Boy George Explains Why Culture Club Weren't On Live Aid - Noise11.com
Culture Club Encore Tour at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Sunday 11 December 2016. Culture Club headlined the show after support bands Wa Wa Nee, Pseudo Echo, Eurogliders and Real Life performed their sets. Photo Ros O'Gorman

Culture Club Encore Tour at Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Sunday 11 December 2016. Culture Club headlined the show after support bands Wa Wa Nee, Pseudo Echo, Eurogliders and Real Life performed their sets. Photo Ros O'Gorman

Boy George Explains Why Culture Club Weren’t On Live Aid

by Paul Cashmere on May 5, 2020

in News

Boy George has revealed his band were asked to perform at the landmark concert – which was held on July 13 1985 to raise money for the Ethiopian famine – but organisers “didn’t follow up” on the request because of George’s battle with a drug addiction.

Speaking to Louis Theroux on his ‘Grounded’ podcast, he said: “I messed it up. I was otherwise engaged chemically. I mean, I think it was a stroke of luck that we didn’t do it because I wasn’t in a fit state to do it.

“We were originally asked but then I think everyone was just looking at the state of me and going, ‘this might be more harmful than good’. So, they basically didn’t follow up on it.”

And whilst Boy George didn’t take to the stage alongside the likes of Queen, U2, Dire Straits, David Bowie, The Who and Sir Elton John, he did contribute to the Band Aid supergroup single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’.

Meanwhile, George previously said he’d been given a new lease of life since kicking his drug habit over 10 years ago.

He said: “As you know, if you’re in recovery, it’s amazing to think that you could go this long without being a mess.

“It’s like, you get through the other side and you get a life beyond your wildest dreams, you know, because recovery really does set you free.”

The singer – whose real name is George O’Dowd – also revealed he suffered from panic attacks throughout the 90s, and said he thought he was going to die when the attacks were particularly extreme.

He explained: “When you’re in the public eye, you’re going along and then suddenly … you realise you’re not so in control of your life as you think you are.

“I had a period in the 90s, had these really bad panic attacks, I used to go to the Royal Free Hospital and freak out. There was nothing wrong with me. I thought, ‘I’m dying!’

“Eventually somebody just said to me, ‘You need to learn how to breathe, change your diet, maybe try yoga …’ just calming down.

“It wasn’t chest pains … just panic. It’s not logical. Sometimes there’s no symptoms, you’re just like, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ You just lose it.”

music-news.com

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Hoodoo Gurus Stoneage Romeos 40th anniversary edition
Hoodoo Gurus ‘Stoneage Romeos’ Turns 40

Hoodoo Gurus debut album ‘Stoneage Romeos’ turned 40 this month. The album was released in Australia in March 1984 and in the USA in September 1984.

14 hours ago
10cc in Melbourne 25 June 2023 photo by Winston Robinson
Kevin Godley Reunites With 10cc In London

10cc had a special reunion at their London show this week when former member and co-founder Kevin Godley joined the band at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday night (25 March 2024).

19 hours ago
Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel To Release ‘Back To Front – Live In London’ DVD

Australia missed out on the Peter Gabriel tour but we will get the DVD.

19 hours ago
Kylie Minogue photo by Ros O'Gorman
Kylie Minogue Heartbroken By Splendour In The Grass

Kylie Minogue has expressed sadness over an Australian music festival's cancellation.

1 day ago
Michael Jackson Thriller vinyl
Michael Jackson Jacket is Up For Auction

One of Michael Jackson’s personally owned “Thriller” jackets is being offered for sale at Gottahaverockandroll.com

1 day ago
Tim and Neil Finn I See Red rehearsals in LA 2004
Split Enz Fans, Watch The Finn Brothers Rehearse ‘I See Red’

Split Enz/Crowded House archivist Peter Green has offered up another rare fine, Tim and Neil Finn rehearsing their Split Enz classic ‘I See Red’ in Los Angeles in 2004.

2 days ago
Bruce Springsteen Named First International Ivors Fellow

Bruce Springsteen is set become the first international songwriter to become a Fellow of The Ivors Academy.

2 days ago