Bob Geldof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bob Geldof
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Geldof in 2009
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Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof
5 October 1951 Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland
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| Years active | 1975–present |
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| Children | 4, including Peaches, Pixie, and Tiger Lily |
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Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer, songwriter, and political activist. He first became famous in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the Irish rock band the Boomtown Rats. The band had number one hits in the United Kingdom with "Rat Trap" and "I Don't Like Mondays".
Geldof is also famous for his work to fight poverty, especially in Africa. In 1984, he and musician Midge Ure created the charity group Band Aid to raise money for people affected by famine in Ethiopia. They wrote the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?", which became one of the best-selling songs of all time.
The next year, they organized the Live Aid concerts. In 2005, he helped organize the Live 8 concerts to continue raising awareness. For his charity work, Queen Elizabeth II made him an honorary knight in 1986. Because he is an Irish citizen, he is not officially called "Sir Bob," but many people use this nickname for him.
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Early life
Bob Geldof was born and grew up in Dún Laoghaire, near Dublin, Ireland. His father was Robert Geldof and his mother was Evelyn Geldof. His grandfather on his father's side, Zenon Geldof, was a hotel chef who moved to Ireland from Belgium.
When Geldof was six years old, his mother Evelyn passed away. He has two sisters, Cleo and Lynn. He went to Blackrock College in Dublin.
Before becoming a musician, he had several jobs, including working as a road builder and a music journalist in Vancouver, Canada.
Music career
The Boomtown Rats
When Geldof returned to Ireland in 1975, he became the lead singer of the Boomtown Rats. The band was part of the punk rock music scene. In 1978, their song "Rat Trap" became the first new wave song to reach number one on the UK music charts.
In 1979, the band became famous around the world with their second number-one hit, "I Don't Like Mondays". Geldof wrote the song after hearing about a school shooting in San Diego, California.
In January 2013, Geldof announced that The Boomtown Rats would get back together to perform for the first time since 1986. They played at the Isle of Wight Festival and have toured and released new music since then.
Solo music career
Geldof left The Boomtown Rats in 1986 to start a solo career. His first solo albums did well, and he had hit singles like "This Is The World Calling" and "The Great Song of Indifference".
He sometimes performed with other famous artists, like David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and the band Thin Lizzy. In 1992, he sang at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert with the members of Queen at Wembley Stadium.
Along with Bono from the band U2, Geldof has spent a lot of time since 2000 working on campaigns to help developing countries. This work, including organizing the Live 8 concerts, meant he took a break from making music for a while.
Charity work
Geldof's charity work began in 1981 when he performed at a benefit show for Amnesty International. He sang a solo version of "I Don't Like Mondays." This experience inspired him to do more charity work.
Band Aid
In 1984, Geldof saw a BBC news report about a terrible famine in Ethiopia. He felt he had to do something to help. He called his friend Midge Ure from the band Ultravox, and together they wrote the song "Do They Know It's Christmas?".
They formed a supergroup called Band Aid, which included many of the biggest pop stars of the time. The song was recorded in one day and released in November 1984. It quickly became the fastest-selling song in UK history and was number one for five weeks. It has sold over 11 million copies worldwide, with the money going to help fight the famine.
Live Aid
Geldof soon learned that the song alone was not enough. He discovered that many African countries were in debt to Western banks, which made it hard for them to escape poverty.
So, on July 13, 1985, Geldof and Ure organized Live Aid. It was a massive concert held at the same time in London's Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. The concert was broadcast live on TV and radio all over the world for 16 hours.
Many famous musicians performed, including Queen, David Bowie, and U2. Phil Collins even flew on a special supersonic plane called the Concorde to perform in both London and Philadelphia on the same day.
During the broadcast, Geldof passionately urged viewers to donate money. His powerful words worked, and donations poured in. In total, Live Aid raised over £150 million for famine relief. For his incredible efforts, Geldof was given an honorary knighthood.
Some people later claimed that some of the money raised was not used properly. However, in 2010, the BBC apologized to Geldof. They stated there was no evidence that Band Aid money was used to buy weapons.
Live 8 concerts
In 2005, Geldof organized another series of concerts called Live 8. The goal was to pressure world leaders, who were meeting for the G8 summit, to help Africa. He wanted them to cancel the debts of the poorest countries, improve trade rules, and increase aid.
Ten free concerts took place on July 2, 2005, in major cities around the world, including London, Paris, Berlin, and Philadelphia. The concerts featured a huge lineup of artists, including a historic reunion of the band Pink Floyd. The event successfully raised awareness and influenced the decisions made by the G8 leaders.
Personal life
Geldof's first wife was Paula Yates, a rock journalist and TV presenter. They met in the early days of The Boomtown Rats and were together for many years. They had three daughters: Fifi, Peaches, and Pixie. Geldof and Yates divorced in 1996.
After Yates passed away in 2000, Geldof became the legal guardian of her daughter with Michael Hutchence, named Tiger Lily. He later adopted her.
In April 2014, his daughter Peaches died. Geldof said the family was "beyond pain" after her death.
In 2015, Geldof married French actress Jeanne Marine, his partner of many years. They live in London.
Awards and honors
Geldof has received many awards for his charity work.
- In 1986, he was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
- He has received the Man of Peace Award.
- He was awarded the Freedom of Dublin City in 2006 for his humanitarian work.
- In 2013, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
Images for kids
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Geldof performing with the band Die Toten Hosen at a concert in Germany in 2007.
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Geldof performing at the Conspiracy of Hope concert in 1986.
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Geldof in London during a protest march in 2016.
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Geldof in 1991.
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See also
In Spanish: Bob Geldof para niños
