ON WITH THE SHOW
In a Mayfair boardroom, Boy George has just gifted Adam Lambert — already a statuesque 6ft 1in, and in platform heels — the bowler hat from his own head. Not the uncannily tall one headlines said ‘blocked’ Phillip Schofield’s view at the An Audience with Adele recording days before, but similar. (George called the reports “utter shite”, telling one Twitter critic: “I’m getting an even bigger hat so I can cast a shadow over dull people with no style!”)
At first, Adam — a spiritual descendant of the music icon in terms of talent and general fabulousness — politely refuses the headgear. (“No, George! Are you sure?”) But Boy George, whose admiration for the Queen collaborator is clear, insists. And when I suggest Adam accepts the act of generosity for the sake of this story — the intro writes itself, after all — George asserts: “I’m not doing it for that!” Point taken…
Besides, George has another hat on today: that of interviewer for Attitude’s latest cover feature with Adam. The pair have an easy-going chemistry after meeting years ago. (“I was DJing in this dreadful club, you popped in,” says George.) They’ve been friends ever since. And if anyone can comprehend Adam’s mind-boggling achievements, it’s George, a pop veteran who has sold 50 million records.
Indianapolis-born Adam, of course, was the rare talent-show contestant to command global attention off the bat, as the guyliner-loving runner-up in 2009. Since then, the 39-year-old has quietly become one of the century’s most vocal LGBTQ+ pop stars. The chart facts are, frankly, nuts: his first album, 2010’s , went in above Lady Gaga’s ; 2011’s made him, unbelievably, the first out gay star to land a Billboard: his first UK No. 1 album, and the band’s first No. 1 since 1995’s .
