So Bob is 70 years old! Happy Birthday, Bob. It’s unbelievable.
How can we celebrate this auspicious occasion?
Well to start, I have decided to look back through the decades over Bob’s life.
In the year of 1951, he was born. THE biggest event of this year, as far as I’m concerned; born in Dun Laoghaire, The Rats later wrote a song about it. It wasn’t very complimentary. https://youtu.be/8la0hug9tRY.
And in the year of 1961 Bob a school child in Dublin, where he learned to play the guitar. Helen Shapiro Walking Back to Happiness had hit the charts around his birthday. Bob later penned a song of the same title in which he and Helen were like that... https:// youtu.be/NuQlpFnlIBE
Elsewhere the first man crossed into space. Bob was set to travel there himself, until an accident stopped all flights. Will he ever make it?
And in the year of 1971 Bob had held a series of dead end jobs, he was still stuck in Dublin and wanting escape the Rat Trap. Also that year Thatcher, the milk snatcher, withdrew free school milk, later Bob wrote a song for her - She’s Gonna Do you in. https://youtu.be/uLU8J2EDI5k
And In the year of 1981, the great escape from Dun Laoghaire had taken place and he was enjoying success with Rats, Mondo Bongo had reached no 6 in February and Elephants Graveyard reached 26 in the singles chart. Elsewhere AIDS was first discovered. Bob later wrote a song about this horrific illness. In The Pouring Rain. https://youtu.be/ yxzqT0kRrsw
And in the year of 1991 now some time since Rats split, Live Aid had helped address the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia and pushed Africa up the political agenda. Bob now involved in his solo band had released Vegetarians of Love album last year. Also in that year Boris Yeltsin was elected president of Russia. Bob wrote Room 19 after visiting Russia and having a rather strange dream. https:// www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.upi.com/amp/ Archives/1991/09/07/Brains-of-Lenin-Stalin-held-for- years-in-secret-room/9906684216000/ https://youtu.be/GcQeZsYrPp4
And in the year of 2001 half a century had passed since he was born. This year saw the release of Sex Age and Death, following the tragedies in his personal life. Also that year the African Union transformed itself. A continent deep in the heart of Bob Geldof https://youtu.be/Th3gC2SijHo
And in the year of 2011 How To Compose Popular Songs was released, a happier Bob emerging, and very much in love with Jeanne Marine which was reflected in these beautiful songs. Also that year Rebekah Brooks/Murdoch were accused of phone hacking. There’s always ‘Someone’s Looking At you’ https://youtu.be/RxRVMzkQ3hE
And in the year of 2021 - 70 today! The Boomtown Rats have reratted and been going a few years. It’s good to be back in Boomtown. The ongoing pandemic has forced cancellation of the planned tour. A couple of festivals only so far and now 2 upcoming gigs in London and Crawley. Now that’s a good way to celebrate. Not many of us will be young and sober. https://youtu.be/HJoTSHQxc7Y
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