Chart entered : 7 March 1987
Chart peak : 1
Number of hits : 17 ( including 4 as Jesus Loves You )
George's solo career turned out to be underwhelming - there was only one other Top 20 hit to come * - but it couldn't have got off to a much better start.
This came off the back of an horrendous couple of years for George, one of the most spectacular falls from grace in pop history played out in the full glare of the tabloids. After bestriding the world with "Karma Chameleon" George then drove a stake through their US success by referring to himself as "a good drag queen" when accepting a Grammy for it in 1984. That year's LP "Waking Up With The House On Fire" went platinum on advance sales but both critics and punters were disappointed with the contents. Second single "The Medal Song" failed to breach the Top 30. Although George appeared on the Band Aid single Culture Club were nowhere to be seen at Live Aid and recording sessions for the next album dragged on due to George's frequent incapacity through heroin addiction. Although it got finished as "From Luxury To Heartache" and yielded a couple of hits in 1986 it failed to arrest their commercial decline. George made a solo appearance at an anti-apartheid gig in the summer looking like death warmed up and his substance abuse became public knowledge just days later. A musician friend OD'd at his house and he was arrested for possession. His relationship with drummer Jon Moss cracked under the strain which meant the band breaking up.
The Popular thread is here
* excluding the Culture Club reunion
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