Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof KBE (born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and political activist. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats, who achieved popularity as part of the punk rock movement. The band had UK number one hits with his compositions “Rat Trap” and “I Don’t Like Mondays”. Geldof starred as “Pink” in Pink Floyd’s 1982 film Pink Floyd – The Wall. As a fundraiser, Geldof organised the charity supergroup Band Aid and the concerts Live Aid and Live 8, and co-wrote “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”, one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Geldof is widely recognized for his activism, especially anti-poverty efforts concerning Africa. In 1984, he and Midge Ure founded the charity supergroup Band Aid to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. They went on to organize the charity super-concert Live Aid the following year and the Live 8 concerts in 2005. Geldof currently serves as an adviser to the ONE Campaign, co-founded by fellow Irish rock singer and activist Bono, and is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. A single father, Geldof has also been outspoken for the fathers’ rights movement.
Geldof was granted an honorary knighthood (KBE) by Elizabeth II in 1986 for his charity work in Africa; although it is an honorary award as Geldof is an Irish citizen, he is often referred to as ‘Sir Bob’. He is a recipient of the Man of Peace title which recognizes individuals who have made “an outstanding contribution to international social justice and peace”, among numerous other awards and nominations. In 2005, he received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
The Best of the Boomtown Rats featured 19 of The Boomtown Rats best known work. A DVD was also available. Released June 2004. The compilation album peaked at No. 43 in the UK Albums Chart in February 2005.
“She’s So Modern”
“Mary of the 4th Form”
“Rat Trap”
“Lookin’ After No. 1”
“When the Night Comes”
“Someone’s Looking at You”
“Joey’s on the Street Again”
“Banana Republic”
“Dave”
“I Don’t Like Mondays”
“Like Clockwork”
“(I Never Loved) Eva Braun”
“Neon Heart”
“Never in a Million Years”
“Diamond Smiles”
“Drag Me Down”
“I Can Make It (If You Can)”
“The Elephant’s Graveyard (Guilty)”
“Fall Down”
Bob Geldof – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica (1975–1986, 2013–present)
Garry Roberts – lead guitar, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–present)
Pete Briquette – bass, keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–present)
Simon Crowe – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–present)
Johnnie Fingers – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1975–1986)
Gerry Cott – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (1975–1981)
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