Original members of London’s profoundly influential new wave band Culture Club have reunited and embarked on a world tour, which is set to hit the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City on Wednesday, July 27.
Fronted by the flamboyant Boy George, the group formed in 1981 and was an instant international success upon the release of its debut album, “Kissing to Be Clever” (1982). The record reached No. 14 on the Billboard 200 and featured three hit singles on the pop chart—”Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” [No. 2], “Time (Clock of the Heart)” [No. 2] and “l’ll Tumble 4 Ya” [No. 9]. This was the first time since The Beatles in 1963 that a band had placed three songs from its first album in the Top 10.
Culture Club’s follow-up record, “Colour by Numbers” (1983), achieved even greater notoriety, having reached No. 2 on the albums chart and showcasing the band’s chart-topping single and staple tune of the decade, “Karma Chameleon.” This song won a Brit Award for “Best British Single” in 1984. That same year, the band also won a Brit Award for “Best British Group,” as well as a Grammy Award for “Best New Artist.”
With ten Top 40 hits in the United States and more than 50 million records sold worldwide, Culture Club is undoubtedly one of the most quintessential and emblematic bands of the decade. Two more notable albums were released before the members went separate ways in 1986, seeing Boy George follow a fortuitous solo career and reuniting for a couple of periods throughout their span. However, this is the first time in more than 14 years that the original crew—consisting of Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss—is back together. The world tour will feature the band’s classic hits plus songs from its upcoming album, “Tribes.”
Tickets prices for the event range from $79 to $129 and are available through the Kauffman Center online or by visiting or calling the venue box office at 816-994-7222 between 10am and 6pm, Monday through Friday.
