |first=John R. |date=13 November 2014 |title=Boy George throat issue forces Culture Club to cancel tour |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1670996/boy-george-throat-issue-forces-culture-club-to-cancel-tour/ |work=Global News |location=Canada |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last=Zwecker | first=Bill | title=Culture Club tour canceled due to Boy George throat polyp | newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times | location=Chicago, USA | pages=n/a | publisher=Chicago Public Media | date =13 November 2014 | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2014/11/13/18431503/culture-club-tour-canceled-due-to-boy-george-throat-polyp | access-date =4 August 2023}}</ref> Several dates in Canada, the UK and the US were cancelled. Following months of resting his voice, spending some days in total silence, giving up coffee, and practicing vocal exercises, Boy George recovered without needing surgery. Afterwards, he was surprised to discover that his vocal range had become an octave lower than before, which he described as a "kind of rich tenor" and suitable for singing "a little bit of rock."<ref>{{cite news |last=Olivier |first=Bobby |date=15 July 2015 |title=Boy George talks liberating album, voice change ahead of N.J. shows |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/2015/07/boy_george_talks_new_album_vocal_recovery_ahead_of.html |work=NJ Advance Media |location=Iselin, NJ, USA |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=2 July 2015 |title=Boy George talks reuniting with Culture Club: 'This whole comeback is one big amends' |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/boy-george-talks-reunion-culture-club-article-1.2279388 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York |access-date=4 August 2023}}</ref>
In 2018, Boy George stated that he had been sober since 2 March 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/boy-george-talks-day-became-sane-decade-sobriety-older-wonderful-privilege-180741993.html|title=Boy George talks 'the day he became sane' and a decade of sobriety: 'Being older is a wonderful privilege'|date=22 October 2018|website=Yahoo Entertainment|last=Parker|first=Lyndsey}}</ref>
===Sexuality=== [[File:Boy George, Pride London 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|Boy George at the Pride London festival in 2012]] In the 1980s, much was made of Boy George's androgynous appearance, and there was speculation about his sexuality. When asked by Joan Rivers in an interview on her show in 1983, "Do you prefer men or women?", Boy George replied, "Oh, both." In 1985, Barbara Walters asked him about his sexual orientation, to which Boy George stated that he was bisexual and had various girlfriends and boyfriends in the past. He gave a famous, oft-quoted response to interviewer Russell Harty that he preferred "a nice cup of tea" to sex.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/cupoftea/biography/copy_of_tea-the-basics |title=Becoming an Icon – A Cup of Tea – Icons of England |publisher=Icons.org.uk |access-date=1 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930100751/http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/cupoftea/biography/copy_of_tea-the-basics |archive-date=30 September 2009 }}</ref>
In his 1995 autobiography ''Take It Like a Man'', Boy George stated that he was, in fact, not bisexual and that he had had secret relationships with punk rock singer Kirk Brandon and Culture Club drummer Jon Moss. He asserted that many of the songs he wrote for Culture Club were about his relationship with Moss.<ref>{{cite book|title=Take It Like A Man, The Autobiography of Boy George|author1=George O'Dowd|author2=Spencer Bright|publisher=Pan Books (Macmillan Publishers Ltd)|year=1995|isbn=0-330-32362-8}}</ref> In the 2008 documentary ''Living with Boy George'', he talked about his first realisation he was gay, when he first told his parents, and why men fall in love with one another as well as with women.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1380803/ Living with... Boy George (TV 2008)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406121628/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1380803/ |date=6 April 2017 }}, IMDb</ref> As two of the biggest androgynous stars in music, Boy George and Annie Lennox appeared on the cover of ''Smash Hits'' magazine in December 1983,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.crazyaboutmagazines.com/ourshop/prod_3627732-Smash-Hits-magazine-Boy-George-and-Annie-Lennox-cover-Christmas-1983.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20221111063719/https://www.crazyaboutmagazines.com/ourshop/prod_3627732-Smash-Hits-magazine-Boy-George-and-Annie-Lennox-cover-Christmas-1983.html|url-status=dead|title=Smash Hits magazine – Boy George and Annie Lennox cover (Christmas 1983)|archivedate=11 November 2022|website=CrazyAboutMagazines}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Steward |first1=Sue |title=Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: True Life Stories of Women in Pop |date=1984 |publisher=South End Press |page=51}}</ref> followed by the cover of ''Newsweek'' magazine in January 1984.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boy George, The Man |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/11/15/boy-george-the-man/59944def-e309-4cfc-828d-449410acd5f4/ |access-date=14 November 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |quote=Newsweek put Boy George and Eurythmic Annie Lennox on a cover heralding a second British Invasion, pop's gender benders |archive-date=28 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228003931/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/11/15/boy-george-the-man/59944def-e309-4cfc-828d-449410acd5f4/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Spirituality=== {{As of|2012}}, Boy George has credited his practice of Nichiren Buddhism and chanting ''Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō'' for his newfound spiritual strength to remain sober.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/Lucy_Hobson/2013/09/08/boy_george_buddhism_has_kept_me_sober |title=Buddhism Has Kept Me Sober |publisher=StarPulse |date=8 September 2013 |access-date=13 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014174922/http://www.starpulse.com/news/Lucy_Hobson/2013/09/08/boy_george_buddhism_has_kept_me_sober |archive-date=14 October 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://punkglobe.com/boygeorgeinterview1112.php |title=A Successful Human Being |publisher=PunkGlobe |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=15 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140415053817/http://punkglobe.com/boygeorgeinterview1112.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Boy George has said: "I'm Catholic in my complications and Buddhist in my aspirations."<ref name="sjoberg1">{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/what-boy-georges-religion-face-28439605|title=Boy George opens up about religion from face tattoos to yoga and meditation|first=Alice|last=Sjoberg|date=8 November 2022|website=OK!}}</ref>
==Memoirs== HarperCollins published Boy George's first autobiography, ''Take It Like a Man'', in 1995, co-written with Spencer Bright. Both the book and his solo album, ''Cheapness and Beauty'', were released simultaneously and dealt with the same themes. ''Take It Like a Man'' was a best-seller in the UK. In 2005, Century published ''Straight'', his second autobiography, this time co-written with author Paul Gorman. It was on ''The Sunday Times'' best-seller list for six weeks. ''Straight'' begins where ''Take It Like a Man'' had ended, though the two works are different in style, due to their different co-authors. All chapters in the 2005 book are titled, while chapters are only numbered in the 1995 work. O'Dowd's third memoir, ''Karma: My Autobiography'', again ghost-written by Spencer Bright, was published first in the UK by Blink Publishing in November 2023, followed by the US publication in January 2024 by Mango Publishing. In a review of the book, ''The Guardian'' wrote: "This is George O'Dowd in all his exhausting glory."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/nov/14/karma-by-boy-george-review-loud-vainglorious-and-very-funny |title=Karma by Boy George review – loud, vainglorious and very funny |last=Duerden |first=Nick |date=14 November 2023 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=27 May 2024 |quote="In what might be the most entertaining music memoir since Elton John's Me, Boy George's Karma weaves a meandering path through several decades' of fame, success, crash and burn, before delivering him into a kind of autumnal meditative serenity, aged 62. That it is all wildly discursive, spectacularly catty and occasionally quite mad merely confirms its authenticity. This is George O'Dowd in all his exhausting glory."}}</ref>
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col" | Award ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Nominee(s) ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=3|British LGBT Awards | 2015 | rowspan=3|Himself | Music Artist | {{nom}} | <ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.britishlgbtawards.com/top-10-lgbt-music-artists-2015/|title=LGBT+ Music artists 2015 – British LGBT Awards|website=Britishlgbtawards.com|date=18 January 2019 |access-date=16 August 2021|archive-date=31 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331043731/https://www.britishlgbtawards.com/top-10-lgbt-music-artists-2015/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2016 | Celebrity | {{nom}} | <ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.britishlgbtawards.com/top-10-lgbt-celebrities-2016/|title=LGBT+ Celebrities 2016 – British LGBT Awards|website=Britishlgbtawards.com|date=18 January 2019 |access-date=16 August 2021|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721001709/https://www.britishlgbtawards.com/top-10-lgbt-celebrities-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- | 2026 | Music Artist | {{pending}} | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://britishlgbtawards.com/2026-shortlist/|title=2026 Shortlist |website=Britishlgbtawards.com|date=26 February 2026|access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref> |- !scope="row" rowspan=4|Grammy Awards | rowspan=2|1984 | Culture Club | Best New Artist | {{won}} | rowspan=4|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://grammy.com/artists/boy-george/2911|title=Boy George | Artist |website=Grammy.com|access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref> |- | "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | {{nom}} |- | 1994 | "The Crying Game" | Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male | {{nom}} |- | 1999 | "When Will You Learn" | Best Dance Recording | {{nom}} |- !scope="row" rowspan=3|MTV Video Music Awards | rowspan=2|1985 | rowspan=2|"It's a Miracle" | Best Art Direction in a Video | {{nom}} | rowspan=2|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.ru/books?id=2iQEAAAAMBAJ&q=Eurythmics+i+need+a+man+best+group+mtv&pg=PT33&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=Eurythmics+i+need+a+man+best+group+mtv&f=false|title=Billboard|date=24 August 1985|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|access-date=3 May 2026|via=Google Books}}</ref> |- | Best Special Effects in a Video | {{nom}} |- | 1993 | "The Crying Game" | Best Video from a Film | {{nom}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/1993/music/news/mtv-vid-awards-come-into-vogue-109043/|title=MTV vid awards come into Vogue|website=Variety.com|first=Adam|last=Sandler|date=22 July 1993|access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref> {{end}}
{|class=wikitable |- ! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result |- | 2002 | BT Digital Music Awards | Himself | People's Choice Award<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dotmusic.com/specials/ima2002/peoples_choice_award.asp |year=2002 | title=People's Choice Award 2002 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021201095555/http://www.dotmusic.com/specials/ima2002/peoples_choice_award.asp | archive-date=1 December 2002 | website=BT Interactive Music Awards | url-status=dead}}</ref> | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="3" | 2004 | Tony Awards | rowspan="3" |''Taboo'' | Best Original Score | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="2" | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | {{nom}} |- | Outstanding Lyrics | {{nom}} |- | 2005 | Lunas del Auditorio | Himself | Espectaculo Alternativo | {{nom}} |- | 2010 | Antville Music Video Awards | rowspan="4" | "Somebody to Love Me" (ft. Mark Ronson) | Best Art Direction | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="3" | 2011 | Popjustice £20 Music Prize | Best British Pop Single | {{nom}} |- | UK Music Video Awards | Best Pop Video (UK) | {{nom}} |- | D&AD Awards | Best Music Video | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2|2015 | Ivor Novello Awards | rowspan=3|Himself | Outstanding Contribution to British Music | {{won}} |- | rowspan=2|British LGBT Awards | Best Music Artist<ref name="auto"/> | {{nom}} |- | rowspan=2|2016 | Celebrity<ref name="auto1"/> | {{nom}} |- | International Dance Music Awards | "Just Another Guy" (ft. Vanilla Ace & Katerina Themis) | Best Indie Dance Track | {{nom}} |- | 2018 | Attitude Awards | Himself | Music Icon<ref>{{cite web|url=http://attitude.co.uk/article/check-out-all-the-winners-and-presenters-from-the-virgin-holidays-attitude-awards-2018-powered-by-jaguar-1/19365/|title=Check out all the winners and presenters from the Virgin Holidays Attitude Awards 2018, powered by Jaguar|date=12 October 2018|website=Attitude.co.uk|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=11 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711032642/https://attitude.co.uk/article/check-out-all-the-winners-and-presenters-from-the-virgin-holidays-attitude-awards-2018-powered-by-jaguar-1/19365/|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{won}} |- | 2019 | Classic Pop Readers' Awards | Boy George & Culture Club | Group of the Year<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/01/2018-reader-awards/|title=There's still time to vote in our 2018 Reader Awards!|date=2 January 2019|access-date=17 December 2021|archive-date=24 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124170123/https://www.classicpopmag.com/2019/01/2018-reader-awards/|url-status=live}}</ref> | {{nom}} |}
== Discography == {{main|Boy George discography}} {{see also|Culture Club discography}} {{Div col}} * ''Sold'' (1987) * ''Tense Nervous Headache'' (1988) * ''Boyfriend'' (1989) * ''The Martyr Mantras'' (1991) * ''Cheapness and Beauty'' (1995) * ''The Unrecoupable One Man Bandit'' (1998) * ''U Can Never B2 Straight'' (2002) * ''Yum Yum'' (2004) * ''Ordinary Alien'' (2010) * ''This Is What I Do'' (2013) * ''This Is What I Dub, Vol. 1 '' (2020) * ''Cool Karaoke, Vol. 1'' (2021) * ''SE18'' (2025) {{div col end}}
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role |- |1986 |''The A-Team'' |Himself; guest star as a member of Culture Club in "Cowboy George", episode 16 season 4.<ref>{{cite news |title=35 Years Ago: That Time Boy George Guest-Starred on 'The A-Team' |work=Ultimate Classic Rock |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/boy-george-the-a-team/ |url-status=live |access-date=14 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114133853/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/boy-george-the-a-team/ |archive-date=14 November 2021}}</ref> |- |2002–2004 |''Taboo'' |Leigh Bowery |- |rowspan="2"|2003 |''Hollyoaks'' |Himself; guest star<ref>{{cite web |date=20 November 2002 |title=Boy George to appear on British soap Hollyoaks |url=https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/entertainment-news/2002/11/20/boy-george-appear-british-soap-ltigthollyoaksltigt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116213623/https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/entertainment-news/2002/11/20/boy-george-appear-british-soap-ltigthollyoaksltigt |archive-date=16 November 2021 |access-date=17 December 2021 |publisher=Advocate}}</ref> |-
|''The Kumars at No. 42'' |Himself; guest star (Episode 3.6) |- |2016 |''The Voice UK'' |rowspan="2"|Himself; judge/coach |- |2017–2020 |''The Voice Australia'' |- |rowspan="2"|2016 |''Stand Up to Cancer UK'' |Himself; contestant |- |''Project Runway All Stars'' |Himself; guest star |- |2017 |''The New Celebrity Apprentice'' |Himself; contestant |- |2018 |''Who Do You Think You Are?'' |Himself |- |2021 |''The Big Deal'' |Himself; host |- |2022 |''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!'' |Himself; contestant<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Boy George: I'm a Celebrity 2022 contestant and singer |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/boy-george-im-a-celebrity-2022-contestant/ |access-date=19 November 2022 |website=Radio Times }}</ref> |- |2025 |''KPOPPED'' |Himself; contestant<ref>{{cite web |title=Boy George. TLC. STAC |url=https://tv.apple.com/by/episode/boy-george-tlc-stayc/umc.cmc.qic9vorctcycmmhn58bq1cbl?showId=umc.cmc.1yvpbd5uvcq8txtj1gfnw5iox |access-date=29 August 2025 |publisher=AppleTV | date=29 August 2025 }}</ref> |}
==Bibliography== * {{cite book|author=O'Dowd, Dinah|year=2007|title=Cry Salty Tears|publisher=Century|contributor-last=George|contributor-first=Boy|contribution=Foreword|isbn=9781846052361}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== {{refbegin}} * De Graaf Kasper, Garret Malcolm (1983), ''When Cameras Go Crazy'', London, UK, Virgin Books & New York, NY, USA, St. Martin's Press; {{ISBN|0-312-17879-4}} (Culture Club's official biography) * Boy George with Spencer Bright (1995), ''Take It Like a Man'', London, Sidgwick & Jackson (Boy George's first official autobiography) * Boy George with Paul Gorman (2004), ''Straight'', London, Century (Boy George's second official autobiography – republished in 2007 with updates – first edition includes a sampler EP) {{refend}}
==External links== {{sister project links|d=Q312883|c=category:Boy George|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|wikt=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|s=no}} * {{Official website|http://boygeorgeandcultureclub.net}} * {{IMDb name|0004954}} * {{IBDB name}} {{Boy George|state=uncollapsed}} {{Culture Club}}
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{{San Marino in the Eurovision Song Contest |state=autocollapse}} {{Authority control}}
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