If social media existed in the 1980s, Boy George would have been a frequent presence on your timelines.
Between 1982 and 1986, the rainbow-bright frontman and the rest of Culture Club were as ubiquitous as a Kardashian at an NBA game, with hits including “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” “Time (Clock of the Heart)” and, what has now become a staple of any ‘80s club night, “Karma Chameleon” — all showcasing the liquid-soul vocals of Boy George.
The band endured its pockets of drama, with George departing the band and subsequently falling into a highly publicized drug addiction as well as a solo career (“The Crying Game,” from the movie of the same name, was his biggest U.S. hit in 1992).
But in 2014, Boy George and his old mates – Roy Hay (guitar), Mikey Craig (bass) and Jon Moss (drums) – reunited and have become road staples.
On Sunday, Culture Club will headline a show at State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park that also features Athens' beloved The B-52s and Thompson Twins singer Tom Bailey.
While their set list will hit the highlights, the band will also present four or five new songs from their upcoming fall album.
A gracious and happy Boy George, 57, checked in from a tour stop in Tulsa, Okla., earlier this week to talk about the new music and why he’s a people person.
Q: What kind of relationship do you have with The B-52s?
A: I did a mad gig with them in Miami on New Year's Eve about 15 years ago and we were all freezing in coats and scarves! And in 1978 I was a punk rocker and they played London and I went to see them as a fan. I have a long history with them. They were quite unusual for that time. It was a new sound – "Rock Lobster," "Planet Claire." We have little chats backstage (now). When you do these summer packages you just find out who is available and you don't really know what's going to work. You do sometimes get into situations when people are a bit shy. They are not.
Q: You’re playing some new material in the set. What can you tell us about the upcoming album?
A: It's coming out this fall. It is quite funky, quite punky. I've been saying we're a soul-funk-reggae-punk combo form the U.K. It's everything you've ever lived thrown into a big wok. It's very much us now, and that's why the songs are such fun to perform live. They really talk about who I am now, a very different person, as a writer casting myself in a different role than I would have done in 1983. (Songs such as) "Do You Want to Hurt Me," "Victims," were all very woe-is-me. I'm a little more positive and joyfully cynical!
I was talking last night to (the rest of the band) that every night is like a one-night stand: You never know how the audience will react. I like to tell them what the songs are about. There are some people who don’t want to listen to new songs, but they’ll get over it (laughs).
Q: The tour is 40-plus dates. How do you feel about being on the road for extended stretches?
A: I like it. I don't think about the arduous work — it's all about how you look at it, really. It's such a fantastic job, and at this point of the game, there's so much love out there. Every night is different. Sometimes there could be a mixed audience (of fans), but people are there for a nice time.
Q: You’re doing some pre-show meet and greets and other interactions with fans. There was a time when you were much more private, so what has changed?
A: I think I've always been pretty friendly. The meet and greet is a new phenomenon that didn't happen in the '80s. It's a little like the selfie — people want different relationships with you. I've kind of embraced it. I'm always comfortable with people and I'm good at that. I think people are quite nervous and have these strange ideas of what you're like. They'll come in and say, "Are we allowed to hug you?" Of course you are! In my life, having a reputation can be an advantage when people think you're going to be dramatic.
CONCERT PREVIEW
Boy George and Culture Club
With The B-52s and Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey. 7 p.m. July 22. $45-$82.75. State Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park, 4469 Stella Drive NW, Atlanta. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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