Boy George says the Oasis reunion has brought back happy memories of his late mother.
The Culture Club singer – whose real name is George O’Dowd – revealed that he and his family were surprised to discover Dinah, who died in March 2023, knew all the words to Oasis hits as they all celebrated Christmas together in 2021.
Speaking at the unveiling of his collection of paintings at Castle Fine Art in London on Thursday night (24.10.24), he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: “About two years ago, we had this incredible family Christmas in this house in the Cotswolds, and we were all sitting there singing Oasis songs.
“My mum knew every word – I was quite surprised, we were all singing.”
In August, feuding brothers Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher confirmed they had put their differences aside after breaking up in 2009 to reunite for the ‘Oasis Live ’25’ tour with millions of excited fans across the world snapping up tickets.
And Boy George, 63, admits he is as excited as anyone about the siblings making up and getting back on stage together.
He said: “I’m very excited about the reunion. Their songs are our anthems, and I just hope they get on with each other and actually have a good time.”
The ‘Karma Chameleon’ singer unveiled his Fame paintings, his debut limited edition collection with Castle Fine Art which includes portraits of musical icons David Bowie, Madonna, Prince and his own self-portrait from his Culture Club era.
Aside from the limited edition pieces, Boy George has original works that highlight the 1980s club scene and the fashion industry of the time.
However, all the pieces are quintessentially Boy George – loud, vivid, punk and iconic.
When asked if he feels freer as a painter rather than as a pop star, he said: “I think I feel free in general, but I suppose as an artist, you’ve got more barriers to break in a sense because I know what I do musically.
“Not say I’m good at it, but I’ve been doing it for a long time, and I feel very confident as a musician, but I’m sort of getting there with my art.”
Before becoming an international superstar aged just 22, he was an influential figure in the New York and London club scenes throughout the ’80s.
His daring artistic expression was established before this. He would spend hours drawing pictures of his musical idols – with Bowie dominating his sketch book.
Speaking in a Q+A at the event, he shared: “It [the collection] is really about celebrating my experiences as a kid and things I was drawn to.
“I love pop culture, and right now it is one of the most fascinating times of pop culture, and it’s a great time to be creative.
“When I was a kid, I was terrified of art because it was like going into church going into an art gallery.
“But then later on, things changed with modern art and pop art, and it just became more insensible.
“I used to be a bit funny about anything abstract, but it sort of grew on me – the more I was around things, the more I sort of made that connection with fashion and art, to me, they’re very similar.
“Thanks you to all the work from Castle. I walked in [the venue] and was just beaming. I was so happy with everything – the way it looks, what you’ve chosen. I couldn’t be happier – I’m dizzy!”
The exclusive artwork collection goes on sale from 8am on October 25 at castlefineart.com and at the firm’s nationwide UK galleries.