Few bands embody a decade quite as perfectly as Culture Club incarnate the 1980's-there couldn't have been a Culture Club at any other time, and the 80's just wouldn't have been the same without them. With their danceable, synth-heavy hits, flamboyant fashion sense and tempestuous personal lives, Culture Club were a heavy chart presence and a pop spectacle throughout the decade. Gender-bending lead singer Boy George was a genuine product of the London Underground and had been heavily involved with the DJ club scene and the underage pop-punk project Bow Wow Wow before starting his own band. Drummer Jon Moss had previously played in the hard punk outfit The Damned and with New Romantic poster boy Adam Ant. After recording a rough demo tape, the stylish group was signed to Virgin/Epic Records and in 1982 they released their first album, Kissing To Be Clever. It was full of swirling synthesizers and Boy George's voice was surprisingly soulful as he crooned their wistful, lovelorn lyrics. Their first couple singles were only modest successes but they struck big with the dancey reggae-tinted "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" They followed it up quick with "Time (Clock of the Heart)" and the breezy "I'll Tumble 4 Ya." Their second LP, 1983's Colour By Numbers had the classic cut "Karma Chameleon" as well as several other minor singles. But Culture Club's star dimmed as Boy George succumbed to heroin addiction. He has since publicly discussed his secret, closeted relationship with drummer Moss, stating that it was emotionally exhausting and that many of the band's biggest hits were addressed directly from him to Moss. The band released a couple more albums, but none brought the same caliber hits as their first two. After leaving Culture Club, Boy George successfully went through rehab and has since undertaken an enduring solo career as a top club DJ and sang "The Crying Game" in the edgy movie of the same name.