From the moment Boy George, the Culture Club frontman and solo singer from Britain who first won the hearts of Israelis four decades ago wearing shirts with the name of his band in Hebrew, went onstage at his sold-out show at the Menora Mivtachim arena in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, the crowd was on its feet.
The playful, confident showman kept the audience there for the rest of the evening.
“I didn’t choose to be Spartacus,” joked the singer, referring to his outspoken support for Israel and Jews, which has cost him professionally and personally in recent years. “There was just a position, and I needed to fill it.”
Almost no international musicians have performed in Israel since Bruno Mars’s show just before the Hamas attack in 2023 – until Boy George. But Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood will soon be performing with Dudu Tassa as part of the International Oud Festival, so perhaps the tide has turned.
Noting that tensions with Iran are still running high and there are predictions that a new war could break out any day, Boy George said, with his trademark irreverence, “I’m not a scaredy-cat.”
The singer, known for his outrageous outfits and his singing prowess, did not disappoint his fans. He sported a black-and-silver sequined hat, a rainbow sequined jacket, and plaid pants.
He performed with an impressive ensemble of singers and musicians, including Wallis McDowall, Michael Nicholls, Alexander Montaque, Grace Walker, Vangelis Evangelou, James Gardiner Bateman, Jermaine Whyte, and James Nowell.
While stars often introduce their musicians, he made a point of praising them several times and gave them many solos.
He mixed familiar Culture Club hits such as “Karma Chameleon,” “Time,” “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” and “Miracle” with rock and pop classics that included Prince’s “Purple Rain,” Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe,” and the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Israeli singer Ivri Lider joined him to sing “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me,” which received thunderous applause from an audience that seemed to enjoy every moment of the evening.
Concert includes song dedicated to October 7
Boy George included recent songs as well, such as “We Will Dance Again,” a tune with a strong beat that is dedicated to the memory of the 364 Nova festivalgoers who were murdered by Hamas on October 7, 2023, to their families, and to the survivors. The title phrase has become a motto of Nova survivors trying to heal.
“I’m always writing new songs,” he said.
Towards the end of the show, when he performed “We Will Dance Again,” the audience cheered loudly and danced, especially when he sang, “If you’re confused/I stand with the Jews.”
He included moments of philosophical commentary and explained his decision to come perform in Israel.
Talking about separating the online world from the real world, he commented, “There is a sector of society that believes in freedom of speech but doesn’t want me to have an opinion, unless it’s exactly the same as theirs. But how can that be? We are all individuals.”
THOSE WHO see Israel as an intolerant theocracy would have been surprised by the vibe in the area Wednesday, as Boy George, one of the first performers to come out of the closet in the 1980s and who has been a proud, gay icon for over four decades, was embraced by a mostly secular crowd.
Quite a few audience members wore black hats as a nod to the singer’s signature look.
“This is what society looks like, this is what community feels like. And even when you’re gay, you’re someone’s son, and someone is your grandmother, twice. We’re all part of each other. But it’s true, the Internet wants my blood,” he said.
Although there were serious moments, he flashed his smile frequently, at one point drinking a glass of red wine on stage, and saying, “Cheers, Tel Aviv.” He also spoke directly to an 11-year-old girl named Tal in the audience, praising her dance moves and her energy.
The show, which lasted over two hours, was infused with the singer’s message of love, tolerance, and unity.
He spoke about being bullied as a gay man and growing up in a London neighborhood where the racist National Front tried to recruit him. He said that these experiences made him curious about the people and cultures that these racists hated, among them Jews, a group to whom he has always felt kinship.
He gave a press conference at the Nova Memorial site on Tuesday, where he received a private tour led by survivors and their families, and visited with Rachel Edri from Ofakim, who was held captive by Hamas for hours.
During this trip to Israel, he also went to the Western Wall and met with President Isaac Herzog.
Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress Israel, arranged the concerts and the press conference.
He announced Tuesday that 1,500 tickets to the November 7 concert, dedicated to the Nova community and featuring a special appearance by DJ Ofer Nissim, were made available to survivors and their families through a collaboration with the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem.
The Tribe of Nova Foundation and the Foreign Ministry also supported the concerts and Boy George’s visit.
Some people waiting in line for merch before the show started said they were going to see Boy George again on Saturday night. A T-shirt vendor said he had sold out his entire stock even before the concert started and stayed to watch the performance.
As the crowd floated out into the street after the show, they were singing and talking about which songs they had liked best.
It was clear that for this crowd, music and Boy George’s brand of feel-good vibes were especially soothing after three years of war and division.