School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Boy George

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Boy George's real name is George Alan O'Dowd. He was born in 1961 and grew up in Eltham, in south-east London, in an Irish Catholic working-class family. School did not go well and he left without qualifications. He lived in squats and belonged to the New Romantics who went out at the club Blitz. His role models were Siouxsie Sioux, Roxy Music, David Bowie and Marc Bolan. Malcolm McLaren briefly had him perform with Bow Wow Wow, under the name Lieutenant Lush.

Music and breakthrough

In 1981 he formed the band Culture Club with bassist Mikey Craig, drummer Jon Moss and guitarist Roy Hay. The debut album Kissing to Be Clever came out in 1982 and the single Do You Really Want to Hurt Me became an international hit. Time (Clock of the Heart), Church of the Poison Mind and Karma Chameleon followed, the last from the 1983 album Colour by Numbers. The music mixed pop, new wave, soul and reggae, and above it sounded his soft, soulful voice.

Influence

From 1987 he worked solo and had hits with Everything I Own and The Crying Game. With the group Jesus Loves You he had hits such as Generations of Love around 1990, and later he also became a DJ. As important as the music was his appearance. With make-up, hats and an androgynous style he showed that a pop star did not have to fit into a box. He was openly gay, at a time when that was anything but a matter of course for a teen idol.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Do You Really Want to Hurt Me by Culture Club. Notice the calm, swaying rhythm and the soft, soulful way Boy George sings: not a scream, but a lament.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists