Were all members of culture club gay

With more than 50 million albums sold and a Grammy for Best New Artist, Culture Club's stature as an archetype of '80s pop music is undeniable. Reviewers often attributed the British band's success to its musical talent, catchy songs like "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," and a flamboyant sense of style, but lead singer Boy George recently said another factor was instrumental to the group's popularity in the U.

We didn't create it. We don't have to take responsibility for it. The Scissor Sisters are American, but they seemed to do much better in England. I think, in a way, my British-ness is a part of my appeal. On tour, George and the three other original members of Culture Club — bassist Mikey Craig, guitarist Roy Hay and drummer Jon Moss — will find out whether their appeal endures.

The band recently cancelled their performance at The Show in Rancho Mirage as a part of a fall tour across the states — their first since the late-'90s. And next year, they plan to release new music. Boy George developed a vocal cord polyp that requires him to take time off to recover. George discussed reuniting with his bandmates and how their relationships have changed.

TDS: You're touring and recording again as a part of Culture Club, after recent successful performances as a solo artist. Does performing with this group bring different things out of you as a performer than when you're solo? When it's my band, I call all the shots — what I do, what I say, how I present it.

With Culture Club, there are four people and there's a different kind of democracy that takes place. You have to be a little bit more conscious of other people's feelings. Not that I'm Stalin or anything. When I'm with my own band I can be as gay as I want. With Culture Club, they're all kind of straight.

1980s Music Video Closet

It's a different kind of dynamic, I suppose, but at the end of the day it's the same thing. That's my role in Culture Club: I'm singing about things very personal to me, I'm singing a narrative. You turned to performing as a DJ after the group split. How has that experience influenced or informed the choices you make recording new music?

I don't know that it does, really. I've always had a very eclectic attitude toward music. When you're a DJ, you're slightly more restricted. The dance club is quite particular with what they want to hear. There are parameters with that. With a live show, you can take people on all kinds of journeys.