Bob Geldof facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Geldof KBE
Geldof in 2009
Born	Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (1951-10-05) 5 October 1951 (age 73) Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
Occupation	Singer-songwriter political activist
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Paula Yates ​ ​ (m. 1986; div. 1996)​ Jeanne Marine ​ (m. 2015)​
Children	4, including Peaches, Pixie, and Tiger Lily
Musical career
Genres	Rock pop
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonica
Labels	Polydor Atlantic (US)

Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof KBE (born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer and activist. He became famous in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats. The band had two number one hits in the UK: "Rat Trap" and "I Don't Like Mondays". Geldof also played the main character, Pink, in the 1982 film Pink Floyd – The Wall.

Beyond music, Geldof is well-known for his charity work. He helped create the charity supergroup Band Aid. He also organized the huge concerts Live Aid and Live 8. He co-wrote "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which is one of the best-selling songs ever.

Geldof is especially recognized for his work to fight poverty in Africa. In 1984, he and Midge Ure started Band Aid to raise money for people affected by famine in Ethiopia. The next year, they organized the massive Live Aid concert. In 2005, they held the Live 8 concerts. Geldof advises the ONE Campaign, which works to end extreme poverty. He is also part of the Africa Progress Panel, a group that supports fair development in Africa.

In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II gave Geldof an honorary knighthood (KBE) for his charity work. Even though he is an Irish citizen and not officially "Sir Bob," many people call him that. He has received many awards, including the Man of Peace title for his work in social justice and peace. In 2005, he won a Brit Award for his amazing contribution to music.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Geldof grew up in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. His grandfather, Zenon Geldof, was a Belgian chef. His grandmother was a British Jew with German-Jewish roots. When Bob was six, his mother, Evelyn, passed away suddenly.

He went to Blackrock College, where he was sometimes teased. Before becoming a musician, he worked different jobs, like a road worker and a pea canner. Later, he became a music journalist in Vancouver, Canada. He even hosted a children's TV show called Switchback for a short time.

Musical Journey

The Boomtown Rats

In 1975, Geldof returned to Ireland and became the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats. This rock band was part of the punk rock movement. In 1978, their song "Rat Trap" became their first number one hit in the UK. It was also the first new wave song to top the charts in Britain.

In 1979, they became famous worldwide with their second UK number one, "I Don't Like Mondays". Geldof wrote this song after a school shooting in San Diego, California. The band released the album Mondo Bongo in 1980.

Geldof was known for his lively interviews. During an early TV appearance in Ireland, he openly criticized Irish politicians and the Catholic Church. This caused a stir and made it difficult for The Boomtown Rats to play in Ireland for a while.

In 2013, Geldof announced that The Boomtown Rats would reunite to play at the Isle of Wight Festival. They have since toured more and released new music.

Solo Music and Other Projects

Geldof performing as a solo artist in 1987

Geldof left The Boomtown Rats in 1986 to start his solo music career. He also wrote his autobiography, Is That It?, which sold very well in the UK.

His first solo songs did well, including hits like "This Is The World Calling" and "The Great Song of Indifference". He also performed with other famous artists, like David Gilmour from Pink Floyd. In 1992, he sang at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert with the band Queen.

Geldof performing with Die Toten Hosen at a concert in Rostock, Germany in 2007

After 2000, Geldof spent much of his time campaigning for poor countries, working with U2's Bono. This focus on activism meant he released less music. In 2002, he was named one of the "100 Greatest Britons" in a public poll, even though he is Irish.

After the Live 8 concerts, Geldof returned to music. He released a collection of his solo albums called Great Songs of Indifference – The Anthology 1986–2001. He also went on tour.

Charity Work and Activism

Geldof's first big charity event was in 1981. He performed a solo version of "I Don't Like Mondays" for an Amnesty International benefit show. This experience inspired him to do more for charity.

Band Aid

A thank you letter from Geldof to the Acropole Hotel in Khartoum, Sudan, for helping Band Aid during the 1980s famine

In 1984, Geldof saw a BBC News report about the famine in Ethiopia. He decided to get the music world to help. With Midge Ure of Ultravox, he wrote the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?" to raise money. Many famous artists recorded the song in one day under the name Band Aid.

The song quickly became the fastest-selling single in UK history. It stayed at number one for five weeks and became the Christmas number one in 1984. It sold millions of copies worldwide. New versions of the song were recorded in 1989, 2004, and 2014, with the latest version raising money for victims of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

Live Aid

As Geldof learned more about the problems in Africa, he realized that many countries were struggling with huge loan repayments to Western banks. He understood that one song was not enough to solve the problem.

So, Geldof and Ure organized Live Aid. This massive concert took place on 13 July 1985, with shows happening at the same time in London and Philadelphia. The BBC broadcast the event live for 16 hours.

It was one of the biggest stage shows ever. For example, Phil Collins flew on Concorde to play at both concerts on the same day!

Geldof performing at the Conspiracy of Hope concert in 1986

Live Aid raised over £150 million for famine relief. For his efforts, Geldof received an honorary knighthood at age 34. His autobiography, Is That It?, was even studied in schools.

Commission for Africa and Live 8

In 2004, Geldof visited Africa and saw that many more people were at risk of starvation than during the 1984 famine. He called the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, from Addis Ababa. This led to the creation of the Commission for Africa.

Blair invited Geldof and 16 other leaders, mostly from Africa, to study Africa's problems for a year. They concluded that Africa needed to improve its governance and fight corruption. They also said that richer countries needed to help by doubling aid, cancelling debt, and changing trade rules. This plan was published in March 2005.

To push for these changes, Geldof decided to organize Live 8. This project involved ten free concerts held on 2 July 2005, in major cities around the world. These concerts featured many famous musicians and aimed to raise awareness about issues like government debt, trade barriers, hunger, and AIDS in Africa. The concerts took place just days before world leaders met for the G8 economic summit. The recommendations from the Commission for Africa later became the plan for the G8's African debt and aid package.

Ongoing Activism

Geldof is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP). This group of ten important people works to promote fair and lasting development in Africa. Each year, they release a report about key issues facing the continent.

He has also worked closely with DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), an organization started by Bono. DATA focused on debt relief, trade, and AIDS relief in Africa. It later joined with the One Campaign, where Geldof remains very active.

In March 2022, Geldof performed at the Night for Ukraine benefit concert in London. The money raised went to help people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Business Ventures

By 1992, Geldof had also become a successful businessman. He co-owned a TV production company called Planet 24, which created the popular morning show The Big Breakfast. This company was sold in 1999. The next day, Geldof and his partner started a new TV production company called Ten Alps.

Geldof is also the chairman of 8 Miles, a private investment firm that works in Africa. In 2002, he helped start Groupcall, a company that provides communication software for schools and businesses. He got involved because he was concerned about his children's safety.

Personal Life

Geldof in 1991

Bob Geldof's first wife was Paula Yates, a rock journalist and TV presenter. They met in 1976 and had their first daughter, Fifi Trixibelle, in 1983.

Geldof and Yates married in 1986 in Las Vegas. They later had two more daughters: Peaches Honeyblossom (born 1989) and Little Pixie (born 1990).

In 1995, Paula Yates left Geldof for Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of the band INXS. They had a daughter, Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, in 1996.

After Paula Yates passed away in 2000, Geldof became the legal guardian of Tiger Hutchence and later adopted her in 2007.

In April 2014, his daughter Peaches died at the age of 25. Geldof shared that his family was "beyond pain" after her death.

Geldof married French actress Jeanne Marine, his partner of 18 years, in April 2015. They live in South London.

Geldof has a diverse family background, including Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish roots. In 2012, his wealth was estimated at £32 million.

Awards and Recognition

Honorary KBE insignia

Bob Geldof has received many awards for his charity work. In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Even though he is not a British citizen and cannot officially use the title "Sir," he is often called "Sir Bob."

In 1985, he received the Grand Officer of the Order of the Two Niles from Sudan. In 1986, he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Swale in England, where he lived.

In 2004, Geldof was made a "development chief" in Ghana. In 2006, New Statesman magazine readers voted him third in a survey of "Heroes of our Time," after Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.

Other Awards and Honours

• 2005: Received a Man of Peace Award.
• 2006: Awarded the medal of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (a French honour).
• 2006: Given the Freedom of Dublin City for his humanitarian work. He later returned this award in protest in 2017.
• 2010: Received an honorary Master of Arts degree from the University for the Creative Arts.
• 2013: Awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
• 2014: Received a BASCA Gold Badge Award for his special contribution to music.

Discography

Solo albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Film Appearances

• Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982) – Pink
• Number One (1985) – Harry 'Flash' Gordon
• Bernard and the Genie (1991 film) – as Himself (cameo)
• Spiceworld (1997) – as himself (cameo)
• Being Mick (2001) – as himself
• I am Bob (short film 2007) – in which he loses a lookalike contest (even after singing the Boomtown Rats' hit "I Don't Like Mondays".)
• Oh My God (2009) – as himself
• Bad Girl (2012) – as George
• A Fanatic Heart: Geldof on Yeats (2016)

Images for kids

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  Geldof outside the Houses of Parliament in London during a protest in 2016.