entertainment

35 years after Live Aid, Bob Geldof assesses personal toll

27 Comments
By JOHN CARUCCI

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


27 Comments
Login to comment

He hasn't aged a bit! OK, his hair got white and his face got s bit wrinkly...

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Bob Geldof will also invest your money in Africa for you and promises up to a 20% return?

Not quite the saint he is portrayed to be....

0 ( +9 / -9 )

the Boomtown Rats, a band that started during one of Ireland’s most tumultuous times.

It certainly was. Unemployment, clerical abuse, the Magdalene laundries, emigration, loyalist attacks on Dublin and Monaghan, the beginning of the heroin epidemic in the inner city, the Haughey/Blaney arms trial, the corruption of FF and dodgy land and planning deals.

Their song Banana Republic touched a few raw nerves and to this very day, there are those who vilify Geldof as a self-hating Irish man.

8 ( +12 / -4 )

He spoke about something others would not, if you as he did just one thing in your life just one thing an absolute hero.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

vilify Geldof as a self-hating Irish man

indeed, TH. An interesting comparison might be made with U2's conscious decision to base themselves in Dublin, breaking the mould of Irish bands having to go to London to make it. That did far more to change Ireland than the Rats - who to me were once the more edgy, exciting band - ever could.

Perhaps Live Aid needed a big ego at its helm to succeed. Bob's biggest success - and hindrance, it seems - is that he's been such a willing martyr.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

An interesting comparison might be made with U2's conscious decision to base themselves in Dublin, breaking the mould of Irish bands having to go to London to make it.

Pity about the later tax stuff, mind.

That did far more to change Ireland than the Rats - who to me were once the more edgy, exciting band - ever could.

I have time for both bands, for various reasons but if we're talking edgy and exciting, that would have to be The Blades who never sold out. Didn't even do Self-Aid. Probably why they always remained a fondly remembered local band than an international success.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

These days it would be called GoFundMe Africa and they'd all be singing on Zoom.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Geldorf wasnt allowed to make music for 35 years - what a load of rubbish.

Yes, and then there was Saint Bob giving the finger to British fishermen while sipping champagne on the luxury yacht.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Philanthropic people have no sense of humanity, it's their defining characteristic - Oscar Wilde

5 ( +6 / -1 )

He's no Rory Gallagher

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Victim Bob the Geldorf

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

He always plays the victim but is quite a narcissist and hates democracy when the votes don't go his way!

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

The problem with these types of charity events is that they provide no permanent solutions. They do a lot of good in the short term and it allows celebrities to bask in the glow of pop culture sainthood. But do not provide a structure that roots out the third world governmental systems, corruption and incompetence that is at the root of the deprivations. Virtue signaling on a global scale.

The true miracle that has occurred in the last 20 years that resulted in a historic reduction in global poverty has been a greater opening up to capitalism. I know the Left doesn't like hearing that - but the facts are the facts. Charity doesn't make as lasting an impact as productive employment.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Geldorf wasnt allowed to make music for 35 years - what a load of rubbish.

It's Geldof. I guess he's referring to the critical backlash to post-Rats output. He wasn't seen as a credible rock and roll rebel anymore.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Victim Bob the Geldorf

He's certainly no victim. Geldof (not Geldorf) has seen his fair share of tragedy and strife over the years. Read his autobiography "Is That It?" for an insight into his formative years. It's funny, sad and quite an adventure for the former Blackrock pupil.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The true miracle that has occurred in the last 20 years that resulted in a historic reduction in global poverty has been a greater opening up to capitalism.

And the gulf between rich and poor ever widens. I know that annoys some on the right, but facts are facts.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/us/politics/gao-income-gap-rich-poor.html

And the money is in the hands of the rich

https://www.oxfam.org/en/5-shocking-facts-about-extreme-global-inequality-and-how-even-it

Extreme inequality is out of control. Hundreds of millions of people are living in extreme poverty while huge rewards go to those at the very top. There are more billionaires than ever before, and their fortunes have grown to record levels. Meanwhile, the world’s poorest got even poorer. Many governments are fueling this inequality crisis. They are massively under taxing corporations and wealthy individuals, yet underfunding vital public services like healthcare and education.

Geldof should have been more visionary, drop his silly Mao book and engage in a socialist revolution.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

He was ill equipped to handle a revolution so it got broadsided by a career he didn't really care about. People shouldn't be giving millions to countries that have governments that are just eating the money and running off. What he started is the marketing machine that shows you pictures of things that can't be fixed by money alone but sells you the idea that if you do donate that you will ascend into heaven via goodwill and happiness. The fact that Africa is still doing the same thing it was doing in the 80s and 90s shows that the Live Aid's were just window dressing for the elite that needed tax write-offs. U2 used it to get more album sales. Michael Jackson did all kinds of aid stuff for multiple countries that probably did more than Live Aid did by itself. He should have handed the reigns off to someone else and kept doing what he wanted to do for himself.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I liked Geldolf, wasn’t perfect, but then again a lot of us aren’t, no matter how you look at it, the man did a lot of good in his life, definitely admire the man.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I saw on TV a reconstituted Boomtown Rats play a festival 2-3 years back. Lots of boring songs in btw a couple of ok ones.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Geldof was smart enough to know he didnt have the talent to sustain a successful career in music. So he went the sainthood route.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I liked Geldolf, wasn’t perfect, but then again a lot of us aren’t

Speak for yourself.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Is this analyses? Or just Anti-Irish sentiment?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites