Culture Club

Culture Club is an English pop group from London, formed in 1981. The classic line-up includes Boy George, Mikey Craig, Roy Hay and Jon Moss; John Suede is also listed among the group’s members. Their sound spans blue-eyed soul, dance-pop, new romantic, new wave, pop and pop soul.

Formation and line-up

The band centres on singer George O'Dowd, known as Boy George, whose androgynous image and distinctive style make him one of the group’s defining figures. Roy Hay plays guitars and keyboards, Mikey Craig plays bass, and Jon Moss plays drums. Moss has previously been associated with The Damned, London and Adam and the Ants.

Early success

Culture Club’s debut album, Kissing to Be Clever, appears in 1982 and becomes an international hit. It produces the singles “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, “Time (Clock of the Heart)” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya”. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” reaches the top of the BBC charts in late 1982.

The group’s second album, Colour By Numbers, follows in 1983 and also performs strongly. It gives Culture Club their second UK number one with “Karma Chameleon”, which also reaches number one in many other countries.

Later 1980s activity

In 1984, Waking Up With the House on Fire is a major disappointment. The band returns with From Luxury to Heartache in 1986, which brings the hit “Move Away”, but internal tensions continue and the group breaks up.

During this period, Boy George also faces heroin addiction and later leaves that behind to pursue a solo career. His solo work includes “Live My Life” from the Hiding Out soundtrack, which reaches number 40 in the United States, and “The Crying Game”, which reaches the US top 20 in 1992.

Reunion and later activity

Culture Club reunites in 1998 for a tour that begins with an appearance on VH1 Storytellers. The reunion leads to the recording of Don’t Mind If I Do. Its first single, “I Just Wanna Be Loved”, reaches number 4 in the UK and appears on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance. The band continues to tour for several years and remains active.

In late 2006, the group announces a reunion without Boy George as lead singer.