In the 1980s, there weren’t many international bands bigger than Culture Club, Spandau Ballet and Starship.
They provided a soundtrack to a generation with hits like Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Time (Clock of the Heart), Karma Chameleon, The War Song, To Cut a Long Story Short, True, Gold, Through the Barricades, We Built This City, Sara, Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now and It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over.
Now, more than four decades later, the singers behind those tracks Boy George, Tony Hadley and Mickey Thomas will join Welsh songstress Bonnie Tyler on the Timeless Summer Tour, which lands at Hope Estate on Saturday 25 January.
It’s all part of a new concert series celebrating legendary musicians from around the world.
“I’m excited to be bringing such a high-calibre line-up to the Hunter,” promoter Glenn Meikle said.
“All of the artists performing at Timeless Summer are iconic musicians who have paved the way for many.
“Even though they were introduced to the world in the 70s and 80s, their music is just as impactful today as they were when they were released.
“We’re confident people across the generations will enjoy the experience.”
Boy George is a vibrant icon who has left an indelible mark on the pop and new wave genres.
He rose to prominence as the lead vocalist of Culture Club, which he co-founded in 1981.
The band’s debut album, Kissing to Be Clever, catapulted them to global fame with smash singles like Do You Really Want to Hurt Me and Time (Clock of the Heart).
Subsequent offerings such as Colour by Numbers and Waking Up with the House on Fire delivered Karma Chameleon and The War Song.
Tyler’s one of Wales’ best-known performers, achieving chart success all over the world.
She is recognised for her distinctive husky voice and a long list of tracks including Total Eclipse of the Heart, It’s a Heartache, Holding Out for a Hero, Lost in France, More Than a Lover, Bitterblue and If I Sing You a Love Song.
She’s also enjoyed critical acclaim for her recent albums Rocks and Honey and Between The Earth and the Stars.
Hadley made his mark on the music industry as the soulful baritone voice of Spandau Ballet.
They released hit-after-hit including To Cut a Long Story Short, True, Gold, Communication, Only When You Leave and Through the Barricades.
Beyond Spandau Ballet, Hadley has pursued a successful solo career, releasing albums and songs such as The State of Play and Talking to the Moon, which received critical acclaim.
Thomas is the owner of the soaring vocals that propelled Starship through the 80s.
He debuted in 1976 as lead vocalist on the mega-hit Fooled Around And Fell In Love with The Elvin Bishop Band before joining Jefferson Starship in 1979, recording a string of songs including Jane, No Way Out, Find Your Way Back, Stranger and Layin’ It on the Line.
The group was renamed Starship in 1985.
They went on to record three No. 1 tracks We Built This City, Sara and Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, from the film, Mannequin, which also was an Academy Award nominee.
Their hit It’s Not Over ‘Til It’s Over became Major League Baseball’s theme in 1987.
For ticket information, go to www.timelesssummertour.com.
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