Boy George missed out on Live Aid because he was ‘otherwise engaged chemically’

‘I messed it up’, confessed the Culture Club singer

Boy George has revealed that he did not perform in the landmark 1985 Live Aid concert because he was "otherwise engaged chemically".

Speaking on Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast, the former Culture Club frontman confessed: "I messed it up."

"I was otherwise engaged chemically," he continued. "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."

Live Aid, which took place on Saturday 13 July 1985, featured performances from artists including Queen, U2, Dire Straits, David Bowie, The Who and Elton John.

Even though Boy George did not have his own slot, the singer-songwriter did contribute to the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" as part of the supergroup Band Aid.

Grounded with Louis Theroux is an ongoing podcast series in which the beloved documentarian uses the lockdown as a chance to interview celebrity guests.