Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof, born Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof on 5 October 1951 in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, is an Irish singer‑songwriter, political activist, and multimedia entrepreneur who first rose to fame as the charismatic front‑man of the Boom Town Rats in the mid‑1970s. He grew up after the early death of his mother, attended Blackrock College, and worked a series of manual jobs before becoming a music journalist in Canada. The band’s razor‑edge punk‑rock energy produced UK number‑one hits such as “Rat Trap” and the controversially inspired “I Don’t Like Mondays”, establishing Geldof’s reputation for both musical talent and incisive commentary. His confrontational style on Irish television, where he challenged priests and politicians, made headlines and cemented his reputation as a provocateur. After leaving the Rats in 1986, he launched a solo career, scored a starring role as Pink in Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982), and continued to record albums while expanding into television production and business ventures like Planet 24 and the private‑equity firm 8 Miles. He also performed with artists such as David Gilmour and Thin Lizzy, and contributed to tribute concerts like the Freddie Mercury Tribute in 1992. Geldof’s most enduring legacy, however, stems from his humanitarian work: in 1984 he co‑created the charity supergroup Band Aid, writing the iconic single “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and subsequently organizing the groundbreaking Live Aid concerts in 1985, which raised over £150 million for famine‑stricken Ethiopia. The success of Band Aid's 1984 single, which sold over 11 million copies worldwide, demonstrated the power of pop culture to mobilise humanitarian aid. He followed this with Live 8, the Commission for Africa, and ongoing advocacy with ONE Campaign and the Africa Progress Panel, earning an honorary knighthood (KBE) and numerous international awards. His advocacy for debt relief and trade reform has influenced policy discussions at G8 summits and United Nations forums. Throughout his public life he has been married twice—first to television presenter Paula Yates (1996) and later to actress Jeanne Marine (2015)—and is the father of four children, including the late Peaches and the model‑journalist Pixie. Known for his outspoken personality, bold language, and relentless drive, Geldof remains a pivotal figure at the intersection of music, activism, and entrepreneurship, continually shaping global discourse on poverty, debt relief, and social justice.