Profile: Boy George

12 June 2008 05:01pm

Real Name: George Alan O'Dowd

Image: Music icon and make-up fan

Birth Date: June 14, 1961

Best Known For: Fronting Eighties chart-toppers Culture Club, later finding success as a solo singer and, more recently, as a club DJ.

Early Life: Growing up in a large family in Kent, George became a known figure of London's New Romantic scene, regularly featured in Eighties style magazines.

He was spotted by pop supremo Malcolm McLaren, and - via a short-lived stint in a pop partnership - George formed the band In Praise Of Lemmings, later renamed Culture Club.

Career High: George wrote the West End musical, Taboo, based on his own life.

Love Life: While in Culture Club, George's androgynous appearance sparked speculation about his sexuality, which he did not confirm or deny.

In his autobiography, George came out as a gay man, revealing he had had a relationship with Kirk Brandon, the singer with Spear of Destiny. Kirk denied the relationship, bringing a libel charge against George, but lost the case.

George also had a relationship with Culture Club drummer Jon Moss, which was kept secret at the time.

Don't Mention: Law and order. After George dubbed himself "your favourite junkie" at a concert in London, the press revealed he was a heroin addict. George later went into rehab.

In 2005, he was arrested in Manhattan on suspicion of possessing cocaine. After missing one court date, he was eventually ordered to pick up trash in New York as his community service punishment.

Words Of Wisdom: "When it comes to DJing, I'm more of a s**t stirrer than a mixer."

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