(Continued from Part 1...)
Until earlier this spring, that is, when they announced a few dates, including one at The Greek Theatre, in LA.  This time, I didn’t dial the venue, but instead called my pal, Bryan Rabin (who kinda knows everyone worth knowing on the Venn-diagram illustrating the overlap between the worlds of Hollywood and Music) and asked if he’d like to join me, if I flew to town.  This led to a rather discombobulated conversation wherein Bryan said he’d get in touch with Dave Thomas; which I found hilarious, asking why the founder of Wendy’s had an “in” with Culture Club.  (Rabin later schooled me that Thomas was a legendary stylist, and a dear friend of George’s.  Fast-forward to the night of the concert, when, upon being introduced to me, Thomas cheerfully said “Sure… The guy from Las Vegas.  I follow you on Facebook!” to which I replied “And I you!  It’s so nice to meet you in person.  I guess this is what you do when you’re not flipping burgers!”  Nice guy, and super-talented – look him up, sometime.)

So, at the Greek (which definitely ranks as one of my favorite live music venues), Culture Club utterly electrified the audience.  They played all of their hits (including my faves, “Miss Me Blind,” “Victims,” and “Black Money”), and everyone was living!  Even the new songs were worth hearing (especially the one inspired by Sly Stone).

But the thing that’s stuck with me the most – aside from seeing how energized the band was, on stage; and noting, as I invariably do, when listening to Culture Club, about just how brilliantly the band has always utilized its soulful and big-voiced backup singers – was the finale, wherein Jack Black joined the band for a cover of David Bowie’s “Starman” – the song that (when performed on Top of the Pops, in 1972) really kicked-off Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust period.  Like most members of the New Romantic movement, George was deeply influenced by Bowie, telling the audience “If it wasn’t for me seeing David Bowie when I was 11 years old…  Well, it’s all Bowie’s fault, really - the drag, the weirdness.”  The juxtaposing of Boy George and Jack Black was particularly clever, as Black is one of the most campy straight guys you could ever find; as a member of Tenacious D, is all about classic rock; and, in his camp-shirt/jeans/robe ensemble managed to out-vamp George, who towered over Black, looking quite regal, in a bejeweled Phillip Treacy headpiece, crowning a flowing look, styled by Dave Thomas.

It was only after the concert, when I was reintroduced to George, at his after-party at Le Jardin (we’d originally met, years ago, when I’d photographed him, at the Hiro Ballroom at NY’s Maritime Hotel), that I realized just how tall he is.  Naturally, because it’s Hollywood, this exchange was filmed; which required my signing a release (as the cameras were rolling for the new reality show about George’s move from the UK to LA, that’s being produced by Bunim/Murray Productions – the folks behind Real World, Project Runway, and all the Kardashian-related shows, including I Am Cait).  But that’s a whole other story, that’ll keep for another day, and another article.    

Culture Club
The Greek Theatre | Los Angeles, CA
Click HERE for tour info and tickets

Get into it!