Musician, Humanitarian, Broadcaster, and Entrepreneur, Nobel Prize Nominee
England
United Kingdom
Sir Bob Geldof is best known for the formation of The Boomtown Rats in 1975, and for the single ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’. The provocative song was named after the answer given by a schoolgirl in San Diego when asked why she’d killed her classmates.
Having watched a BBC documentary about Ethiopian poverty and famine in 1984 and being inspired to do what they could to help, Geldof and Ultravox frontman Midge Ure co-wrote the charity single ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’. Recorded and performed under the name Band-Aid, it featured some of the biggest pop and rock stars of the time and quickly became the best-selling single in UK history – all the while raising millions for charity.
Following the success of this single, Geldof became heavily involved in plans for Live Aid, a charity concert designed to raise money for the African poor. Two marathon shows were held simultaneously in July 1985, one at Wembley Stadium in London and one at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The event raised millions for charity and is still widely applauded as one of the greatest live shows ever.
In 1986, following the split of The Boomtown Rats, Geldof launched his solo career with the release of Deep in the Heart of Nowhere, and The Vegetarians of Love in 1990. In 1993, he released The Happy Club and spent the remaining years of the decade focusing on his political campaign against poverty and famine in Africa.
He returned to music in 2002 and again devoted his time and talents to African causes in 2005 with the Live 8 concerts. His charity work has been recognised throughout the world, and as a result, he has been nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize and received a knighthood.
Sir Bob Geldof addresses major conference forums world-wide and has shared the stage with many of the world’s leaders from politics and business. He is a catalyst for change that all organisations can benefit from listening to.
"Please tell Bob Geldof that I am receiving tons of emails about the evening."
"Sir Bob Geldof was nothing less than absolutely outstanding. Three standing ovations says a lot."