Boy George

Beginning with the heyday of Culture Club -- which lasted from their first hit, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," in 1982 until 1984 -- Boy George has deftly blended soulful authenticity with knowing artificiality, singing songs inspired by Motown while embracing androgyny. This sly wit was as evident onscreen as it was on record, which is why Culture Club not only became one of the biggest groups on MTV, but why George has sustained a long, lasting career following the band's implosion in 1986, including scoring a big hit in 1992 with his version of "The Crying Game" and racking up a host of Tony nominations for Taboo, the 2004 musical loosely based on his life. A rare new waver-turned-pop survivor, 2018's Life, credited to Boy George & Culture Club, returned him to the U.K. Top 20. His 11th solo album, Cool Karaoke, Vol. 1, appeared in 2021.