ECHO-NEWS: George is the karma back kid

BOY George is a global phenomenon, known almost as much for his colourful private life as his music.

He has been in the headlines ever since his former group Culture Club burst on to the pop scene in 1982 and, at the height of his fame, was the most photographed person in the world alongside the late Diana, Princess of Wales. 

But a little known fact is his colossal rise to fame began in a club in Rayleigh.In an exclusive interview, Boy George told the Echo: "Crocs, in Rayleigh, was where I did my first ever live show.

"It was in 1981, just before Christmas, and we were playing our first ever gig. Depeche Mode were on just before us and it was awesome.

"We had chosen to play there because Ray Hay (the band's guitarist) lived in Rayleigh. I know Southend fairly well and I did some DJing more recently at a place near the pier."

Soon after that debut Rayleigh gig, Culture Club signed with Virgin Records and in 1982, became the first band since the Beatles to amass three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a debut album.

By 1986, Boy George was starting a solo career and, over the next two decades, he released a total of 23 albums, including those he has mixed in his reincarnation as a highly successful DJ.

The artist produced and performed (although not as himself) in the West End musical Taboo, which depicted his quirky rise to fame, while a courtroom battle with a former lover and a battle with drug addiction have meant George, now 48, is rarely out of the headlines.

But he said it was returning to singing live that made him realise what he had been missing.

He said: "I am really enjoying this and I'm planning to get back into it more. It's been quite a while - ten years now.

"People don't know what to expect from me and there is an element of surprise in my shows. But I love getting them up on their feet for things they didn't expect to hear.

"I have a lot of affection from my fans. When I am in London, I think it's only there I have fans but I have lovely fans all over the country."

Review of Boy George's Cliffs Pavilion gig

A GLOBAL pop icon took to the stage for one night at the Cliffs Pavilion and got the entire audience to its feet with a dizzying array of musical talent in a two-hour romp across musical history.

Boy George, the eccentric performer whose recent personal life has been a soap opera played out in the tabloids, was keen to impress fans with his latest songs, as well as play the hits which soared him to international stardom in the 1980s.

In laid-back fashion, George walked out in a striking red hat and safety-pin emblembed suit from his fashion label B-rude, and opened with a reggae-influenced tune.

It is hard to believe it has been ten years since Boy George last toured live. His unmistakable voice was as solid as ever, his raunchy moves revved up the crowd and confidence simply oozed.

A great showman, he interacted with fans and spoke frankly about episodes in his life that inspired him to write certain songs.

He sang several songs from the musical Taboo, which was about his rise to fame, including "Stranger in this World" which he sang in duet with a highly talented singer Lizzie Dee, who has only recently joined the band.

There was a mix of melancholic musical tunes including an up-tempo version of Summertime, as well as cabaret and gospel beats, which really proved the breadth of his writing and singing skills, but for many fans it was the Eighties hits that they had come to hear.

George teased with a promise of music that would make the audience want to "get up and shake your bum." And when the chord struck for Kharma Chameleon, that prediction came true.

He performed two other mega hits: Church of the Poisoned Mind and Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, but ended the show with the undeniable lyrics: "I've one of those faces, you'll never forget." 

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local/display.var.2023344.0.george_is_the_karma_back_kid.php

PICTURE FROM MYSPACE.BOYGEORGE2008