Proud Magazine Interview 25 June,2009

NATURE BOY

If Pride is about visbility,then none should be prouder than Boy George.
From Fiji to Finland from Iceland to Iran the world knows of his love for men,.
his gender bending ,gartb,his unapologetic view of sexuality. Chance Delgado
talks sex,drugs and rock 'n roll with the ever buoyant George.

**Having eaten his porridge**
George is back in London and will be performing at Pride on the Ku Bar stage
in Leicester Square as well making an appearance on
the Trannyshack float. Riding as always, on a wave of creativity,these days it
seems the Boy's karma is calmer…

**In love 'a many splendored thing 'George?
Do you want it or are you happy to have casual relationships?**
Of course love is the ideal but remember, it's only a word I think sometimes
when you're locked into a relationship you spend far too much time worrying
about where it's going and forget to actually enjoy it.
I've learned not to try and mould people into some insane and unreasonable
idea of perfection. Surely the best kind of relationship is a bit casual- who enjoys
being neurotic and needy?

**Do you want kids one day? Big breeder George? Daddy bear?**
I love kids but I can just about look after a hat!

"I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE
WITH NATURE SINCE
I GOT OFF DRUGS
I GO INTO MY GARDEN
AND MARVEL AT THE
BEAUTY OF IT ALL"

**Now that you're clean, is the grass greener-the world more shiny and new?**
Oh Lord,it truly is! I've fallen in love with nature since I got off drugs.
I go to my garden and marvel at the beauty of it all.
I see things more clearly and in great detail.
I have such gratitude for my life, my wonderful friends and family.
I've never been more aware of how lucky and blessed I am. In prison, I got letters
from so many people I had previously just taken for granted,the support I got from
my friends was overwhelming: people like Dusty O,Tasty Tim, Fat Tony, Princess Julia
and an endless list of people who were there for me in a moment of real crisis.
You don't forget stuff like that!

**You must have seen many a friend and peer fall prey to addiction.
Do you have advice for those with a money on their back?**
Reach out, ask for help.
There are so many things that offer support these days but you need to reach
your own point of realization.
Sometimes it takes tragedy but often a light just goes on in your head and
you must just decide to start living and functioning as a proper human being.
My friend Fat Tony was so instrumental in getting me clean and I bless him for
hounding me and making me see sense.

**Are drugs a necessary evil for performers who live on their nerves?**?
I suppose they help you run away from reality to some extent and of course you
have moments of real fun when you're high but it always ends in tears-not only
your own but anyone who cares family, friends. I was very selfish: I used to say
it's my life to destroy 'but you are always hurting someone else and when you're
on drugs nothing really ever gets done.
You may have head a head full of cocaine creativity but you're just running round in circle

**George, I've always thought your type of soulful voice would work best with a black band:
Motown it up a bit, like Amy's stuff maybe. What are your plans for your singing career?**
My next project will be a covers album, rather like Bowie's Pin ups but using quite unusual material.
I will be recording some very old jazz songs but not the obvious standards,
although Blue Moon is a contender. I'm going to working with Culture Club's original producer.
tSteve Levine and I'm really very excited about this reunion.

**We love it when your rock out with the up-tempo stuff you know,like Karma chameleon
George swinging and swaying, but will you stick to ballads now?**
I'm at the stage where anything goes.
I've always jumped genres from the poppy stuff to dance and a bit of glam rock
and I don't see myself ever sticking to one style of music.
I get excited by all types of music Currently I'm very excited by.
a New York singer called Coby Koehl, who is one of the best singer.
I've heard since Amy,He's brilliant and gay and the world needs to hear him.

**Are there other new producers and mixers you would like to work with?**
I work with a guy called John Themes and also Kevan Frost: between us we write and
produce everything together.
When it comes to dance, I work with brilliant Kinky Roland so I have most areas covered.
We all share an insane passion for music and being creative.
As I said the next proper album will be with Culture Club producer Steve Levine,
but it will be very different to the sound we made back in the day.

**When you are writing,when do you start with a tune ,rhythm of lyrics?**
It's different every time but generally, the best stuff comes from a strong lyric and melody
but sometimes John or Kevan will have a great groove or instrumental track that inspires a new song.
For me the lyrics are the most important thing: the story, the message

**If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?**
I'd have a full head of hair and longer legs- but I won't lose sleep over it!

**What one thing has life taught you or what has totally changed you?**
I follow the spiritual teaching of Eckhart Tolle,who wrote a book "The Power of Now"
It's all about living in the moment and being present in real time rather than obsessing
about the past or the future
I also know that the important stuff is not big things like chart success or coins in the bank
but simple stuff like true friendship, laughter and smelling coffee and flowers
You can grab a smile from any corner and certainly this attitude made being in prison much
easier than I thought it would be.
I made lots of friends and I found a way to make it work for me which is the only sane thing to do.
Also I'm more interested in telling the world about things I love rather than things I don't.
I've rebuilt lots of burnt bridges with people and it feels amazing.

**Hell, George you sure have taken us on a roller coaster ride! Any surprises coming?**
I just want to make a record that touches people emotionally and I intend to enjoy all
that comes my way in the future.

George will be opening his fashion store-Rude, off Carnaby street, London in July.
Judge the clothes for yourself from his fabulous photographs.