photo credit: Dean Freeman
Fresh from coaching on the latest series of BBC’s The Voice, Boy George covers the new edition of FAULT magazine.
As well as appearing on the cover, Boy George speaks to FAULT about his decision to join The Voice, the gender-playful musical landscape of the 70s and 80s and what the future has in store for the singer.
On joining The Voice:
“I think my only reservation was how involved I would be with the people that I chose; whether I could have any kind of impact on what they did. And, to my surprise, it is very interactive. You can get as involved as you want to.”
How his life has shaped his music:
“Everything that happens shapes you and influences what you do, but I don’t tend to focus on the past. Why would I look back? Difficult things inform my writing but – if you want other people to move on – then you have to move on yourself… I try to live in the now – it’s the only sensible time to live.”
The gender-playful musical landscape of the 70s and 80s:
“I think most things are a reaction against society. The ‘70s were really grey: there were lots of strikes, lots of poverty, lots of things to react against. It was a bit of colour against all the misery that was happening in the ‘70s”.
On who he finds musically exciting:
“I really like Christine and The Queens. The music they make is really beautiful. It’s in French though, so it’s a bit difficult to understand, but you don’t really need to. I’ve also been getting back into Kate Bush: recently I came home, laid on the floor and listened to Hounds of Love in it’s entirety, and it was wonderful”.
On his future:
“[Culture Club] have got a tour coming up in the summer. I’m also doing stuff on my own: I’ve got a tour with Cyndi Lauper in about a month on the East Coast of America. At the moment I’m trying to build my empire, so anything’s possible”.
The new issue of FAULT magazine is out on May 10th and is available to pre-order now.