Boy George's US ban

Boy George has been banned from performing in America. The former Culture Club singer was planning a string of US shows but has reportedly been denied a visa by the country's immigration officials.

George - who was ordered to clean the streets of New York as community service in 2006 after pleading guilty to falsely reporting a burglary - complained to Paper magazine: "I'm pretty devastated about this forthcoming tour and having my visa application denied seems unfair after I swept the streets of New York spotless. "I committed a crime and I happily paid the consequences and I should be allowed to move on."

The 47-year-old star, real name George O'Dowd, wanted to perform a free concert in New York to show his appreciation to the Department of Sanitation for their kindness during his community service.

He previously said: "The people I worked alongside showed great kindness to me at a very difficult time, and I wanted to thank them all in a way that would show my appreciation." George was set to launch his North American tour, starting in Aspen, on July 10.