Culture Club

Culture Club were a British pop group formed in 1981. With a string of international hit singles and albums between 1982 and 1986 they are widely held as one of the most successful and influential pop bands of the eighties.

Led by flamboyant frontman, lead singer and songwriter Boy George (real name George O'Dowd), they first broke onto the scene with the single 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me', number one in the UK and in several European countries as well as in Canada and no. 2 in the US. Likewise 'Karma Chameleon' in 1983, which was also no. 1 in the States.

A decline came in 1986 as Boy George's cocaine and heroin addictions worsened and also became public knowledge, tarnishing the group's clean, happy-go-lucky image. The group have since attempted several reunions, the last in 2018, with the issue of a new album entitled Life (released 26 October 2018) credited to Boy George and Culture Club.

Trivia

 * John Peel was an early advocate of the group, playing their debut single White Boy on 29 April 1982, some five months before their mainstream success.
 * The group recorded a session for Kid Jensen in July 1982, just before their major breakthrough (broadcast 20 July 1982)
 * Drummer Jon Moss was previously a member of post-punk outfit The Edge, who recorded a session for John Peel (broadcast 24 April 1979).
 * In his autobiography, O'Dowd revealed ho he had a homosexual relationship with drummer Jon Moss during the band's heyday. He wrote in his autobiography, ``Our relationship was built on power-tripping and masochism, adding, ``Our love, however diseased, was the creative force behind Culture Club.
 * Worried About The Boy - Boy George TV biopic, first shown 16 May 2010.

Discography
UK singles and albums only

Top of the Pops
date, track, chart position (host presenter) TBC
 * 23 September 1982 - Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?, 38 (John Peel)
 * 07 October 1982 - Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?, 3 (PS)
 * 21 October 1982 - Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?, 1 (Peter Powell), then 28 October 1982 (Simon Bates), 04 November 1982 (Mike Smith)
 * 25 November 1982 - Time (Clock of the Heart), 34 (DLT)
 * 09 December 1982 - Time (Clock of the Heart), 5 (Simon Bates)
 * Christmas Day 1982 - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me (various)

Smash Hits
TBC
 * 14 October 1982: front cover and feature (pp.8-9), album review (p.23)
 * 29 September 1983: front cover and feature (pp.42-44)
 * 19 July 1984: front cover (Boy George with Japanese fans) and feature Culture Club in Japan, Part 1 (pp 54-57).
 * 02 August 1984: Culture Club in Japan, Part 2 (pp 48-50)