The Boomtown Rats facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Boomtown Rats
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The Boomtown Rats at Knott's Berry Farm in 1981
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres |
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| Years active | 1975–1986, 2013–present |
| Labels | Mulligan, Ensign, Mercury WEA Ireland, Columbia, BMG |
| Associated acts | Band Aid, Live Aid, Live 8 |
| Members | Bob Geldof Pete Briquette Simon Crowe |
| Past members | Johnnie Fingers Gerry Cott Garry Roberts |
The Boomtown Rats are a famous rock band from Ireland. They started in Dublin in 1975. Between 1977 and 1985, they had many popular songs in Ireland and the UK. Some of their biggest hits include "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays", and "Banana Republic".
The original band had six members. Five of them were from Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin: Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar), Simon Crowe (drums), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Bob Geldof (vocals), and Garry Roberts (lead guitar). Pete Briquette (bass) was Johnnie Fingers' cousin. The band broke up in 1986 but got back together in 2013. Johnnie Fingers and Gerry Cott did not rejoin. Sadly, Garry Roberts passed away in 2022. The band's lead singer, Bob Geldof, is also very well known for his charity work, like Band Aid and Live Aid.
Contents
Band History
Starting the Band
Most of the band members grew up in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Pete Briquette was from Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan. For their first concert, they were called The Nightlife Thugs. But Garry Roberts said he would leave if they kept that name. So, they changed it to The Boomtown Rats. This new name came from a book by Woody Guthrie called Bound for Glory, which Bob Geldof had read. It was about a group of children.
In 1976, the band played their first show in London, UK. After that, they played in the Netherlands before moving to London for good. They signed with Ensign Records that same year. Their first song, "Lookin' After No. 1", came out in August 1977. It became a Top 40 hit in the UK, which was the start of many successes for them. Their first album, The Boomtown Rats, was released a month later. It included another hit song, "Mary of the 4th Form".
Big Hits and Albums
Their next album, A Tonic for the Troops (1978), had three popular songs: "Like Clockwork", "She's So Modern", and "Rat Trap". The song "Rat Trap" was a huge success. It was the first rock song by an Irish band to reach number one in the UK. It was also the first new wave song to hit the top spot.
In 1979, they released "I Don't Like Mondays". Bob Geldof wrote this song after hearing about a sad event at a school in California. This song also reached number one in the UK and was a Top Ten hit around the world. It was included on their third album, The Fine Art of Surfacing. This album also featured other hits like "Diamond Smiles" and "Someone's Looking at You".
In 1980, "Banana Republic" was released. This was their last song to reach the Top 10. Their next album, Mondo Bongo, came out in 1981.
Changes in the Band
After Mondo Bongo, Gerry Cott left the band. He felt the band was becoming lazy and changing their music style too much. He left right before their 1981 world tour ended.
The band's fifth album, V Deep, was released in 1982. The first song from it, "Never in a Million Years", did not sell well. However, "House on Fire" reached number 24 in the UK.
Another album, In The Long Grass, was recorded in 1983. It was released in the UK in 1984 but did not become popular.
Charity Work and Break-up
The Boomtown Rats became involved with Band Aid, a charity project. All the band members played on the famous song "Do They Know It's Christmas?". This helped them become well-known again. In 1985, a new version of In the Long Grass was released in the US. The band then performed at Live Aid, a huge charity concert.
After Live Aid, the band took a break while Bob Geldof focused on his charity work. Two members, Simon Crowe and Johnnie Fingers, decided not to rejoin the band full-time.
The Boomtown Rats' last performance was at Self Aid in 1986. This concert helped raise awareness about unemployment in Ireland. After their performance, Bob Geldof told the crowd, "It's been a great ten years; rest in peace." The band then played "Looking After No.1".
After the band broke up, Bob Geldof started a solo music career. Pete Briquette continued to work with him. Garry Roberts later helped write songs for other artists and taught guitar in schools. Johnnie Fingers became a successful music producer in Japan. Simon Crowe played in a Celtic music band and also started a clock-making business.
In 2005, all of the band's albums were updated and re-released. A "Best Of" collection was also released with two DVDs.
The Band Reforms
In 2013, The Boomtown Rats decided to get back together. Bob Geldof said it felt like the right time to play their great songs again. In June 2013, they announced a tour in the UK and Ireland. They also released a new album called Back to Boomtown: Classic Rats Hits.
In April 2017, the band went back into the studio to record new music. This was their first new studio album since In the Long Grass in 1984. In March 2020, they released their new album, Citizens of Boomtown, and a new song called "Trash Glam Baby".
Band Members
Current Members
- Bob Geldof – lead singer, rhythm guitar, harmonica (1975–1986, 2013–present)
- Pete Briquette – bass guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–present)
- Simon Crowe – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–present)
Former Members
- Johnnie Fingers – keyboards, piano, backing vocals (1975–1986)
- Garry Roberts – lead guitar, backing vocals (1975–1986, 2013–2022; his death)
- Gerry Cott – rhythm guitar (1975–1981)
Timeline of Members
Music Albums
Studio Albums
- The Boomtown Rats (1977)
- A Tonic for the Troops (1978)
- The Fine Art of Surfacing (1979)
- Mondo Bongo (1981)
- V Deep (1982)
- In the Long Grass (1984)
- Citizens of Boomtown (2020)
Top 40 Songs in the UK
- "Lookin' After No. 1" (1977) No. 11
- "Mary of the 4th Form" (1977) No. 15
- "She's So Modern" (1978) No. 12
- "Like Clockwork" (1978) No. 6
- "Rat Trap" (1978) No. 1
- "I Don't Like Mondays" (1979) No. 1
- "Diamond Smiles" (1979) No. 13
- "Someone's Looking at You" (1980) No. 4
- "Banana Republic" (1980) No. 3
- "The Elephant's Graveyard (Guilty)" (1981) No. 26
- "House on Fire" (1982) No. 24
- "I Don't Like Mondays" (CD single re-issue) (1994) No. 38
See also
In Spanish: The Boomtown Rats para niños
- List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States
