It’s been over 40 years since I first saw Culture Club in concert, and I’m pleased to say that their recent show at Newcastle Arena showed they’ve lost none of their flair. The gig was part of a special tour celebrating their first two albums, “Kissing to Be Clever” and “Colour by Numbers”, and featured those records played in full—track by track, hit by hit. I first saw Culture Club at Newcastle City Hall in 1983, just as they were really taking off.
At that point, they’d released their debut album, had already bagged a number one single, and the City Hall was packed out with fans eager to see what all the fuss was about. I remember George sweeping onto the stage in a multi-coloured suit with those trademark dreadlocks. It was a great show—more pop and reggae than rock, and noticeably quieter than most gigs I’d been to at the time. I also recall that after the concert, we went on to the Mayfair to catch Marillion—those were the days!
Move forward 40 years to when I saw Rod Stewart Durham Cricket Ground 30 June 2023. The support act was none other than Boy George and Culture Club. We arrived in time to catch most of their set including great versions of their hits “Church of the Poison Mind”, “Time”, “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” And “Karma Chameleon”. All played with George’s usual classic style. Excellent. George also returned to his roots and played a great cover of T Rex’s “Get It On”.
Rod returns with a new outfit and is joined by Boy George. George explains that the next song “The Killing of Georgie” means a lot to him personally, and how his mother gave it to him as a present in a brown paper bag. It was her way of letting him know that she realised he was gay. Rod and George deliver the song together and it is very appropriate and very moving. George explains that he has to leave because his Nan is not well. Fast forward to 2024, and George may be older, but he still knows how to put on a show. From the opening number White Boy, the band powered through both albums with confidence and style.
The visuals were slick, the band tight, and George’s voice—while perhaps a little lower than it once was—was still rich and expressive. The hits came thick and fast: “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”, “Time (Clock of the Heart)”, “Church of the Poison Mind”, and of course “Karma Chameleon”, which brought the house down. The whole arena sang along and it was hard not to be swept up in the energy of it all.
Support came from Tony Hadley and Heaven 17—both well-received and great fun in their own right—but it was George who held the night together. He remains a fascinating performer: charismatic, stylish, and full of personality. It’s always a risk seeing a band so far removed from their heyday, but this was no nostalgia cash-in. It felt like a proper celebration of some classic pop music, played with heart and a bit of theatrical flair.
Set List: White Boy, You Know I’m Not Crazy, I’ll Tumble 4 Ya, Take Control, Love Twist, Boy, Boy, (I’m the Boy, I’m Afraid of Me, White Boys Can’t Control It, Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Karma Chameleon, It’s a Miracle, Black Money, Changing Every Day, That’s the Way (I’m Only Trying to Help You), Church of the Poison Mind, Miss Me Blind, Mister Man, Stormkeeper, Victims, Colour by Numbers, Kissing 2 Be Clever, Get It On.
And so my search for Rod the Mod continues. This was the third time I had seen 
Each time I hope for old classics and Rod returning to the days when he was a spiky haired mod and had Ronnie Wood by his side in The Faces. And each time he delivers. Alongside the Las Vegas Rod Stewart, every now and then, he returns to the past and takes me back to my youth. Of course at the Albert Hall he really did have Ronnie Wood by his side.
First, the not so good side of the evening. It was pouring with rain all night and we got absolutely drenched. Also on the way in they were offering tickets at the door for 2 for £10, quite annoying when I paid full price for my tickets. Apparently only 5000 or so tickets had been sold out of 15,000. I would put this down to the fact that it is only 6 months since Rod played in the North-East. Also maybe some people would have come along on the night if the weather had been better, but as I said, it was sadly raining heavily all evening. But let’s quickly move on to the positives because this was still a great concert.
The support act was none other than 
After a short break Rod took to the stage. He opened with a great version of the late, sadly missed, Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” and then I was transported back to 1971 and memories of Sunderland Top Rank and Sunderland Locarno with Rod the Mod singing “You Wear It Well”. Another Faces memory with “Ooh La La” and seeing that tour at Newcastle Odeon. Back to Robert Palmer territory and “Some Guys Have All the Luck”. Excellent so far. Soon it is another classic “Baby Jane” and memories of when that song was released and seeing Rod at Ibrox Stadium Glasgow. Apologies for all the reminiscences but please bear with an old guy and his memories 🙂
More classics follow: “I Don’t Want to Talk about It”, Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest”. Then we are right back to 1971 again and “Maggie May”. I forget that I am drenched, this is classic Rod and at 78 he is still on great form. “I’d Rather Go Blind” is dedicated to the late Christine McVie. A few more songs and then Rod hands over to the female singers to deliver “I’m Every Woman”.
Rod returns with a new outfit and is joined by Boy George. George explains that the next song “The Killing of Georgie” means a lot to him personally, and how his mother gave it to him as a present in a brown paper bag. It was her way of letting him know that she realised he was gay. Rod and George deliver the song together and it is very appropriate and very moving. George explains that he has to leave because his Nan is not well.
A few more songs and then it is back to the female vocalists, a final rest and costume change for Rod and “Lady Marmalade”. Rod returns for “Stay with Me” which of course takes me back again. Rod do you really still need to sing “Do You Think I’m Sexy?”?. Finally I am back in Newcastle City Hall for his first solo tour, the single of the time and the usual closing song “Sailing”. Massive singalong. We (Jackie, Elaine and I) all enjoyed it even though we were completely soaked.
Setlist: Addicted to Love; You Wear It Well; Ooh La La; Some Guys Have All the Luck; Having a Party; Baby Jane; Forever Young; I Don’t Want to Talk About It; The First Cut Is the Deepest; Maggie May; I’d Rather Go Blind; Young Turks; Downtown Train; Rhythm of My Heart; I’m Every Woman; The Killing of Georgie; You’re in My Heart; Tonight’s the Night; Have I Told You Lately; Lady Marmalade; Stay With Me.
Dave and I went to see Culture Club at Newcastle City Hall in March 1983. This is the only time that I have seen the band. At this point in their career Culture Club had released their first lp “Kissing to be Clever” and had hit the singles chart twice, with the No 1 single “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and a No 3 hit with “Time (Clock of the Heart)”. This was their first major tour, before they became really mega, with the release of the massive “Colour by Numbers” album and the world wide hit “Karma Charmeleon”. 
Boy George was (and still is) a fascinating character, and it was to see him and to hear the hit singles that drew us to The City Hall that night. Support came from The Swinging Laurels, reportedly at the request of George. The concert was pretty good; George looked great in a multi-coloured suit/dress and had impressive dreadlocks. I remember the music as being a mix of pop and reggae, and the sound much quieter than most rock gigs. The gig was sold out, and had been for some time in advance. I seem to recall that we went on to the Mayfair after the gig that night to see Marillion. 
I haven’t seen Culture Club since that night, although I did sit in the next row to Boy George on a flight to Munich once. A bootleg recording of the Liverpool show of this tour gives the setlist as: Boy Boy (I’m The Boy); I’ll Tumble 4 Ya; Mister Man; Take Control; Black Money; Love Twist; Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?; You Know I’m Not Crazy; I’m Afraid Of Me; White Boys Can’t Control It; It’s A Miracle; Church Of The Poison Mind; White Boy; Time (Clock Of The Heart)
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