RANCHO MIRAGE, CA — The long-awaited reunion tour of 1980s hit-makers Culture Club was scrapped on Nov. 13, two days before the first tour stop at Aqua Caliente Casino Resort Spa here, after lead singer Boy George was diagnosed with a throat polyp.
The band, known for songs including “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon,” had planned to perform at 10 venues across North America this month before embarking on an 11-concert trek in the U.K. in December in support of an early 2015 album release, Tribes, featuring the Nov. 4 single release, “More Than Silence.”
The single and album, recorded with producer Youth, followed a 15-year recording hiatus for the band, which has reportedly sold more than 50 million albums and 100 million singles since it formed in 1981.
Concerts had been set for Rancho Mirage, CA (near Palm Desert) Nov.15, San Francisco Nov. 16, Oakland Nov. 17, Los Angeles Nov. 19, Santa Ynez, CA Nov. 20, Las Vegas Nov. 22, Toronto Nov. 25, New York Nov. 25 and 26, Atlantic City Nov. 28, and an 11-date tour of U.K. venues from Glasgow Dec. 1 to Bournemouth, U.K. Dec. 15. Refunds are being issue. The band hopes for a speedy recovery and the chance to reschedule the tour in 2015.
