Rosemont Theater
Rosemont, IL
October 4, 2000
Boy George in a colorful mood.Story and Photo by Phil Bonyata
A little bloated and a little more masculine, Boy George of Culture Club can still hit the high note with the same aplomb of his 80's heyday. With oversized white and red polka-dot hat and long black over coat adorned with goofy caricatures, Boy George has lost none of his effeminate flamboyancy.
Culture Club, with no new album , book or music video to promote still feel the need (or is it the money?) to tour. As Boy George says "It's because we're here to see you, luv."
Culture Club fans came out en masse last Wednesday night to the Rosemont Theater in Rosemont, IL to see their British pop idols perform their bouncy and yes, catchy hits. Opening with some of their light and airy lesser known material the 30 something crowd showed restrained enthusiasm. They were here for only one thing - the hits and it didn't take too long before they belted out such classics as "Miss Me Blind", "Move Away", "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" in which Boy George did his slow 1 - 2, 1 - 2 hip shake shuffle he made famous 20 years ago on their then risque MTV video.
Boy George, with a long history of heroin addiction and dismal solo musical projects, might have a place in in the 80's pop hierarchy, but today the music of Culture Club is as out of place as Boy George without make-up.
