Freddie and Boy George

Freddie and Boy George

“Other artists on the bill of the 34th Sanremo Festival (February 1984) include Paul Young, Bonnie Tyler and Culture Club. Freddie is impressed by Culture Club’s performance and later remarks that Boy George possesses a great talent. He thinks him very brave - referring to his camp image - and sees definite similarities between George and himself during Queen’s early days.”

“Boy George has great talent. I like him very much. We became good friends. That boy’s so brave - he did a lot to make society more tolerant about sexual preferences.

When I started out, rock bands all wore dirty jeans, and then suddenly there I was in a Zandra Rhodes frock and make-up. It was totally outrageous.

Boy George just updated the whole glam rock bit, but he did it in his own individual way. He has got staying power, which is a crucial ingredient that you need to have. I think he’s going to be here for a long while. You can always tell when someone is going to stay, and Boy George is going to stay.

A lot of people blow out because of the pressure one gets from being in the public eye like that, but the one thing I do know about George, is that he does love publicity. He just wants publicity at all costs and even seems to thrive on adverse publicity. Well that’s his thing and I just hope he comes through it ok.

I think Boy George has got a great image, but it doesn’t matter how good your image is, or how wonderful the video is, if his songs weren’t any good, they wouldn’t sell. Even if he wore a teapot on his head, which he keeps saying he will, it wouldn’t matter.” (Freddie Mercury)

Freddie, Boy George at Fashion Aid, 5 November 1985