Hi George. A pleasure and a treasure. So life seems to be back on track again. Ahead of your UK 2010 Live Tour with your own band, you are putting on a set of exclusive shows at London’s Leicester Square Theatre from December 20th until New Years Eve – what can we expect on the night – old stuff / acoustic / new stuff – what is going to get us up on our feet?
“I’m really concentrating on all the stuff I’m most proud of, yeah, I’m obviously gonna’ do some classic tunes but I’m also throwing in some great new songs and some classic Jazz. I started rehearsing today and it’s sounding great. We just hired a seriously good young drummer called Jonathan Hamilton who is only 19 but seriously on it. On keyboards I have Mike Gorman who I’ve been writing new songs with and then John Themis on Guitar and Kevan Frost on bass who are two guys I’ve worked with since leaving Culture Club. I have two amazing backing singers, John Gibbons and Lizzie Dean, actually they can hold the stage on their own, it’s the best line-up I’ve had for some time.”
A big night on Boxing Day playing at ‘Tabloid’ with The Sharp Boys at Fire in south London, great venue, great DJs… are you looking forward to this huge party?
“I am, I have to race back from the north but I should be on the decks at Fire around 5am, it’s great to be doing more London gigs because I usually play outside the country, Italy has become a bit of a hotspot for me. I’m pleased that the Sharp Boys are throwing some good gigs my way and they’ve done a lovely stomping remix of my next single ‘Amazing Grace’. I also have a Xmas single out right now ‘White Xmas’ so if anyone wants to download it, be my guest. I like playing at Fire, I get a lot of love from the Fire queens!”
Did you miss DJing whilst you were away behind bars?
“To be honest, I missed my life full stop. I had plenty of music whilst I was staying at HMP Edmunds Hill, lots of old Bowie and dance mix CDs which got passed around, there are lot’s of ravers and fallen clubbers in the nick. I think music is the one thing that keeps you sane in times of crisis and I’m happy to be back doing the thing I love, creating music and dropping it live. I think music will always be my saviour! Can I get a witness?!”
So tell us about the UK Tour 2010…
Hopefully I’ll have my album out for the tour, I’m releasing another single with Glide & Swerve in March 2010 about my brief stay at HMP Pentonville, it’s called ‘The Pentonville Blues’ and it’s proper righteous Reggae. If things go to plan, I should have a complete album to release and it will be the best thing I’ve done for a long time, if ever! I’m pretty serious about what I’m doing musically right now. I’m more concerned about the quality than I am about the sales. I’m well into the viral promotion thing, it’s all been digital for me for a few years. http://twitter.com/theboygeorge
…..follow me, I know stuff…”
You were going to call Culture Club ‘In Praise With Lemmings’ – why?
“Youthful pessimism I guess, also I formed the band at the tail end of Punk and New Wave, so the name suited the gloomy mood of the time. I knew I didn’t want a nine to five kind of job, so I guess I saw people with normal jobs as lemmings or something. Of course I admire anyone who works hard for a living. You tend to grow out of these ideals.”
Who is the most fabulous celebrity you have ever met that you fancied?
“I’m not so interested in famous blokes, they tend to be quite self centered and it would be a terrible clash of egos! I tend to go for hard working types, ordinary but sexy, ha! I would review this policy for Michael Buble, I think he’s well tasty but I’m no different to most housewives in that respect.”
How did your mother feel when you told her you were gay – or did she just know?
“I think she suspected – lol! At first she was obviously worried because it’s tough to think of your child facing a hostile world where so many people are uptight and aggressive towards gay people. She got over it quickly though and has always accepted my sexuality and supported me in every way. My dad was the same, he just said ‘you’re still my son’ and grabbed my shoulders, which were padded with rolled up socks at the time, tee hee. I’m very lucky to have the full support of my family, all my brothers are cool and protective of me and of all gay people.”
When you were in the nick in Suffolk, what did you miss the most about outside life?
“The freedom! Sorry, I couldn’t resist. I missed things like broccoli and fresh fish but I got to go to bed early for four months and I made a few really good friends too! I just surrendered to the whole thing of being in prison, it wasn’t easy of course and I still can’t believe it actually happened. It’s truly amazing what we can handle once we put our minds to it. I had a few little run-ins with straight idiots mumbling ‘Batty Boy’, hardly original really. Telling me I’m gay is pretty stupid because at this stage, I think I already knew.”
Best record you have ever made?
“I think ‘Generations Of Love’ is up there in my all time faves but I would say that ‘Bow Down Mister is also a serious contender, it’s the most joyful song I’ve ever made.”
A friend of mine saw you down at Wild Fruit in Brighton DJing – like it down there?
“I love Brighton, the crowds are great and lot’s of queers live there so it’s one of my top destinations.”
Big tune coming out of the Fat Tony stable on Milk n’ 2 Sugars – what do you make of that? He seems really over all his shit…
“Tony is amazing, the changes he has made to his life and career are truly inspiring, and since we both got sober our friendship has become so solid. I met him when he was fifteen so we have some history. I love him so much and he’s a funny fucker if you’re not on the receiving end.”
What was the most disgusting or weirdest piece of crap you had to pick up whilst cleaning the streets of New York during your Community Service in the States?
“Another surreal moment in my colorful life, madness, picking up Bok Choy off the streets in New York’s China Town at 7am is not my idea of a holiday. Still it’s character building I suppose. I’ve learnt the hard way that the law is a business like any other. Making an example of someone famous is great profile for the justice system as you saw with my (media service) It’s iconic now, those mad pictures of me with my broom and bin. The most painful thing was wearing orange and knowing I did it to myself. Muppet!”
“How did it feel being brought up dancing in gay clubs around London such as The Blitz with Steve Strange and then after your then singing career finished, start DJing in mainstream dance clubs such as Cream up in Liverpool?
“My singing career never finished, I just added another string to my bow with the DJ stuff, I was actually a DJ in 1979, I’ll send you a picture as evidence! The early days of dance, Acid House was as exciting as Punk for me, totally brilliant going to clubs like The Paradise Garage in New York and Spectrum in London, Cream too, just the best time ever. I still love the dance scene, of course it’s more corporate but still very exciting. Dance music keeps evolving and it’s great to be part of it still.”
You sold over 50 million albums worldwide…where did the money all go?
“I have my beautiful home which was my wisest investment, but lot’s of it went to the tax man and up my nose. I’ve always worked hard so I’m not desperate – but thanks for asking love!”
Any truth in this rumour about a secret New Years Party you are throwing with Fat Tony and Steve Thomas?
“The clue is in the word ‘secret’.”
If I offered you fifty grand, would you sleep with Jordan?
“It’s quite an insulting context I feel. I would do it for free. I like Jordan!”
What artists did you listen to growing up as a teenager?
“Bowie, Joni Mitchell, T-Rex, Sly and the family Stone, Nina Simone, Timi Yuro, Charles Aznavour , Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, the list goes on and on and on. The first proper single record I bought was Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Sony & Cher. My first album was Bowie’s ‘The Man Who Sold the World’.”
What was life like in your childhood house in London with five siblings was it hard – and why did your parents Gerald and Dinah move over from Ireland in the first place?
“Madness and chaos prevailed at all times, my dad had some temper and a gambling habit that would send him into rages but my childhood seemed pretty normal to me at the time. I only learnt with age that you can communicate without screaming – ha! My mum had my brother out of wedlock so she was sent to London out of shame. My mum was an Irish refugee and she had a lot to deal with as a young teenager. I think she’s an amazing person, a goddess!”
Tell us about life in a cell – were you allowed music or a telly – did you have to share with anyone?
“I shared for one night with a guy who I got on pretty well with but we soon found out that being friendly and sharing a small space are two very different things. When I wanted to watch ‘Eggheads’ he wanted the news on and he was pretty anal about being tidy and it got on my fucking nerves, so I was moved to another unit and had my own cell. It was better for me. I was on the same wing as Amy Winehouse’s ‘My Blake’ who kindly made me a Mocca and lent me some cool CDs.”
Did you make any friends inside and did you get any hassle being a superstar?
“I’m still friendly with my mate Terry VP4116 who has just been released and another lunatic called Justin, I write to a few people too. Yeah, there are lots of great people in prison and just as many muppets. It’ just like the real world – but more claustrophobic. Very like school, you get your bullies and you have to give as good as you get.”
What one artist would you most like to record a duet with?
“Bowie without question!”
Is there one Culture Club record you will never sing again – and don’t say ‘Do You Really Want To Hurt Me’ as I had my first ever snog to that with a girl called Lynne in a scout hut when I was 14.
“God, tones of them, but ‘Do you really’ is still one of my faves.”
Proudest moment when leading the amazing Culture Club – there must have been some amazing times…
“It was all pretty amazing but much too overwhelming for a young mind to really take in. I wish I had enjoyed it more and had been less insecure, angry, and uptight but so much of the time I just wasn’t present in my life. Of course it wasn’t all hideous, it was a mental adventure that kind of swallowed us alive and we just went with it. Fame sometimes makes you forget the important stuff, you know, the music, it becomes almost secondary to the fab lifestyle of travel, media and parties. Most artists get fame long before they are ready for it. This is why my new motto is ‘be present in your life’, value the small stuff and grab a smile from any corner!”
George, we at DMC love you and wish you a Happy Christmas.
Dan Prince x
