NEW YORK - Boy George will perform his court-ordered community service by picking up trash on city streets in the August heat, a sanitation spokesman said.



The one-time Culture Club singer will be issued a shovel, broom, plastic bags and gloves when he reports for five days of work on Aug. 14, department spokesman Vito Turso said.

"This is the epitome of community service," Turso told the Daily News for Monday editions. "It's not like he's going to be working in an air-conditioned office."

Born George O'Dowd, the singer has struggled with drug problems for years. He was ordered to do community service after pleading guilty in March to false reporting of an incident. He called police with a bogus report of a burglary at his lower Manhattan apartment in October, and the responding officers found cocaine inside.

Turso's statement was the first indication of what sort of work the singer would be given. He could be assigned to pick up streets in Chinatown, Little Italy, Nolita or parts of the Lower East Side.

O'Dowd, 45, became an '80s icon with his androgynous appearance and vocals on hits like "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" A Manhattan judge threatened the singer with jail time if he failed to complete his five days before Aug. 28.

he can just pretend he's in front of one of the clubs in chelsea - i'm sure he's picked up trash there in the past.

Anx said:

Anx said:

it brings to mind the line in the song "If a girl answers (don't hang up_)
why, is he taking out the trash?
no, that's something he used to do, now he's taking out me"

Anx said:

tsk, his sweat is going to cause all his make-up to run in rivulets down his face. So tragic.

Anx said:

Ouch!

Why doesn't he have to go to rehab? That seems to be a better solution than having him pick up trash in Manhattan, when the street will just get dirty a couple of hours later.
George is talented, but he's been using drugs for years. He seems like he needs some hard core inpatient tough love rehab, to get himself together.
He's very clever with the one liners. I bet he can convince a lot of therapists that he's clean when he's not. He needs someone tough who sees through all the B.S. and will really kick his ass.

Glindathegood said:

Yes, he does remind me of Courtney. They have the same approach to life.
The worst thing they both did besides using drugs was leaving their group. Courtney was great with Hole and George with Culture Club. Alone they're not so great. They need a band to keep them in line musically and personally.