Throughout his California childhood, while trying to come to terms with his sexual identity, Antony Hegarty, the "Antony" of Antony and the Johnsons, believed he was the ultimate "odd egg" until he first saw Boy George on the cover of Culture Club's 1982 debut. Eight years later, Antony moved to New York, where he was more accepted for his androgyny and avant-garde sensibilities. Music writer John Hodgman once described Antony’s voice as "somewhere between male and female, between childish innocence and weary adulthood, at once ethereal and earthy." I would arrogantly describe his style as Nina Simone-esque.
In 2000, he formed his current band, Antony and the Johnsons. Soon after, he toured with Lou Reed and appeared on two of Reed's albums.
This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2009.