Boy George recounts the first time he met David Bowie

They met a few times over the years

Harriet Scott and Boy George
Author: Anna Sky MagliolaPublished 22nd Jun 2024
Last updated 24th Jun 2024

Boy George joined Harriet Scott at Magic Radio to talk about his brand new Culture Club tour and meeting his hero David Bowie.

The singer announced a new tour with Culture Club, taking place later this year, including venues in Liverpool, Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow, London and more. The band will be touring their first two albums, and joined on the road by Tony Hadley and Heaven 17.

Boy George told Harriet he's really looking forward to it. "I always enjoy trying to connect with the audience," he explained.

"I never walk on thinking there's a bad audience. Some people say 'tough audience', but 'no'. Because then your job is to seduce them, to make them chill out."

Listen again to Harriet's interview with Boy George

The topic of conversation then turned to Culture Club's song 'Church of the Poison Mind'. It was kept off the top spot back in 1983 by none other than Boy George's hero David Bowie. Despite losing the competition for the Number 1 spot, Boy George said the 'Let's Dance' singer was "adorable".

"Yeah, yeah, (I've met David Bowie) a few times," the singer told Harriet. "He was adorable, he was... He knew I was a fan and he knew me before I was famous because he remembered me..."

Boy George went on to explain how he had "mad hair," and "was wearing a kimono and looking absolutely freaky", the first time he met David Bowie.

Once Boy George was famous, he admitted to seeing him in an airport, but being too nervous to go up and talk to him, explaining: "I was like, what do I do now? Because I'm famous too, and he's my hero, do I speak to him? I was too nervous. I thought (what) if he's rude to me... I didn't know, you know, if he might be unfriendly."

However, it couldn't be further from the truth, when the pair met later on in their careers. Boy George opened up about a time they went for dinner together, saying: "When I met him, (and) physically sat down with my dinner with him, he couldn't have been nicer.

"And I had a friend with me, and he was so nice to my friend, made my friend feel really welcome and you know, was joking with him and just lovely, just absolutely lovely."

When is Harriet Scott on Magic Radio?

Boy George was chatting to Harriet Scott on Magic Radio on her Saturday afternoon show. You can also hear Harriet on the Magic Radio Breakfast show with Ronan Keating every weekday from 6am until 10am.

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