NEW YORK – Considering how much Boy George talked about enjoying the attention that came with fronting one of the most tenured bands of the New Wave movement, it was a bit surprising that he wasn't in the room during the world premiere of "Boy George & Culture Club."
The new documentary from Alison Ellwood, noted for her recent deep dives into the Laurel Canyon scene and the careers of Cyndi Lauper and The Go-Go's, spotlights the British quartet as they catapulted to stratospheric success in the early-'80s with a distinctive combination of pop, reggae and blue-eyed soul hits.
Guitarist Roy Hay and Mikey Craig attended the screening held at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on June 5. After the Tribeca Film Festival premiere, Hay was particularly emotional about the 96-minute film that traverses the band's two years of indisputable world domination with smashes "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" and "Karma Chameleon," their steep fall from glory, Boy George and drummer Jon Moss' tempestuous romantic relationship and George's heroin addiction.
"It was quite a journey," Hay said from the venue's stage, his voice catching at times. "I wasn't prepared for (the film) to hit me so powerfully. Like Mikey, I have scar tissue from this band … it is a soap opera, but it was such a special thing and these guys are like brothers to me."
