CULTURE CLUB IN CONCERT:
Calling all karma chameleons: Culture Club is back on the road to promote their latest album Tribes, and fans across North America can relive the ‘80s as Boy George and company perform their classic new wave hits on tour. In concert Boy George remains as fierce a showman as ever, taking the stage with the same gender-bending makeup and outré fashion that made him a global ‘80s icon. Whether he’s bringing the drama on upbeat favorites like “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” or melting hearts with his coy croon on “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, George always charms audiences with his soulful delivery, infectious dancing, and candid asides between songs. The band keeps pace beautifully, cranking out their signature brand of reggae-influenced new wave with an ease and funkiness that is sure to get fans grooving. Whether they’re performing solo or sharing the bill with fellow new wave icon Howard Jones, Culture Club always treat fans to a nostalgic and dance-worthy journey through some of the best sounds of the ‘80s.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Culture Club was formed in London in the early ‘80s by Boy George, an androgynous club kid who had previously sang with legendary new wave outfit Bow Wow Wow. Calling themselves Culture Club as a nod to their diverse cultural backgrounds, the band made their debut in 1982 with the album Kissing to be Clever. Though the album’s first two singles failed to make much of a mark, third single “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” topped charts around the world, catapulting the band to international superstardom virtually overnight. Their 1983 sophomore album Colour by Numbers was an even bigger smash, blowing up charts around the globe with catchy hits like “Karma Chameleon” and earning the band a Grammy in 1984 for Best New Artist. Culture Club released two more albums in the mid-’80s to moderate success, but by 1986 Boy George’s struggles with addiction had pushed the band apart. They reunited in the late ‘90s and released the 1999 album Don’t Mind If I Do and toured for a stint, but George’s successful career as a DJ soon led to another hiatus. Following a few one-off shows in 2011, the band reunited in 2014 to record their sixth album Tribes -- a highly anticipated return that has fans dying to catch them on tour in support of the release.