Strengthened by heartbreak and fuelled by a raw food diet, Boy George’s ascent from the darkest of days has earned the New Romantic inner peace, widespread respect and an enviable physique.
But the underlying air of celebration to this gig – at which he sauntered on in a magnificent top hat, flanked by an entourage parping out reggae, harmonised by a pair of extravagantly gesticulating backing singers – had more to do with his well-received new album.
This Is What I Do reflects the desire of one of the country’s greatest soul singers to be known for songs rather than scandal, which hardly takes a leap of faith. His set list, he confessed, remained a collection of cautionary tales – King Of Everything, with its booze, self-destruction, demons and temptation, exemplified the theme in one tenderly poisonous swoop.
The shrillest whoops, inevitably, came for Karma Chameleon and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? The appearance of reggae pioneer Dennis Bovell, who made for an exquisite vocal partner, proved a masterstroke.
Successive encores followed, interspersed with some drily hilarious introspection, a round of improbably fervent Hare Krishna chanting and a sweetly exultant singalong extolling the virtues of love over war.
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