Take It Like a Man: The Autobiography of Boy George

Take It Like a Man: The Autobiography of Boy George

A Grammy Award for "Karma Chameleon" sealed Boy George's pop-icon status as the avant-garde star in Hasidic hat and quasi-religious robes, whose beguiling melodies and impertinent one-liners seduced an unsuspecting public. "Sex? I'd rather have a cup of tea," he said, teasing the world about his sexual leanings. But after reaching the pinnacle of success, his life took a devastating turn. Culture Club, George's pioneering band, went into eclipse, his hushed-up relationship with drummer Jon Moss fell apart, and Boy George found a new and dangerous obsession - drugs - ending up with a heroin addiction. In this electrifying autobiography Boy George tells the whole truth for the first time, and does so with total candor and irrepressible wit. Take It Like a Man is the story of the crazy highs and desperate lows; the family struggles; friends and lovers - gay, straight, and transvestite; the obsessive media infatuation; as well as the agony, shame and despair of drug withdrawal. Tell-all memoirs by gay or bi stars used to gloss over their sexuality, but Boy George O'Dowd's book forsakes such pretense, presenting him as he is, pancake makeup and all. Comfortably chatty and full of witty observations and characterizations, it is the engaging chronicle of a gentle soul, aware from an early age of what his preferences were and that he was born to perform. Boy George recalls memorizing the words to every song he heard, regardless of musical style, and singing and dancing along with the records. He recalls a lonely childhood as a known "poof," the "pink sheep of the family." His is the story of a talented working-class lad who attained a blinding flash of fame that the media dubbed Boy George Mania, only to fall into drug addiction and personal upheaval. His sweet nature shines out, however, in a narrative that visits most of the usual road-to-fame pitstops but details them in original and insightful ways. This is that rare thing, a rock bio that may appeal to other readers besides its subject's fans. Mike Tribby With a flick of his locks and a lash of his tongue, Boy George waltzed into musical stardom in 1982 with his smash hit "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" As the quintessential pop star of the 1980s, Boy George was constantly in the public eye, with a string of platinum Culture Club hits, sensational personal appearances, camp behavior and gender-bending dress that fueled the media's infatuation. What turned the son of a South London builder into the embodiment of effeminacy? Why did girls go crazy over a boy who looked like a girl? A Grammy Award for "Karma Chameleon" sealed Boy George's pop-icon status as the avant-garde star in Hasidic hat and quasi-religious robes, whose beguiling melodies and impertinent one-liners seduced an unsuspecting public. "Sex? I'd rather have a cup of tea," he said, teasing the world about his sexual leanings. But after reaching the pinnacle of success, his life took a devastating turn. Culture Club, George's pioneering band, went into eclipse, his hushed-up relationship with drummer Jon Moss fell apart and Boy George found a new and dangerous obsession -- drugs -- ending up with a heroin addiction. In this electrifying autobiography, Boy George tells the whole truth for the first time, and does so with total candor and irrepressible wit. Take It Like a Man is the story of the crazy highs and desperate lows; the family struggles; friends and lovers -- gay, straight and transvestite; the obsessive media infatuation; as well as the agony, shame and despair of drug withdrawal. Filled with confession, revelation and inspiration, this book reflects the utter creativity of its author and tells the mesmerizing story of how George achieved the nearly impossible by coming back from the land of the deeply addicted to health, sobriety and a new horizon of musical success. His is an unfinished journey.