Culture Club

Led by the charismatic, fashion-forward vocalist Boy George, Culture Club was one of the most audacious bands of the early-’80s Second British Invasion. The quartet formed in London in 1981, finding kindred spirits in both the outrageous Blitz Club scene and the sleek New Romantic movement. Culture Club’s first two albums, 1982’s Kissing to Be Clever and 1983's Colour By Numbers, made the band a vivacious chart presence thanks to hits rooted in eclectic genres: soulful reggae (“Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”), upbeat Motown (“Church of the Poison Mind”), blue-eyed soul (“Miss Me Blind”), and both country and salsa (“Karma Chameleon”). As with many New Wave bands, Culture Club’s commercial fortunes waned as the decade progressed; the group broke up in 1986, and Boy George launched a successful solo career. However, the band eventually reunited and remains a popular live act, keeping colorful ’80s grooves alive.