Boy George Plays Sold-Out Tel Aviv Show With Tribute to Nova Victims

Boy George drew a sold-out crowd to Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, delivering a performance that had the audience on its feet from the moment he walked on stage.

The British singer, who fronts Culture Club and also performs solo, first won over Israeli fans four decades ago, appearing in shirts bearing his band's name in Hebrew. He addressed his outspoken support for Israel and Jews with humor, joking, "I didn't choose to be Spartacus. There was just a position, and I needed to fill it."

Known as much for his flamboyant style as for his voice, Boy George appeared in a black and silver sequined hat, a rainbow sequined jacket and plaid pants. His set blended familiar Culture Club hits such as "Karma Chameleon" and "Miracle" with rock and pop standards, including Prince's "Purple Rain" and the Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil." Israeli singer Ivry Lider joined him on stage for the Culture Club ballad "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," and the songs drew thunderous applause throughout the night.

Between songs, he offered philosophical commentary and explained his decision to perform in Israel. Speaking about separating the online world from the real one, he remarked, "There are sectors of society that believe in freedom of speech but doesn't want me to have an opinion."

The show also featured new material. Toward the end, he performed "We Will Dance Again," a tribute to the survivors of the Nova festival massacre and to the 364 people killed there by Hamas on October 7. The crowd cheered loudly at the lyric, "If you're confused/I stand with the Jews."

A day earlier, the singer held a press conference at the Nova Memorial site and met with Rachel Edri of Ofakim, who was held captive by Hamas for hours. He also visited the Kotel and met with President Isaac Herzog.

The concerts and press conference were arranged by Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress Israel. Adams announced on Tuesday that 1,500 tickets to the November 7 concert, which is dedicated to the Nova community and features a special appearance by DJ Ofer Nissim, had been 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 the singer's visit.

After the show, fans spilled happily into the street, debating which songs had been the best. T-shirt vendors had sold out their entire stock before the concert even began, and some of those waiting in line for merchandise were already talking about seeing Boy George again on Saturday night.