Fri, 20 May 2005

Boy George in Jakarta spotlight as DJ

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Donning a red glimmering jacket, black T shirt, full make-up and always, always a hat, Londoner Boy George, now more popular as DJ Boy George, appeared in Jakarta last week.

He was deejaying for clubbers at the grand opening of Hard Rock Cafe.

Speaking to dozens of Jakarta journalists, the member of the pop band Culture Club, could not tell us much about himself during the most unprofessionally organized press conference on earth that only lasted six minutes.

Not because he did not want to. He was obviously quite puzzled when after answering only three questions the press officers of Hard Rock stopped the interview.

"Is that it?" he asked, looking surprised.

So, he only managed to say that he liked being a singer as well as being a DJ, that his favorite singer was Joni Mitchell and yes, he had tried Indonesian food and although he was a vegetarian he liked the food (he didn't mention what food he tried though).

"I still can sing while I move my hands," he said, moving his hands as if he had a turntable in front of him.

There were many questions left unanswered, like why he let himself gain weight.

Previously, the press officers told reporters that George had requested reporters not to ask about his past, about the Culture Club days, because it was the past.

He is a DJ now. And according to some articles on the Internet, he is quite a cool DJ.

George, now in his early 40s, began his career as a DJ when he was 17 years old.

Later he formed Culture Club, which sold millions of records around the world, with hits like Karma Chameleon.

After the group disbanded, he went back to his first love: DJ'ing, not just in the U.K. but also in the U.S., Australia, Austria and the Philippines.

He also co-wrote, mixed and produced several compilation CDs; the Essential Mix album in the U.S., released through London/Sire/Warners, and BoyGeorgeDJ.com album, released on Trust The DJ imprint of Sony.

But something of his old self remains: He is still into dressing up and customizing clothes he buys from shops like Marks & Spencer and Brooks and Brothers.

"If you have a vision of George sitting on his sofa hand- sewing sequins onto skirts and underwear, you are pretty much seeing it as it is!", a press release made available to The Jakarta Post on Thursday revealed.