Culture Club - Leeds Arena

It was the era of Smash Hits, shoulder pads and when music seemed more colourful. The 80's was a classic period for pop music and who better to relive those moments than 3 quintessential acts from that period.

These days the Thompson Twins consist of lead singer Tom Bailey backed with an all female group. Dressed in a white suit with his ginger hair now grey he looked like the older statesman of pop, but still could deliver those majestic hits. Lay Your Hands on Me reminded you that the Thomson Twins were not just about frothy pop songs whilst Hold Me Now had the entire audience singing the song, even Bailey looked astonished at the Leeds reaction from the fans as he placed his hand on his heart before the whole band took a selfie of themselves and the enthusiastic crowd.

Belinda Carlisle will always be remembered for one song, of course she saves Heaven Is A Place on Earth until the end of her set but before that she delved back into the past to treat the audience to Live Your Life Be Free. It could not have been a more apt title: she appeared completely at ease with herself, still swirling around the stage like we were back in 1987. Apparently the track Summer Rain is her favourite song as the track allowed a contrast to her set.

The sudden rise in popularity of Culture Club in the early 80's was phenomenal - in 1982 they played Leeds Polytechnic, fast forward to a year later and they were playing arenas with everyone from teenagers to grandparents liking the band.

For some reason the act are now billed as Boy George and Culture Club. As the 3 original members enter the stage via a staircase with Mikey Craig, Roy Hay and then Boy George appearing in order there was only original drummer Jon Moss missing from the party.

The band are on a roll unlike Bradford City whose banner hung from the side of the stage, a local touch as the band's guitar technician comes from Bradford - no doubt he introduced the band to a good curry whilst in Yorkshire!

Backed with a talented band including 4 backing singers it was a track off the new album that opened up the gig - God and Love might have been a good introduction but it could have been 1983 at the Queens Hall in Leeds as the band dropped Its A Miracle with the fans now out of their seats.

Not forgetting that the band were a mix of pop, funk and reggae we get a version of the Bread classic Everything I Own, as the bass reverberated around the arena. It was back to 1982 for Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, a song which George admitted was in the band's DNA - and most likely those present too.

Victims was given a new musical treatment accompanied by a stunning light show whilst Church of the Poison Mind lead into Wham's I'm Your Man.

Paying tribute to David Bowie we get a cover of Let's Dance, though as George shared that his world changed when he saw Bowie as Ziggy Stardust aged 11, it was surprising that he didn't cover a track from that period like Starman. The T Rex cover of Get It On shone but it was Karma Chameleon that provided a classic end to a classic gig from 3 acts who are all still at the top.