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  • Boy George (born George Alan O'Dowd) was the iconic lead singer of the hugely successful 1980s band Culture Club. Now 48, he is an author, solo artist and a leading dance music DJ.

    This is me, aged ten, at Eltham Green Secondary School – looking quite cheesy. My school days were not hugely illustrious, as you will see.

    I was born George Alan O'Dowd in Bexley, Kent, and grew up in Eltham, south-east London, until I was 11, when we moved to nearby Woolwich.

    My dad, Gerry, and Mum, Dinah, were from Ireland, and I was the third child of six: brothers, Richard, David, Kevin and Gerald, and sister Siobhan. My father had his own building and decorating firm, and their motto was 'We work to a standard – not a price!', which made me laugh.

     

    Boy George

    Boy George- real name George O'Dowd - pictured aged ten: 'My school days were not hugely illustrious' he says

    All my brothers worked for my father, except for me – I painted and decorated myself instead. I loved my infants school, Middle Park, in Eltham, which was in the basement of the main school.

    The kids were very happy and the teachers were mumsy and cuddly. The atmosphere gave no warning of what was to come once you moved upstairs to 'real' school.

    My loathing of school started when I left the infants school – I just remember lots of shouting and canings. We had an Irish headmaster, and he once caned one of my brothers up on stage at assembly.

    My mother was furious. She marched up to the school brandishing her handbag and, while the headmaster was giving her a lot of blarney about the old country, Mum said, 'If I wasn't a lady I'd put this bag round your head.'

    At the time, I had a weird skin allergy. If you tapped me or scratched me, my skin would raise and look red and angry. A teacher slapped me round the face once – not very hard – and I had this huge hand print on my face for ages.

    Of course, I milked it. I used to do everything I could to get off school. I was very close to my mum and just wanted to hang out with her. I followed her everywhere and remember lots of visits to the council and other seemingly boring places, but I was completely happy.

    By then I was very chatty. I also had a bit of a cleaning obsession. I'd get in trouble for trying to hoover round people when guests were there. So, at home, I'd be either hoovering or cleaning in the kitchen trying to listen to the adult conversations – and then joining in.

    I was always getting told off for that, too. When I did manage to visit school, I was good at art, not bad at English – and appalling at maths. At one point, I ended up in the special needs class for maths.

    We used to have temporary teachers and the class was full of unruly brats. Nothing ever got done.

     Boy George attends the Vivienne Westwood Red Label Fashion Show

    George left school with no qualifications: 'I missed every exam'

    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.

    I wasn't much good at sport either, but I was quite a good swimmer. I was even briefly in the school team.

    Instead, I was obsessed with David Bowie and would draw lots of pictures of him and Marc Bolan – I did at least get lots of compliments for my art work.

    All my friends were female – all the troublemakers.

    Maybe because my mother was a bit under my dad's thumb, any kind of wild woman fascinated me.

    I loved them, just as I loved seeing Shirley Bassey on telly. I was amazed by her and Joan Collins.

    I found strong, glamorous women inspiring. I remember going to a few school music lessons and learning to play Greensleeves.

    Not my cup of tea, I'm afraid. I wanted to learn T-Rex's Get It On. I was musical, and knew I wanted to be involved in that world, but I didn't really fancy the recorder.

     

    When I got to Eltham Green I discovered bunking off. My parents had no idea, because I used to intercept all the teachers' letters. In the end they sent around 55 letters, so my mum finally found out I hadn't been to school for seven weeks.

    Instead, I'd been wandering round the shops, hiding in the nearby forest, sitting in trees, or going to the homes of other boys who were bunking off. I was kicked out of school at 15.

    Once that happened in our house you had to work to earn your keep. 'This is not a hotel!' my mum used to say. I got all sorts of odd jobs: I was a runner for a printing firm, and worked in a fruit factory.

    It was the late 1970s and the punk scene was at its height. I knew a lot of people in bands. Watching them perform was exciting, but many couldn't sing or play their instruments. I thought, 'If they can do it, so can I.'

    In the early 1980s I formed Culture Club with Jon Moss, Mikey Craig and Roy Hay. They were real musicians and taught me a lot. My parents had been very mystified by me for ages. They were quite despairing about it all.

    I was into the New Romantic style of the early Eighties, and even before Culture Club hit the big time I'd been DJ-ing and creating my image. I'd go home with clippings of myself in magazines – I was even on the cover of Stern, one of the best-known magazines in Germany – and my parents didn't know why.

    Finally, they dared to ask, 'What do you do?' and when I said, 'I've got a band', they were really relieved. At last they understood there was a good reason for my androgynous looks and flamboyant personality.

    Boy George's new single, Amazing Grace, is out now. His UK tour starts at London's Leicester Square Theatre on 9 April

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1260886/Me-school-photo-Boy-George-remembers-lots-shouting-canings.html#ixzz0jTqET1eO


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  • Alan chats with Boy George about prison and his upcoming tour.


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  • Boy George: my expectations are much lower than they used to be

    Boy George, 48, was born George O’Dowd and in the 1980s was the lead singer of Culture Club. He became a drug addict and was jailed last year for chaining a rent boy to a wall in his flat. His new single, Amazing Grace, is out on Monday and he tours Britain next month

     

    Is this single your pop comeback?

    No, I haven’t been anywhere and my expectations are much lower than they used to be. I just want to get back to making records and touring. It’s not an attempt to reclaim my pop crown.

    You worked with Mark Ronson on the album. What was that like?

    He was really nice, very into his music and very professional in the studio. The album’s very dance-based, lots of club tracks with strong melodies.

    What are you listening to at the moment?

    I love the new Temper Trap track Sweet Disposition and Coby Koehl, who I’m managing. He’s supporting me on tour. We met on Facebook. I heard some of his music and fell in love with his voice.

    Are you disappointed you weren’t allowed on Celebrity Big Brother because of your parole?

    No, I had a narrow escape. I was watching it thinking I don’t know how I’d have managed. I’ve successfully avoided reality for 48 years so it’s a bit late to start now.

    How do you think you’d have got on with Vinnie Jones?

    I’ve met him a few times and we’ve got on fine. It’s more a case of dealing with people in that confined space with no music, books, TV, nothing to stimulate you. It would drive anyone cuckoo.

    Have you had any involvement with the current BBC biopic being made of your life?

    Yes, I visited the set and met the actor who is playing me, Douglas Booth, a very nice kid. They’ve got the styling perfect. I’ve seen the script and helped put some of the costumes together so I’ve been involved slightly. It deals with the New Romantic period up to our first appearance on Top Of The Pops. It’s about the period before the fame, which is interesting. I had déjà vu when I saw all the actors on set.

    What are your memories of your first Top Of The Pops performance?

    Just being hugely excited. It was my favourite programme when I was growing up so to be on it was a very big deal. I can’t remember who else was on – I was so self-obsessed. Was there anyone else? I was wearing this Hebrew design thing with the dreadlocks. I had it all on.

    What impact did your prison sentence last year have on you?

    None, really. I got through best I could and it’s over now. It didn’t have much impact. It was an enforced sabbatical from my life. If you’re smart you make the best of wherever you are. That is what I tried to do. I made friends in there who I’m still in contact with now. I worked in the kitchen making the vegetarian food. It kept me busy, which was good.

    Does an experience like that show you who your real friends are?

    My friends have always been brilliant. There were no worries in that department. It was an interesting experience but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. When I was inside everyone said: ‘When you leave you’ll forget this ever happened’, and that’s exactly what’s happened. It seems like a bad dream.

    You seem to have maintained a positive outlook. Is it difficult?

    No, I’m not the sort of person who can maintain a dark perspective on life for very long. Having a good sense of humour is very useful in certain situations. Being insanely optimistic has its advantages.

    What’s your favourite item of clothing?

    My Philip Treacy hats. I’ve got about 25. I’m not very tidy, they’re scattered all over the house.

    Would you do another Culture Club reunion?

    Not at the moment. Never say never, though. I’m concentrating on my own stuff at the moment.

    http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/819182-boy-george-my-expectations-are-much-lower-than-they-used-to-be

    Boy George ne veut pas d'un retour pop
    ..Est-ce là votre unique retour pop?



    Non, je n'ai pas été partout et mes attentes sont beaucoup inférieurs à ce qu'ils étaient. Je veux juste revenir de faire des disques et des tournées. Ce n'est pas une tentative pour ramener ma couronne pop.

    Vous avez travaillé avec Mark Ronson sur l'album. What was that like?

    Il était vraiment gentil, très dans sa musique, et très professionnels dans le studio. L'album très dance, fondée sur, beaucoup de pistes club avec des mélodies fortes.

    Qu'est-ce que tu écoutes en ce moment?

    I love the new track Temper Trap Sweet Disposition et Coby Koehl, qui je me débrouille. Il me soutenir en tournée. Nous avons rencontré sur Facebook. J'ai entendu certains de sa musique et est tombé en amour avec sa voix.

    Etes-vous déçu vous n'avez pas été admis sur Celebrity Big Brother en raison de votre libération conditionnelle?

    Non, je ne l'a échappé belle. Je regardais en pensant que je ne sais pas comment j'aurais géré. J'ai réussi à éviter la réalité depuis 48 ans donc c'est un peu tard pour commencer dès maintenant.

    Comment pensez-vous que vous auriez obtenu sur avec Vinnie Jones?

    Je l'ai rencontré à quelques reprises et nous avons sur amende. C'est plus une affaire de traiter avec les gens dans cet espace confiné sans musique, livres, TV, rien à vous stimuler. Il serait lecteur coucou tout le monde.

    Avez-vous eu à travailler dans le biopic de la BBC en cours de votre vie?


    Oui, j'ai visité l'ensemble et a rencontré l'acteur qui me joue, Douglas Booth, un enfant très gentil. Ils ont le style parfait. J'ai vu le script et a aidé à mettre certains des costumes ainsi que si j'ai été impliqué légèrement. Il traite de la période néo-romantique jusqu'à notre première apparition sur le Top Of The Pops. Il s'agit de la période antérieure à la célébrité, qui est intéressante. J'avais déjà vu quand j'ai vu tous les acteurs sur le plateau.

    Quels sont vos souvenirs de votre premier Top Of The Pops performances?

    Le fait d'être extrêmement enthousiaste. Il a été mon programme préféré quand j'étais jeune à l'être sur que c'était une affaire très importante. Je ne me souviens pas qui d'autre était - j'ai eu tellement de soi obsédé. Y avait-il quelqu'un d'autre? Je portais cette chose conception hébreu avec les dreadlocks. J'avais tout de suite.

    Quel impact a eu votre peine de prison l'an dernier ont sur vous?

    Aucun, vraiment. J'ai obtenu par le biais de mon mieux et c'est fini maintenant. Elle n'a pas eu beaucoup d'impact. Ce fut une année sabbatique forcée de ma vie. Si vous êtes intelligent, vous en tirer le meilleur où que vous soyez. C'est ce que j'ai essayé de faire. J'ai fait des amis là-dedans qui je suis toujours en contact avec l'entreprise. J'ai travaillé dans la cuisine, faire la cuisine végétarienne. Il m'a occupé, ce qui était bon.

    Est-ce qu'une expérience comme celle que vous montrez qui sont vos vrais amis?

    Mes amis ont toujours été brillante. Il n'y avait pas de soucis dans ce département. Ce fut une expérience intéressante, mais je ne le recommanderais à personne. Lorsque j'étais à l'intérieur tout le monde disait: «Quand vous quittez vous oublierez jamais ce qui s'est passé», et c'est exactement ce qui s'est passé. Cela ressemble à un mauvais rêve.

    Vous semblez avoir maintenu une attitude positive. Est-il difficile?


    Non, je ne suis pas le genre de personne capable de maintenir une perspective sombre sur la vie pendant très longtemps. Ayant un bon sens de l'humour est très utile dans certaines situations. Être follement optimiste a ses avantages.

    Quelle est votre article préféré de vêtements?

    Mon Philip Treacy chapeaux. J'ai environ 25. Je ne suis pas très propres, ils sont éparpillés dans toute la maison.

    Souhaitez-vous faire une autre réunion Culture Club?

    Pas pour le moment. Ne jamais dire jamais, cependant. Je me concentre sur mes propres trucs pour le moment.

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