I actually feel very sorry for poor old Bob who, despite having made some pretty decent tracks with the Rats, gets wheeled out every few years for his tiny contribution to the charity industry (causing millions of deaths as monies were removed from Oxfam, Save The Children etc) instead of any serious music successes.

JK2006 wrote:
I actually feel very sorry for poor old Bob who, despite having made some pretty decent tracks with the Rats, gets wheeled out every few years for his tiny contribution to the charity industry (causing millions of deaths as monies were removed from Oxfam, Save The Children etc) instead of any serious music successes.



What was the last decent record Bob Geldof actually recorded? Banana Republic in late 1980 with the Boomtown Rats possibly? Since then he's spent the majority of his time talking about such countries.

I'd dearly like to see if there was a noticeable drop off in donations to the charities you name and others throughout 1985 and the latter 80's, is there proof of this anywhere? Or is it possible it dragged in more donations because of greater awareness of charity in general.

No Rich I had calls after the first Band/Live Aids from the top people in many established charities like Oxfam saying their contributions had dropped alarmingly - almost exactly matching the amounts Bob's disorganised ones were getting but very little reaching those who needed it.

JK2006 wrote:
No Rich I had calls after the first Band/Live Aids from the top people in many established charities like Oxfam saying their contributions had dropped alarmingly - almost exactly matching the amounts Bob's disorganised ones were getting but very little reaching those who needed it.



Net Zero for the charities overall then. Thanks for that.

Once people buy these tunes or give they so often don't stop to think a bit deeper and consider their bit done. Geldof seems a surprisingly prickly character at times and I bet he wouldn't agree with you would he. Critical of so much but won't hear a bad word said against Band Aid.

Banana Republic did pass me by at the time Rich.

I do remember both Keep It Up and Someone's Looking At You both getting a fair bit of airplay well after the Band-Aid bollocks.

Bob ruined what could have been a decent Pink Floyd movie.

Oh we've discussed it face to face. Bob is a great guy; witty, intelligent, bright. But that was a terrible, well intentioned mistake. As he said - he'd deal with the Devil - and he did, paying the price.
But She's So Modern is a wonderful track.

Rich wrote:
JK2006 wrote:
I actually feel very sorry for poor old Bob who, despite having made some pretty decent tracks with the Rats, gets wheeled out every few years for his tiny contribution to the charity industry (causing millions of deaths as monies were removed from Oxfam, Save The Children etc) instead of any serious music successes.



What was the last decent record Bob Geldof actually recorded? Banana Republic in late 1980 with the Boomtown Rats possibly? Since then he's spent the majority of his time talking about such countries.

I'd dearly like to see if there was a noticeable drop off in donations to the charities you name and others throughout 1985 and the latter 80's, is there proof of this anywhere? Or is it possible it dragged in more donations because of greater awareness of charity in general.

The Boomtown Rats career was well over by the time of Band Aid with regards to hit singles. House on Fire got to No. 24 in 1982 and it was pretty good. Its not uncommon for bands to stop having hits after the first few years. They run out of ideas and new artists become in favour. You could say the same for any bands of the period. The Undertones, Blondie, the Buzzcocks, the Stranglers, The Human League etc etc.

I once actually knew a Mary Of The 4th Form. (Second Rats hit in late '77)

GM, not sure how you can't recall Christmas 1980 Banana Republic if you can remember early 1980 Someone's Looking At You. Similar sized big hits. Geldof must have had a serious case of writer's block because memorable tracks dried up after those.

In Christmas 1980, I was in bed with flu. My uncle got me a fancy SW radio, I think it had 13 bands on it. So I was hearing a lot of conspiracies, mad preachers and German rock.