Boy George talks Eurovision, voyeurism, fashion and Julien’s auction

Forty-five years after Boy George changed the music scene with his gender-blurring style, he cut up some of his mementos for Julien’s auction.

Fashion, accessories, photography, art and memorabilia will go under the gavel on July 14th in Los Angeles. The singer, DJ, artist and photographer is maximizing his creative output with one of his current projects, a new version of the musical “Taboo”. Boy George, the former frontman of British band Culture Club, has a keener insight into identity, culture wars, social change and style tips than most.

And yes, he’s known for accumulating all sorts of things, much of which has been stowed away for 10 or 15 years. His longtime friend and collaborator, stylist William Baker, helped organize selections from the storage facility for “Bold Luxury: The Boy George Edit.” The sale’s name is borrowed from the performer’s mantra: “Fashion for the fragile, style for the brave.” The former Grammy Award winner, whose real name is George O’Dowd, shared his thoughts on new voyeurism, gender issues, fashion experimentation and more in a recent interview.

“I collect so much stuff that sometimes I feel like I have to purge it to replace it with more stuff. It’s kind of a cycle,” he said with a laugh.

William Baker, a stylist with whom he worked for many years and was a friend, excavated the storage facility and spread the findings into a “huge warehouse.” The musician said: “It was the craziest thing ever. The funniest thing was that there was a drawing of my friend, and it was placed in the middle of everything, as if he was watching the whole thing.”

The performer, who hadn’t seen much of the clothing and other items in years, said he walked around the “huge” warehouse where they were spread out, remembered their origins and tried on some things for a laugh or two. “Oh, great, this still fits me,” he said, laughing.

Items by Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and John Galliano will be on sale, as will hats by Philip Treacy, as well as the outfit he wore as Leigh Bowery in Taboo. Bidders will get a glimpse of Boy George’s glamorous androgynous 1980s style. A portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to MusiCares®. The ensemble worn during the 1984 Color by Numbers performance at Wembley Arena is expected to sell for more than $50,000. Another live-in 1983 “Karma Chameleon” performance has an estimated pre-sale price of $20,000 to $30,000. He hopes some of the finds will be housed in museums and cultural institutions to provide deeper context.

Growing up in South East London, a multicultural area with strong Jamaican and Indian communities, Boy George was instilled with an interest in other people’s faith, dress and way of thinking. “When I was a kid, if I saw Hare Krishnas, I didn’t necessarily agree with them, but I was interested and I wanted to talk to them,” he said. “As an older man, I understand that what I wear, whether it’s a punk outfit, a hijab, or a priest’s collar, is only part of the story. Just because you look like something doesn’t mean you embody it. You have to live it and be what you say you are.”

As a young rocker, the very idea of ​​having a career was “terrifying”. And will it become a brand? “Well, that’s terrible,” he said. As he got older, he realized that he needed to enjoy what he created and enjoy it. “On the other hand, when I was younger, there was a time when I didn’t want to be the person that people thought I was. You get to a point where you can channel it all into a bigger vessel: nostalgia, everything you’ve been through, and who you are. But I also have this other life: being an artist, a DJ, and making fashion.”

Asked what’s driving the current culture, he said, “We’re in this era of voyeurism and confessionalism, where people feel they have to vent their frustrations online about every personal detail of their lives.” A few years ago, it was, ‘I’m a DJ,’ ‘I dance,’ ‘I’m so-and-so.’ But now people are getting into their own trauma, and no therapist would ever tell you to go online and then read the comments. If you look at what they’re doing with it, it’s clear that people don’t deserve that information. ”

He laughed, knowing that telling people about his personal business had always been a given in his life, “For some reason, before the Internet, it wasn’t a problem. I joke that I was the only person on the planet who wanted attention, but now… It seems like everyone does it. There’s a false sense that we know each other very well, but we don’t really know each other. The lives you put out online aren’t real. They’re just jazzed-up versions of yourself. ”

The 65-year-old’s outlook is that what he thinks is probably more important than what he wears. “You can change what you wear, but you can’t change yourself,” he explained. “Life is some kind of glorious coincidence, but you can change the way you think about life and the way you present yourself. But that doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story.”

He still plays with changing his appearance, but it’s no longer done for the sake of other people and their reactions. You don’t always have to dress up, but sweatpants and a beanie are often sufficient. “The funny thing is, when people see you underdressed and they don’t know who you are, they can be very rude. Then when they find out who you are, they suddenly change their behavior,” he said.

When George began his musical career transcending gender, he attributed it to his “youthful belligerence.” He still wonders why anyone cares, but “there still seems to be an obsession with the words ‘gay’ and ‘trans,'” he said. It’s as if no one has ever heard the word. We had this conversation 50 years ago. We still argue about people’s looks and sexuality. That’s amazing. ”

On the other hand, when fame first hit him, if someone didn’t like seeing him on TV, “I had to write a letter, get an envelope, buy stamps, and actually donate,” he said. As performers stood outside London’s Black Cap on June 8, they noticed how hostile some passersby were, including posters of upcoming drag events taped to the pub’s windows. “I just wonder, ‘What difference does it make to you?'”

A bit of an exhibitionist, he said he understands that he needs to create some animosity in order to make a fuss and make people a little nervous. Whereas years ago, some people would ignore you and show their displeasure, “now people feel like they have to yell at you,” he said.

How he navigates the world and how others interact with him depends on whether he is dressed up or down. Boy George, who has been touring for years since his hit “Karma Chameleon” in 1983, now enjoys challenging “tough audiences” and trying to charm them, never overtly introducing new songs themselves. They are “wired to oppose,” he explained. “I’ve even lied about new music and said, ‘Oh, I wrote this for Johnny Cash,’ and people were scratching their heads. If you captivate people with what you’re singing, it always works out,” he said.

Boy George is not a fashion clothing seller like some people think, admitting that there was a time in the 1980s when designers were contributing to their own stockpile, saying, “You don’t really get things for free unless you’re number one or for a reason. Designers usually go after whoever’s hot at the time. If you were getting married tomorrow, you wouldn’t get a wedding dress for free.”

As a Gemini, he would rather pay his own money and feels embarrassed at the idea of ​​asking for something for free. “I don’t mind discounts,” he said. “I like that trade-off. I’ve worked with a lot of creative people, but I like to pay my way.”

The gift of a perfume bottle that once belonged to Elizabeth Taylor is a prized possession. “Liz Taylor is someone I loved. I only met her briefly,” he said.

Gaultier is his “best” designer friend. George met Westwood when he was 16 years old and frequented her store. [Sex]in London, and continued to buy her clothes in later years. He also worked as a DJ in Westwood. There’s always exciting things being made in the fashion industry, but he’s probably not as excited as others because he’s been watching it for so long. “But that applies to everything, whether it’s fashion or music. People always say, ‘Oh, this is great,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, no, that’s not surprising.’ As I get older, I realize the simplicity of many things, including music, fashion, and art. It’s all about context and why you did something. ”

Boy George’s favorite new artist is Tom Zwerber, who is reminiscent of Bowery. “I messaged him and he had no idea who Lee was,” he said. “Whether it’s drag queens, media, or stylish people, there’s always someone I like when I meet them online. I love pop culture.”

“The iPhone is like a mini-TV, we’re all on it 24/7,” George said, referring to David Bowie’s 1999 comments about how we don’t fully understand the impact of the internet and Quentin Crisp’s recommendation 50 years ago that the best way to become a virgin was to be on TV.

He, who was a guest artist alongside Italian singer Senit at Eurovision in Venice last month, said there was a real camaraderie between the musicians and the audience. One of the objections was that five countries would advance to the finals without qualifying. Boy George said, “Oh yeah, it’s weird that five countries come in and do nothing and the other countries have to compete.”

Either way, this experience has opened up new territory and increased his fan base, making him eager to return in a more formal way. Developing a clothing collection is also on his wish list, having previously tinkered with clothes and hats in his London studio.

Creative people are sometimes told to stay in their lane, but Boy George encouraged them to go against it. “Nostalgia is great because it brings all kinds of things into life, but there has to be a balance. Not everything can be nostalgic.”

He declined to say how his commercial opportunities are being criticized by Auden Carlsen, who he accused of beating him in 2007. The musician had previously denied the beating, but was found guilty of false imprisonment in 2008. As for whether incarceration has changed his perspective on the creative process, he said: “No, it hasn’t changed at all.”

Never short of ideas and having put on one of the most successful art shows of recent times, he suggested, “Given everything that’s going on in the world, my perspective seems to have an important context right now. There’s a good response because it focuses on all the things that are stressing people out.”

Constantly producing new music and art, he has released over 200 tracks in the past two years. He said there were no more rules as the industry was in a more liberal position. “Everything is important. The most important thing is that it’s always fun. Whether I’m doing something great or sitting at home watching TV, I’m still in a good mood,” Boy George said. “I don’t have the world on me like I used to. Now, it’s nothing short of a miracle. When I look at what’s going on, I think the world has always been crazy and we just didn’t realize it. With new revelations and new voyeurism by AI, it’s a difficult time to stay sane. Good luck.” [laughs]”