Sir Rod Stewart And Boy George Stun Fans With Emotional Cover Of 1967 Hit 'The Killing Of Georgie'

Jul 05, 2023

Rod Stewart has left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of millions of people worldwide and continues to make an impact in the lives of many up until today through his music. But outside his career as an artist, Stewart is known for being a great family man. Having been given the gift of becoming a grandfather for the first time in 2011 when his daughter Kimberly gave birth to her own daughter, Delilah, the father-of-eight will soon welcome the newest addition to their family.

Stewart is among the best-selling music artists of all time. He started his career in 1962, joining Jimmy Powell and The Five Dimensions as the band's harmonica player and vocalist. Apart from joining different groups throughout his musical career, Stewart also established himself as a soloist. To date, he has released a total of 32 studio albums and seven of those reached No. 1 on the UK album charts.

He is most known for his hits like "Sailing," "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)," and "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)," among many other chart-toppers that eventually became classic hits. Aside from his popular hits, many of Stewart's fans were particularly enamored by his song "The Killing of Georgie," which was regarded as one of his major breakthroughs as an artist. 

In 2023, Stewart kicked off his six-day "Global Hits" tour with support from Boy George & Culture Club. On their opening night in Plymouth, United Kingdom, Stewart and Boy George gave a thrilling rendition of "The Killing of Georgie," which got both singers emotional. Keep on reading to learn more about Stewart, the song, and their amazing performance. 

Stewart is a recipient of a Grammy Award, a BRIT Award, and an Ivor Novello Award. In 1994, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and was awarded a CBE in the 2007 New Year Honours. Eventually, he was appointed Knight Bachelor during the 2016 Birthday Honours. 

At 78, Stewart has defied the test of time. He dismissed reports of his retirement in June 2023. 

In an interview with People Magazine published on June 23, 2023, Stewart shared his future plans, and it appears that he is not going anywhere. Throughout his career, the musician has been known popularly for his rock n' roll music, but he revealed he is ready to leave it behind temporarily and start with a new musical era that fans have never heard from him before. 

In the conversation, Stewart said he wanted to move on to swing music and the "Great American Song Book," but he clarified that he would never forget the old rock 'n' roll music that his supporters knew and loved for decades. 

However, he noted that there would be no more "big tours" in the future as he has already bid goodbye to some of his beloved countries like Australia, New Zealand and Mexico. At the time of the interview, he was gearing up for a tour, and he discussed with the outlet how he maintained his high-quality voice.

On Jun. 24, 2023, Stewart opened his "Global Hits" Tour at the Home Park Stadium in Plymouth, United Kingdom. Along with him was his dear friend, Boy George and the Culture Club, whom he performed his hit song "The Killing of Georgie" with. 

"The Killing of Georgie" holds a different meaning for Boy George as he thought Stewart wrote it for him back then. Unbeknownst to many, "The Killing of Georgie" has a rather grum background. 

In a 1995 Mojo issue, as quoted by Far Out Magazine, Stewart explained the origin of the song. 

"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, he noted that not everything about the song was true as he exercised some creative license in service of the song. 

Boy George confessed in front of the packed stadium that he initially thought the song was written for him as it resonated with him as a queer person. He even recalled his own mother introducing the song to him as a child. 

Stewart looked amazing in his flashy gold suit, while Boy George was effortlessly flashy in his graffiti shirt partnered with a colorfully pinned coat and a huge hat while they performed the song the former described to be "so special."

"Accepted by Manhattan's elite, In all the places that were chic. No party was complete without George. Along the boulevards he'd cruise, And all the old queens blew a fuse. Everybody loved Georgie boy," they sang. 

The song was released alongside Stewart's 1976 smash album, "A Night On The Town." It spent ten weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 2. A second version of the song was subsequently released after featuring a more somber mood.  

Are you a fan of Rod Stewart and Boy George? What can you say about the song and the meaning behind it? Wasn't their performance amazing? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other loved ones!