Culture Club
Culture Club | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Years active | 1982–1986,1998-2000 (1982-1984) |
| Members | Boy George Roy Hay Mikey Craig Jon Moss |
Culture Club was a popular 1980s pop group, perhaps most noticeable for their gender-bending frontman Boy George. The other members of the band were Roy Hay on guitars and keyboards, Mikey Craig playing bass and Jon Moss (ex Damned, London, Adam and the Ants) on drums.
Their first album, 1982's Kissing to Be Clever, became a major international hit, spawning the hit singles "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (which went 'all the way' in the BBC-Charts in late 1982), "Time (Clock of the Heart)", and "I'll Tumble 4 Ya". Unique in his eccentric manner of dress and androgynous look, Boy George became a worldwide celebrity.
Their second album, 1983's Colour By Numbers also did extremely well, giving the band its second number one hit in the UK with "Karma Chameleon." However, trouble was brewing within the Culture Club camp. Unknown to the public, George was having an affair with drummer Jon Moss. The affair (which lasted over four years) was often problematic and the pressure to hide the relationship started to take its toll.
The band also started to lose its place musically. Their next album, 1984's Waking Up With the House on Fire was a major disappointment. Though the band gained a small comeback with 1986's From Luxury to Heartache (thanks to the hit "Move Away"), both George's and Jon's fights created much tension, eventually leading to the breakup of the band. Around this time, George also became addicted to heroin, which created a frenzy with the tabloids. Eventually, George would let go of the habit and begin his solo career. A minor hit from the "Hiding Out" soundtrack called "Live My Life" peaked at US #40. While George scored several hits in Europe and finally hit the US top 20 with 1992's "The Crying Game", he was never able to reach the success he achieved with Culture Club.
In 1998, the band put their issues aside and decided to do a reunion tour. Kicked off with a performance on VH1 Storytellers, the tour was a major success. Shortly after, Culture Club recorded a new album titled Don't Mind If I Do. Though never released in the U.S., the first single, "I Just Wanna Be Loved" (UK #4), was featured on a compilation based around the Storytellers performance.
The band went on to tour for a few more years. Recently, however, Culture Club has been inactive, largely due to Boy George's concentration on his successful career as a DJ.
Culture Club is also the name of one of Europe's finest clubs. It is located in Ghent, Belgium, hometown of internationally known djs as The Glimmer Twins and 2 Many DJs. Nowadays Culture Club is not only famous for its music (by resident djs Fredo & Thang, Starski & Tonic, TLP) but also by its beautiful designed interior.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Kissing to Be Clever | 2 | 14 |
| 1983 | Colour By Numbers | 1 | 2 |
| 1984 | Waking Up With the House on Fire | 2 | 26 |
| 1986 | From Luxury to Heartache | 10 | 32 |
| 1987 | This Time: the First Four Years | 8 | - |
| 1993 | At Worst... The Best Of Boy George and Culture Club | - | 169 |
| 1998 | VH1 Storytellers - Greatest Moments (Live) | 15 | 148 |
| 1999 | Don't Mind If I Do | 3 | - |
| 2005 | Greatest Hits | - | - |
Singles
| Year | Song | UK | US | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" | 1 | 2 | Kissing To Be Clever |
| 1983 | "Time (Clock Of the Heart)" | 3 | 2 | Kissing To Be Clever |
| 1983 | "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" | - | 9 | Kissing To Be Clever |
| 1983 | "Church Of the Poison Mind" | 2 | 10 | Colour By Numbers |
| 1984 | "Karma Chameleon" | 1 | 1 | Colour By Numbers |
| 1984 | "Miss Me Blind" | - | 5 | Colour By Numbers |
| 1984 | "Victims" | 3 | - | Colour By Numbers |
| 1984 | "It's A Miracle" | 4 | 13 | Colour By Numbers |
| 1984 | "The War Song" | 2 | 17 | Waking Up With the House On Fire |
| 1984 | "The Medal Song" | 32 | - | Waking Up With the House On Fire |
| 1984 | "Mistake No. 3" | - | 33 | Waking Up With the House On Fire |
| 1986 | "Move Away" | 7 | 12 | From Luxury to Heartache |
| 1986 | "God Thank You Woman" | 31 | - | From Luxury to Heartache |
| 1998 | "I Just Wanna Be Loved" | 4 | - | Greatest Moments |
| 1999 | "Your Kisses Are Charity" | 25 | - | Don't Mind If I Do |
| 1999 | "Maybe I'm a Fool" | 27 | - | Don't Mind If I Do |
| 1999 | "Starman" | 31 | - | Don't Mind If I Do |
References
- David, Maria (1984). Boy George and Culture Club. Southampton: Crescent. ISBN 0517454742
- De Graaf, Kasper and Garrett, Malcolm (1983). Culture Club: When Cameras Go Crazy. London & New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0312178794
- Rimmer, David (1986). Like Punk Never Happened: Culture Club and the New Pop. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 0571137393
- Robins, Wayne (1984). Culture Club. New York: Ballantine Books. ISBN 0345322169