There is growing excitement as music fans in the North East look forward to a double rock and pop treat this summer following news that Boy George is to join Sir Rod Stewart on his Your Global Hits Tour bringing him to Durham.
The eighties star and Culture Club have been announced as special guests for only six of Rod's tour locations and they include the big show Seat Unique Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street on June 30. And it seems the rock legend can't wait.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be sharing the stage with my dear old friend, Boy George," said Sir Rod. “Let's misbehave!” And Boy George, who added to his legion of fans during his recent stint on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, is looking forward to it just as much, saying: “I'm a massive Rod Stewart fan. I have been since I was a teenager.
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"I love his voice and he's always been very charming to me." He recalled: "In 1974, when I was 13-years-old, I bunked in for free to see Rod Stewart and The Faces at Lewisham Odeon - so I love that I am now able to support him on tour.”
Since the Summer Tour - part of the Global Hits Tour - was announced in February, North East fans have been anticipating a show of Stewart's classics and all-time favourites including I Am Sailing, Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? At the time he said he was impatient to get started and recalled: "My favourite memories have been summer nights with a beer or two alongside the best fans in the world."
And he added: "We’ll all be dancing under the stars.” And now Boy George will be doing his bit to keep fans on their feet.
The night promises to be a great combination. The award-winning Rod Stewart, renowned for his song-writing as well as his distinctive voice, has two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is named a Grammy Living Legend. He became a 'Sir' in 2016 when he was knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace for his services to music and charity.
Boy George, who creates artwork as well as music, released solo albums in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and started off this year with Culture Club performing three Las Vegas dates to mark the 40-year anniversary of the release of their biggest album Colour By Numbers, which was live-streamed worldwide as a one-off event - Boy George & Culture Club: One World, One Love - and shown in more than 100 UK cinemas.
The other of Stewart's tour locations when he and Culture Club will be performing are Plymouth, where the tour launches on June 24; Northampton on June 28 then - after Durham Riverside on June 30 - there comes Bristol on July 2; Hull on July 4 and Edinburgh Castle on July 6-7.
For more about the upcoming tour see here and for the Riverside's ticket information see here or SeeTickets here. Hospitality packages are also available.
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