Roy Hay

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Roy Hay (born Roy Ernest Hay August 12, 1961 in Southend, Essex, England) was the guitarist/keyboardist with Culture Club, one of the most popular bands of the 1980s, fronted by Boy George. Hay, a trained pianist since age 5, replaced member Johnny Suede in 1981. Hay's musical influences were bands like 10cc. Before his involvement with Culture Club, Hay was a hairdresser in his native Essex. It was during Culture Club's beginnings Hay met Alison Green, also a hairdresser. The two married in 1982 and had a child, Sunny, around 1986. It is uncertain whether Hay has divorced Green, but the two have been separated since 1986. Hay and Green have maintained a close relationship for the sake of their daughter.

As for the international hit "Karma Chameleon", Hay described it "as the dumper of Culture Club. It will never be successful!" His bandmates pointed out during their "Club Rewind" tour of 1998, it did provide him some flash[y] cars and a house!" Hay left the band when it imploded in 1986 due to Boy George's drug habit and tensions between George and drummer Jon Moss, who were former lovers. According to the "Culture Club" episode the VH-1 series Behind the Music, Hay assisted George in quitting heroin "cold turkey". The singer suffered the painful withdrawal symptoms closely attended by Hay in his London home.

Following Culture Club, he formed another band, called This Way Up. They released three singles : Tell Me Why, If I Can't Have You and Louise, without success. An album, "Feeling Good About It" was released in some European countries and in Japan in 1987.

Hay found later success as a composer in Hollywood. Hay reunited with the three original members in 1998 to record a new album. In a Rolling Stone interview, Hay describes the years apart as a healing process. "There was obviously a bit of a healing process that needed to happen between Jon [Moss] and George. They hadn't really spoken to each other in quite a while." The description of the tour was "Older and wiser...We've all been through some good and bad times since the band. I think we've all grown up a bit."