Boy George recounts the first time he met David Bowie
They met a few times over the years
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.
Take a look through tours taking place in 2024 and beyond:
Stevie Wonder
'Superstition' singer Stevie Wonder is on his 'Songs In The Key of Life Performances - 50th Anniversary Tour', including four UK dates starting in October 2026 and continuing into November. He will be playing at Birmingham, London, Manchester and Glasgow.
Duran Duran
Duran Duran, who released 'Free To Love' with Nile Rodgers earlier this year, are performing five dates in the UK, in Glasgow, Belfast, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds, they started in Glasgow on 15th October 2026.
The Stylistics
'Betcha by Golly, Wow' singers, The Stylistics, have started a huge tour in October and November. They are playing 22 dates across the UK.
Transvision Vamp
The band, fronted by Wendy James, will play dates across the UK, starting in Newcastle on 6th October 2026, before continuing to venues in Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Manchester, London and many more. They will end their tour in Belfast on 1st November.
Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton has announced he will be going on tour later this year, in October and November. The former Housemartins and Beautiful South singer also announced a new album called 'Jenius', and the lead single 'Favourite Kind Of Idiot'. He will also be playing several gigs over summer 2027.
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley will be heading out on 'The Christmas Big Band Tour 2026', taking place in November and December 2026. Announcing news of his new tour, Tony told his fans: 'Following the huge success of last year's sold-out tour, The Fabulous TH Band and I are heading back out on the road this November and December for the Christmas Big Band Tour!'
He will perform songs by legendary artists including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Elvis Presley, along with big band versions of Spandau Ballet's 'True', 'Gold', and 'Through The Barricades'.
Del Amitri
The tour, called 'Past to Present - Four Decades of Their Greatest Music', will open at Leeds O2 Academy on Monday 9th November, and wrap up with two homecoming shows at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Glasgow Barrowland Ballroom on Sunday 6th and Tuesday 8th December. They will also be supporting Texas on tour in 2027.
Culture Club
In May 2026, Culture Club announced they would be heading out on 'The Singles Tour' with very special guests ABC and Haircut 100. The band start their tour in Bournemouth on Monday 7th December, continuing throughout the month, ending at The O2 Arena on Saturday 19th December 2026.
Jack Whitehall
Jack Whitehall hosted the BRIT Awards in February 2026, and will be going on his 'Bad Influence' tour in January and February 2027 across the UK. The tour will start in Newcastle on 7th January 2027, and will see the comedian perform across the UK, finally ending a month later in Derby.
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde has announced a 13-date UK tour in March 2027. She will be joined by 'I Think We're Alone Now' singer Tiffany. Kim will start her tour in Bristol on 12th March, before travelling across the country and finishing her tour in York on 28th March 2027.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle will be going on a headline tour in March and April 2027, performing at locations such as Portsmouth, Glasgow, Bradford, Newcastle, Bath, London, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and many more. This new tour will mark an exciting new chapter for the singer, who rose to fame following the success of her debut single 'Dreams' in 1993 and her landmark 1999 album 'Rise'.
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their debut album 'Popped In Souled Out' with a 40-date UK tour in 2027. The run is split across February and October, beginning on 7th February in Watford and wrapping up on 29th October in Portsmouth, with one October date still to be announced.
Across the shows, they'll perform songs from the milestone album alongside a set packed with career favourites, including hits that helped define their pop success. Select dates will also feature special guests including Roachford, Nick Heyward, Rebecca Ferguson, Heather Small, Johnny Hates Jazz, The Christians and The South.
Francis Rossi
Status Quo legend Francis Rossi has extended his 'Songbook: Quo – Past, Present, Future' UK tour into 2027. He has announced dates throughout March, April and May 2027.
Simple Minds
Simple Minds have announced a May 2027 UK arena tour with very special guest Gary Numan. The band's 'V Tour' 2027 is billed as a 'panoramic live music experience' and 'an all-encompassing celebration of music across five decades.'
Chris De Burgh
Chris De Burgh has announced a new tour for 2027. The 'Lady In Red' singer will be starting his eight-date tour in Bath Forum, on 6th May, before he visits Bournemouth, London (for two dates), Leicester, Basingstoke, and Harrogate before ending his tour on 17th May in Liverpool.
John Bishop
Comedian John Bishop is set to go on tour in 2027, and the tickets are still available to buy now. John will start his 2027 UK and Ireland tour in April in Leeds, continuing across the country including gigs in Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and more. Finally he will end his tour in Ireland on 16th May 2027.
Don Mclean
'American Pie' singer Don Mclean has announced he will be doing one last tour across the UK. 'The Farewell Tour' will take place in May 2027, starting in Glasgow on Tuesday 11th May, before moving onto Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and more, finishing in London.
Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart has announced a four-date tour for April and May 2027. The 'Maggie May' singer will be starting his UK tour in Glasgow on Thursday 29th April, before moving onto Birmingham, Manchester and London – finishing at The O2 on Tuesday 11th May.
Erasure
Erasure have announced a huge tour for 2027. The 'Radio!! Radio!! Tour' will be starting in Cardiff on Sunday 25th April, and continuing for three weeks, ending in The O2 arena in London on Wednesday 12th May.
Rewind-On-Sea at Dreamland Margate
Rewind-On-Sea, taking place at Dreamland Margate next year, has a huge line-up including Marc Almond, Nik Kershaw, Heather Small, Roland Gift, Chesney Hawkes and Altered Images.
Texas
Texas have announced they will be going on a UK tour in October 2027, starting in Aberdeen on Friday 15th October, continuing across Scotland, England and Wales, ending in Birmingham on Saturday 30th October.
Now read:
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Tickets are now on sale for Culture Club's UK arena tour with Tony Hadley and Heaven 17
Take a look through tours coming up in 2024 and beyond