Taboo's Boy George Among Artists to Be Heard on Tsunami Benefit Recording

By Andrew Gans
03 Jan 2005

Boy George, who received a Tony nomination last season for his score to Taboo, is among the many British pop stars who will record a new song to benefit the survivors of the recent tsunami disaster in South Asia.

The New York Times reports that Boy George and Cliff Richard have already recorded their tracks for "Grief Never Grows Old," a new song penned by British radio D.J. Mike Read. Barry Gibb, Olivia Newton-John and jazz artist Jamie Cullum are among the many other stars being sought for the project.

The producers, who will release the disc under the name One World Project, hope to raise $4 million from the recording. The song is expected to be finished within one week's time.

Featuring a score by Boy George, Taboo began previews at the Plymouth Theatre Oct. 24, 2003, officially opened Nov. 13 and closed Feb. 8, 2004. With a new book by Charles Busch, Taboo concerned the lives of two larger-than-life personalities involved in the eighties London club scene: the Kent-born singer Boy George, who rose to fame and international acclaim via the pop group Culture Club; and performance artist Leigh Bowery, who became known for his outlandish costumes and make-up before an early death from AIDS. Their stories were told against the background of the London club Taboo, which featured an array of self-proclaimed "freaks."