Boy George walked the red carpet of the WhatsonStage awards in London recently looking slimmer, healthier and happier than he has in a long time! I think he's even lost some weight since our interview (below), which was filmed at the end of December 2012. As you can see in the interview, George's mind and soul seem more balanced than ever, and it's great to see his body following suit. 

BEFORE:

Xtra has released the unedited version of my recent video interview with Boy George backstage at Celebrities Nightclub. Looks like there might be a Deborah Harry collaboration in the near future!

My video interview with Boy George is up, and one of the things we talk about is George's love for David Bowie, who helped "confirm" he was gay. Bowie, who has not released an album in 10 years and was rumoured to have retired his musical career for good, has recently taken to his official website to announce that he's back with a new video and an upcoming album, titled The Next Day, to be released March 12:

In recent years radio silence has been broken only by endless speculation, rumor and wishful thinking . . . a new record . . . who would have ever thought it, who'd have ever dreamed it!

After all David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants . . . when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell. Today he definitely has something to say.

Produced by long term collaborator Tony Visconti, 'Where Are We Now?' was written by Bowie, and was recorded in New York. The single is accompanied by a haunting video directed by Tony Oursler which harks back to David's time in Berlin. He is seen looking in on footage of the auto repair shop beneath the apartment he lived in along with stark images of the city at the time and a lyric constantly raising the question Where Are We Now?

"The moment you know, you know you know" resonates from the new single's lyric. Now we all know . . . David Bowie has been in the recording studio . . . just when we least expected it!! 

I had the opportunity to attend some great events and interview tons of fabulous people this year! Some RuPaul's Drag Race bitches, Shangela and Sharon Needles; Canadian musician Rufus Wainwright; and one of my idols, Boy George. Here are some of the highlights of Blitz & Shitz 2012:

The Drag Race girls!

Raziel Reid with Shangela backstage at Celebrities Nightclub for Vancouver's Next Drag Superstar Competition. Photo and video by Jonathan Schmidtgall.

Raziel Reid between Carmen Carrera and Jiggly Caliente at Post Modern for the launch of TFD Presents Icon. Photo by Alvin Grado.

Raziel Reid with Sharon Needles backstage at Five Sixty for TFD Presents Sharon Needles: Everynight is Halloween Ball.

ANDREW RANNELLS

“I feel very proud to be a part of The New Normal. I hope that it’s considered to be a part of the evolution of gay relationships on television. Coming from Nebraska, it’s exciting to me that people I went to grade school with, people that I grew up going to church with, are watching the show.” 

SHARON NEEDLES

“Nothing lasts forever. Drag Race isn’t just a competition I took part in, it’s also my favorite television show of all time, so I’m looking forward to sitting in my easy chair and watching the tears, the fashion, and the cat fights.”

BOY GEORGE

"What I’ve realized is that the world hasn’t changed, there are still lots of places where people are having a really, really hard time because of their sexuality, and I think one of the most important things I can do is be a self-respecting gay public figure.”

JANE LYNCH

“The difference between people like me and Amy Poehler and Tina Fey [is] there’s kind of an entitlement that they have to their right to have a seat at the table. They’re out there saying, ‘This is what I do, and this is why it’s funny. And if you don’t like it, you don’t like it.’ But it looks like everybody likes it.”