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Culture Club’s Mikey Craig, Boy George, Jon Moss and Roy Hay have aged like a fine wine.

Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre had a reunion to beat all reunions last night. All four original members of Culture Club reunited, and it never felt so good.

The hugely successful group in the ‘80s succumbed to many of the typical cliches of drug use, internal arguing and eventual disbandment in 1986. Well, Boy George said it best when he came out on the stage in his full glory of makeup and a large black sculptural hat, “It was a miracle that we’re all back together again.” This, of course, led into their hit “It’s A Miracle,” which made the crowd roar.

They have aged like a fine wine and never sounded or performed better. Boy George has developed a more mature and sultry sound which works in his favor; bass player Mikey Craig, keyboardist and guitarist Roy Hay and drummer Jon Moss came together like they had never stopped playing.

All of their old music videos played behind them on a large screen while they sang. It was fascinating to see what was going on 30 years ago, both stylistically and socially. Boy George commented on how far we have come. After only a few songs, Boy George felt the need for a hat change. Now he commanded the stage with a large black top hat with a signature red feather.

They played hit after hit and put some new songs in the lineup from their forthcoming album entitled Tribes. Their new album is going to have much more reggae influence and even a bit of country. Boy George paid homage to a few of his idols like Sly Stone and Johnny Cash.

They had a full band and three glorious backup singers who added that soul. Boy George had so much charisma and fantastic interaction with the crowd as he reflected on some of his wilder days. The band supported him in his solo success singing “The Crying Game,” which the audience swayed back and forth to. With one final head gear change, he launched into “Karma Chameleon.”

Thinking this would be Culture Club’s final song was a mistake. Giving honor to one more of his fellow musicians that fell into his own self-professed “Frock & Roll” category, David Bowie, with “Starman.” Joined on the stage by actor/singer Jack Black, they both took to the microphone and wailed.

Sober Boy George and a happy healthy Culture Club exceeded my expectations. I left feeling overjoyed and happy to have seen this long overdue reunion.

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