“The Killing of Georgie” carried a personal significance for Boy George, who initially believed Rod Stewart had written it for him. Contrary to popular knowledge, the song has a rather somber background.
In a 1995 Mojo issue, as cited by Far Out Magazine, Stewart revealed the song’s origin. “That was a true story about a gay friend of [Stewart’s earlier group] The Faces. He was especially close to me and Mac [Faces’ pianist]. But he was knifed or shot, I can’t remember which. That was a song I wrote totally on me own over the chord of open E.” However, Stewart acknowledged that while the core of the song was true, he took some creative liberties to serve the song.
Boy George admitted in front of a packed stadium that he initially believed the song was dedicated to him, resonating with him as a queer individual. He even recalled his mother introducing the song to him when he was a child.
Stewart, donning a stunning flashy gold suit, and Boy George, effortlessly stylish in a graffiti shirt paired with a vibrantly adorned coat and a large hat, delivered a performance of the song that Stewart described as “so special.”
