Bob Geldof is a name that needs no introduction. This is the iconic Irish singer, songwriter and political activist who made his name in the 1970s and 1980s as frontman of the band Boomtown Rats.
He is best known for his humanitarian work and activism, notably for organizing the iconic Live Aid concerts in 1985, which raised millions of dollars for famine victims in Africa.
Bob Geldof – Stefan Schäfer, Lich – cc
Bob Geldof was born on October 5, 1951 in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. He grew up in a family of six children and attended the Jesuit school in Blackrock.
His mother, Evelyn, is a housewife and his father, Robert, is a truck driver.
Bob describes his youth as lonely and miserable, and often sought refuge in music.
He formed his first band, The Boomtown Rats, in 1975, and quickly gained local recognition for his energetic performances and punk music. However, it was with the release of their single ” Lookin’ After No. 1 ” in 1977 that the band really took off.
A series of successful albums followed, including “A Tonic for the Troops” in 1978 and “The Fine Art of Surfacing” in 1979.
The band distinguishes itself by a skilful blend of punk, new wave and rock, with lyrics that are often social, committed and political.
Bob Geldof is the leader, known for his energy on stage and his distinctive voice.
In 1982, the Boomtown Rats released their best-known single, ” I Don’t Like Mondays “. The song was inspired by an elementary school shooting in San Diego, California, that left five people dead.
The song became a hit and propelled the band onto the international scene. However, towards the end of the 1980s, the Boomtown Rats began to lose popularity and finally announced their break-up in 1986.
The end of the Boomtown Rats did nothing to dampen Bob Geldof’s ambition, and he decided to get involved in humanitarian causes. In 1984, he saw a television program about the famine in Ethiopia. He was deeply shocked and decided to organize a concert to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia.
The concert, called Live Aid, took place on July 13 1985, at Wembley stadium in London and John F. Kennedy stadium in Philadelphia. It attracts a global audience of 1.5 billion people and raises over $100 million for humanitarian aid in Ethiopia: a real feat!
After Live Aid, Bob Geldof continued his commitment to humanitarian aid and the fight against poverty. He set up the Band Aid Trust charity, which has organized several other benefit concerts to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Africa. He also worked for the United Nations as Special Envoy for Africa. In 2005, he organized the Live 8 charity concert, held in several cities around the world to raise awareness of poverty and debt in Africa.
Bob Geldof has been married twice. His first wife was Paula Yates, a British TV presenter, with whom he had three daughters, Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie. However, their marriage ended in 1996 after Paula Yates began a relationship with singer Michael Hutchence, frontman of the band INXS.
In 2014, Peaches Geldof, Bob Geldof’s second daughter, died of a heroin overdose. The death of his daughter is a terrible blow for Bob Geldof and his family. Peaches was 25, a television and fashion personality, and mother of two. She had also followed in her father’s footsteps in activism and humanitarian action.
Despite his humanitarian work and activism, Bob Geldof has been criticized for his paternalistic approach and for simplifying the complex problems of poverty and injustice in Africa.
Some have argued that his charity concerts only reinforce Western stereotypes of Africa, portraying it as a poor and destitute continent.
Others criticized his relationship with the political authorities, in particular Tony Blair, whom he supported during his time as British Prime Minister.
Whatever the case, there’s no doubt that Bob Geldof has had a huge impact on music and humanitarian activism. He was one of the first musicians to use his celebrity to draw attention to important social and political issues. His humanitarian work has inspired many other artists, such as Bono, and helped raise awareness of poverty and injustice around the world. His music, meanwhile, is still considered influential and innovative, and has inspired many other artists.
