Bob Geldof formed Band Aid, orchestrated Live Aid, rallied the forces of rock performers all over the world and inspired millions to raise millions for the starving in Africa. But the song and dance about Geldof is not restricted to best-selling money-raising records and concerts: it is meeting the world's leaders and pleading with them to make food and funds available and changing their current aid policies, it is travelling in Africa and seeing famine at first-hand, and it is overseeing the disbursement of the millions that Band Aid has raised. In this vividly honest autobiography, Geldof writes of the past; an extraordinary childhood in Dublin and school-days that were both horrifying and funny; the origins of New Wave music; the beginnings, triumphs, worldwide fame, and then eclipse of the Boomtown Rats; and his films The Wall and Number One. He speaks of his years with Paula Yates. He writes of the formation of Band Aid and its achievements and he speaks of the future: musical, personal, and for Band Aid.
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"'It's terrific... sheer Geldof, direct, loud-mouthed, honest, button-holing, obscene, compassionate, compelling... Everyone over thirteen should read it' Hunter Davies, Evening Standard 'He is funny, frank and often four-lettered - but never boring' Financial Times 'Plenty of bright, rebellious, style-setting, charismatic young men have swilled and fornicated, but not many of them have had the urge to kiss the wounded' Clive James, Observer '(It) shows that by a combination of charm, loquaciousness and irrevocable moral certainty, a wayward, catholic, hand-reared boy can shift the world on its axis' Sunday Times"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Bob Geldof formed Band Aid, orchestrated Live Aid, and is the driving force behind Live 8. He has rallied the forces of rock performers all over the world and inspired millions to raise millions for the starving in Africa. He has met with world leaders and demanded that they change their aid policies. He has travelled in Africa and seen famine first-hand, and he has overseen the disbursement of the millions that Band Aid has raised. In this vividly honest autobiography, written with wit, candour and characteristic energy, Geldof recounts his extraordinary childhood in Dublin and schooldays that were both horrifying and funny. He describes the origins of New Wave music and the beginnings, triumphs, and eventual eclipse of the Boomtown Rats. He writes of his years with Paula Yates, the formation of Band Aid and its achievements and he writes of his hopes for the future. Widely admired, Bob Geldof is nonetheless ferociously independent and remains the most charismatic and controversial public figure in Britain today. ‘It’s terrific… sheer Geldof, direct, loud-mouthed, honest, button-holing, obscene, compassionate, compelling… Everyone over thirteen should read it’ Hunter Davies, Evening Standard ‘He is funny, frank and often four-lettered - but never boring’ Financial Times ‘Plenty of bright, rebellious, style-setting, charismatic young men have swilled and fornicated, but not many of them have had the urge to kiss the wounded’ Clive James, Observer ‘(It) shows that by a combination of charm, loquaciousness and irrevocable moral certainty, a wayward, catholic, hand-reared boy can shift the world on its axis’ Sunday Times
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A. Degiorgio
Format:Mass Market Paperback
THat was the comment from a newspaper journalist. I agree completey, this book wuld be an excellent read even if only about his childhood and rise to fame in the Boomtown Rats. On top of this, the book also closely documents how Bob came up with the idea for Band Aid, and how it came to reality, and how it led to Live Aid, the biggest concert ever in the world with 2 BILLION people watching it. Read it!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
As great a cultural contribution as his Band Aid/Live Aid achievement (OK, almost as good!)
16 Mar 2011
By Matthew
Format:Paperback
Possibly the best autobiography ever written. I read this book when I was about fourteen and it felt like something I didn't want my Mum to discover in my room, so explicit was Bob's honesty and language. Not just foul language and sexual language, but a more honest and direct use of the English language than I'd previously encountered in any kind of publication anywhere at all.
Any fears or hopes that the book will be a step-by-step re-enactment of the Band Aid/Live Aid process are not necessarily founded, because the first two thirds of the book are like two separate books beforehand. Both of which are brilliant.
The first third is a a description of Bob's Irish childhood, adolescence and young manhood, which reads better than Frank McCourt's 'Angela's Ashes' or Roddy Doyle's 'Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha' (both of which I enjoyed in their own right).
The second third is a description of Bob's rise from wannabe pop/rock star, to bona fide writer/singer of international Number One songs and albums with The Boomtown Rats, which reads better than 'The Dirt' by Motley Cru, or Slash's Guns & Roses history (again, both of which I enjoyed in their own right), and sits alongside Chuck Berry's autobiography as the best of it's kind.
The third and final third, of course, depicts in detail the moment where Bob feels moved to take major-league humanitarian action on a larger scale than has ever been even contemplated, either before or since. He makes the impossible possible by first conceiving an unlikely yet inspired idea, then having the sheer strength of mind, body and soul to ensure it happens. It's an intriguing page-turner involving behind-the-scenes showbiz excitement, high-end politics and power in all it's forms.
Any fears or hopes that the book will be a step-by-step re-enactment of the Band Aid/Live Aid process are not necessarily founded, because the first two thirds of the book are like two separate books beforehand. Both of which are brilliant.
The first third is a a description of Bob's Irish childhood, adolescence and young manhood, which reads better than Frank McCourt's 'Angela's Ashes' or Roddy Doyle's 'Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha' (both of which I enjoyed in their own right).
The second third is a description of Bob's rise from wannabe pop/rock star, to bona fide writer/singer of international Number One songs and albums with The Boomtown Rats, which reads better than 'The Dirt' by Motley Cru, or Slash's Guns & Roses history (again, both of which I enjoyed in their own right), and sits alongside Chuck Berry's autobiography as the best of it's kind.
The third and final third, of course, depicts in detail the moment where Bob feels moved to take major-league humanitarian action on a larger scale than has ever been even contemplated, either before or since. He makes the impossible possible by first conceiving an unlikely yet inspired idea, then having the sheer strength of mind, body and soul to ensure it happens. It's an intriguing page-turner involving behind-the-scenes showbiz excitement, high-end politics and power in all it's forms.
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
It is well written, with Irish charm and gives compeling accounts of Live Aid, Band Aid and his younger years. Read it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An extraordinary life
I've been meaning to read this book since being moved by the massive Band/Live Aid events of the 80s and am glad I got round to it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Some Bloke
3.0 out of 5 stars
Certainly not a Humble Man
I read this after a Paula Yates Biography and Jools Holland's Autobiography as they all seem to link together nicely. Whereas Jool's comes across as a fun, humble person, Mr. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by Ms. L. C. Paine
5.0 out of 5 stars
I cried, I laughed, I was inspired!
I am not a fan of this man's music but I am so glad I read this book!! It is a MUST read, it will open your mind and your heart. Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2007 by Liverpool Poet
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compelling, poetic and beautiful
It's a mistake to see this book as just another celebrity read. Geldof writes beautifully with an elegance that is rare in most writers, let alone celebs. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2006 by Zombie Elvis
5.0 out of 5 stars
come on
I do not own this book at present but have read it before. It is a marvellous, and truly rare insight into one of our hero's, a true living legend. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2006 by "shoegirlmb"
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