Boy George was made aware of the fact that he was “different” by childhood bullies—a reality that, in part, fueled his music career. “There comes a point where you either walk away or embrace being different,” he explained in an interview with The Times.
“My original inspiration was Siouxsie Sioux,” the artist explained. “From there, it was Theda Bara, Betty Boop, Liz Taylor. When you’re a gay kid, other kids make you aware that you’re different. You get picked on and you don’t know why. Then, one summer vacation, it just clicked: I was going with that.”
From that point on, he continued, he leaned in all the way. “I went to school in sewer pants and my tie ripped in half and everyone said I looked like a bum, but it was a turning point. There comes a time when you just shrink or embrace being different.”
Of course, fame was waiting on the other side of the door George intentionally walked through. “Show-off is a double-edged sword—it’s look at me, but don’t look at me,” he said. “You see a picture of Madonna walking out of a restaurant with a face like a smacked ass while secretly wishing all those people were there.”
Being recognized in public can sometimes be difficult for him. “It doesn’t bother me anymore, but in the old days, I was incredibly anxious about being recognized, people staring at me, taking my picture without asking, and for many years I made being who I am a nightmare,” George continued. “Why? Because someone doesn’t think you’re good enough? Once you learn to overcome yourself, it’s a revelation.”
The singer also delved into the controversy surrounding former Culture Club drummer Jon Moss, who initially joined the reunited band in 2018 before being fired.
“I say in the song, ‘How come you don’t fight for your rock ‘n’ roll?’ Jon wants to fight for his royalties, but not the thing that gave him those royalties,” George said. Moss, he continued, is no longer in the band: “Because Jon just wants to do this on his own terms. I’m a Gemini. I trust everyone and I think everyone understands me. When I started the band, I split everything four ways, but I don’t believe I was treated with the respect I gave everyone, especially Jon.”
George added that he tried to repair the relationship without success. “I did, but then Jon’s controlling instincts came back. I’m 64 years old. I don’t want to be controlled. I want to be out of control.”
Read the interview with Boy George at the time .
