The band started in March 1981 when Mikey Craig walked up to George O'Dowd in a club and asked him to be in a band with him. ÝMickey states that he had seen George perform with the band Bow Wow Wow. Mikey Craig plays bass, Jon Moss plays the drums, and Roy Hay plays guitar. George rounds out the group as Spokesman and singer.

The first hit came in September of 1982 with the release of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?", before then two other songs had been released; they are "White Boy" & "I'm Afraid Of Me".

Many albums & songs followed; Kissing To Be Clever, Color By Numbers, Waking With The House On Fire, From Luxury To Heartache, and then finally a compiliation alblum called This Time The First Four Years.

Culture Club disbanded (although not officially) in 1986 after George O'Dowd's well publicized drug problems.