Boy George's Heroin Struggle
Pop stars and drug-taking are among the favourite subjects of Britain's popular press. Combine the two, and the story is
irresistible. That is why large numbers of reporters have spent the past week searching for Mr. George O'Dowd, who has
delighted (and made) millions as the outrageous and effeminate Boy George, lead singer of Culture Club. The rock star was
not at home when the police broke down his door in the early hours of Tuesday, July 8th; he was ensconced in a clinic. But a
number of his associates, including one of his brothers and his old (male) friend, Marilyn, were charged with heroin offences
after police raids.
Pop stars and dangerous drugs are old acquaintances. Successful musicians move in cosmopolitan circles, where various kinds
of illegal drugs are readily available. But the saga of Boy George and his friends is a serious blow to those who had hoped that
fashion and heroin were moving apart. Although Culture Club is no longer as successful as it was, Boy George still has a big
following. The fact that he had previously spoken out against heroin (and was pictured last month wearing a "heroin-free zone"
T-shirt) makes matters worse.
Many of the voluntary agencies that deal with drug abuse have warned against encouraging showbusiness personalities to
become involved in the anti-drugs campaign; once one of them falls, the tactic loses credibility. And, in some circles, a
25-year-old who claimed never to have smoked cannabis would be disbelieved anyway. Stars who say they know about
drugs but do not recommend them would be more credbile.
The government has a long way to go in the propaganda war against heroin. Witness the two government comments to date on
Boy George's plight. In the House of Lords, Lady Trumpington has suggested that pop stars should be encouraged to speak
out against drugs; did she not know that Boy George had done just that? Still less helpful is the suggestion of the Conservative
party chairman Mr. Norman Tebbitt, that any musician known to be involved in drugs should be banned from the BBC; has
nobody told him that a BBC ban does more for a record's reputation than anything else?
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