View source for Bob Geldof

{{Short description|Irish singer-songwriter and political activist (born 1951)}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Bob Geldof
| honorific_suffix   = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100|KBEh}}
| image              = Geldof, Bob (IMF 2009).jpg
| caption            = Geldof in 2009
| birth_name         = Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1951|10|5|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Dún Laoghaire]], [[County Dublin]], Ireland
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|political activist}}
| years_active       = 1975–present
| spouse             = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Paula Yates]]|1986|1996|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Jeanne Marine|28 April 2015}}}}
| children           = 4, including [[Peaches Geldof|Peaches]], [[Pixie Geldof|Pixie]], and [[Tiger Hutchence-Geldof|Tiger Lily]]
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist
| embed              = yes
| instrument         = {{flatlist|
*Vocals
*guitar
*[[harmonica]]}}
| genre              = {{flatlist|
*[[Rock music|Rock]]
*[[pop music|pop]]}}
| label              = {{flatlist|
*[[Polydor]]
*[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] (US)}}
| current_member_of  = [[The Boomtown Rats]]
| past_member_of     = [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]]
}}
}}

'''Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|ɛ|l|d|ɒ|f}};<ref>[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/geldof "Geldof"]. ''[[Collins English Dictionary]]''.</ref> born 5 October 1951) is an Irish singer-songwriter and [[political activist]]. He rose to prominence in the late 1970s as the lead singer of the [[Rock music in Ireland|Irish rock]] band [[the Boomtown Rats]], who achieved popularity as part of the [[punk rock]] movement. The band had [[List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 1970s|UK number one]] hits with his co-compositions "[[Rat Trap]]" and "[[I Don't Like Mondays]]".<ref name="IndGeldof">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/tell-me-why-they-dont-like-geldof-90194.html|title=Tell me why they don't like Geldof|last=Analysis Section Staff Writer|date=29 July 2006|newspaper=[[The Irish Independent]]|access-date=2 July 2009}}</ref><ref name="guardianearlyrats">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jan/30/arts.artsnews1|title= We should share in 'Saint' Bob's Brit award, complain former Rats|last=Smith|first=David|date=30 January 2005|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London – The Observer home |access-date=30 June 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Geldof and Fingers reach settlement over 'I Don't Like Mondays' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/geldof-and-fingers-reach-settlement-over-i-don-t-like-mondays-1.3772052 |access-date=14 March 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref> Geldof starred as Pink in [[Pink Floyd]]'s film ''[[Pink Floyd – The Wall]]'' (1982). 

Geldof is widely recognised for his [[activism]], especially his anti-poverty efforts concerning [[Humanitarianism in Africa|Africa]].<ref name="timesg8article">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/bob-geldofs-brazen-appeal-to-popular-outrage-wont-make-poverty-history-3tlgqs69dns|title=Bob Geldof's brazen appeal to popular outrage won't make poverty history|last=Linklater|first=Magnus|date=8 June 2005|newspaper=[[The Times]]|access-date=1 July 2009 | location=London}}</ref> In 1984, Geldof and [[Midge Ure]] organised the charity supergroup [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]] for [[famine relief]] in [[Ethiopia]], and co-wrote the [[List of best-selling singles|best-selling single]] "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]".<ref name="IndGeldof" /><ref name="GeldofBio" /><ref name="bbc2radio">{{cite news|url=http://www.gouk.com/lordofmisrule/traditions/Band_Aid_1984_Do_They_Know_Its_Christmas.htm|title=Do They Know It's Christmas? Band Aid 20|last=Staff Writer|first=BBC Radio 2|date=21 December 2008|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071201092115/http://www.gouk.com/lordofmisrule/traditions/Band_Aid_1984_Do_They_Know_Its_Christmas.htm |archive-date = 1 December 2007}}</ref> They organised the charity super-concert [[Live Aid]] the following year and the [[Live 8]] concerts in 2005.<ref>"Live Aid duo win second Ivor gong", 4 June 2005, ''[[Music Week]]'', p.1</ref> Geldof serves as an adviser to the [[ONE Campaign]], co-founded by fellow Irish rock singer and activist [[Bono]],<ref name="Onereport">{{cite web|url=http://www.one.org/international/blog/category/bob-geldof/|title=DATA Report Launch Videos|last=Simmons|first=Virginia|date=11 June 2009|publisher=ONE International|access-date=1 July 2009|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060345/http://www.one.org/international/blog/category/bob-geldof/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and is a member of the [[Africa Progress Panel|Africa Progress Panel (APP)]], a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa.

Geldof was granted an [[Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire|honorary knighthood]] (KBE) by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] in 1986 for his charity work in Africa. It was an honorary award as Geldof is an Irish citizen, but he is often referred to as 'Sir Bob'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Front Row Interviews: Sir Bob Geldof |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011pnrg |access-date=8 June 2020 |agency=BBC Radio 4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bob Geldof: Life is the hardest thing, but if you do it you get through it |url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2020/03/21/news/bob-geldof-life-is-the-hardest-thing-but-if-you-do-it-you-get-through-it-1870116/ |access-date=8 June 2020 |work=The Irish News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=My Splendid Isolation: Sir Bob Geldof – 'I've written CovAid on my face mask in lipstick' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interviews/splendid-isolation-sir-bob-geldof-written-covaid-face-mask/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/interviews/splendid-isolation-sir-bob-geldof-written-covaid-face-mask/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2020 |work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Among numerous other awards and nominations he was a recipient of the [[Man of Peace]] title, which recognised individuals who had made "an outstanding contribution to international social justice and peace".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4144753.stm |title=Geldof 'would consider peerage' |work=BBC News |date=4 January 2005}}</ref><ref name="Peace Award">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4466340.stm|title=Bob Geldof receives peace award|date=24 November 2005|work=BBC News|access-date=30 June 2009}}</ref> In 2005, he received the [[Brit Awards|Brit Award]] for [[2005 Brit Awards|Outstanding Contribution to Music]].

==Early life==
Geldof was born and brought up in [[Dún Laoghaire]] near Dublin in Ireland, a son of Robert (1914–2010)<ref name="Goodbye">{{cite web
	| title = Geldof says a final goodbye to an 'extraordinary' father
	| first = Shane
	| last = Hickey
	| date = 31 August 2010
	| website = Irish Independent
	| url = https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/geldof-says-a-final-goodbye-to-an-extraordinary-father/26677069.html
}}</ref> and Evelyn Geldof.<ref name="GeldofBio">{{cite book| last=Geldof| first=Bob| title=Is That It?| publisher=Penguin| location=London| date=March 1987| edition=First| pages=[https://archive.org/details/isthatit00geld/page/360 360 pages]| isbn=978-1-55584-115-7| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/isthatit00geld/page/360}}</ref><ref name="stratsbegin">{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/ireland-the-rat-pack-who-looked-after-number-one-pcr0lddnqv6| title=Ireland: The rat pack who looked after number one| last=Heaney| first=Mick| date=6 March 2005| newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|access-date=30 June 2009| location=London, UK}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, Zenon Geldof, was a Belgian immigrant<ref name="BGU">{{cite news | title=Bob Geldof to receive BGU honorary doctorate| author=Nadav Shemer| url=https://www.jpost.com/Features/In-Thespotlight/Bob-Geldof-to-receive-BGU-honorary-doctorate| newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]]| date=22 March 2011| access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> and a hotel chef.<ref name="BGU"/><ref name="Zenon Geldof - Belgian Master Chef">{{cite web | url=http://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=tfschafart |title=Zenon Geldof : Belgian Master Chef |website=Arrow.die.ie |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> His paternal grandmother, Amelia Falk, was a [[British Jews|British Jew]] from [[London]] of [[History of the Jews in Germany|German-Jewish]] descent.<ref name="BGU"/><ref name="Zenon Geldof - Belgian Master Chef"/>  His maternal grandfather was Tommy Nott who worked as night foreman at the [[Irish Examiner|''Cork Examiner'']] newspaper, and his mother, Evelyn, was head cashier at a cinema in [[Cork (city)|Cork City]], where she met her husband, Robert. Bob Geldof has relatives in [[County Cork]].<ref>{{cite web
	| title = Meet the Geldofs: Bob Geldof and family appear on Late Late Show for birthday celebration | first = Denise | last = O'Donoghue | date = 1 October 2021 | website = Irish Examiner | url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40711175.html}}</ref>

Regarding his [[Jew]]ish ancestry, in an 2011 interview with the Manchester-based ''[[Jewish Telegraph]]'', Geldof said "I was a quarter Catholic, a quarter Protestant, a quarter Jewish and a quarter nothing – the nothing won."<ref>{{cite web | last=Shemer |first=Nadav |url=https://www.jpost.com/Features/InThespotlight/Article.aspx?id=213237 |title=Bob Geldof to receive B... JPost – Features – Insights & Features |website=Jpost.com |date=22 March 2011 |access-date=27 December 2012}}</ref>

When he was six years old, Geldof's mother Evelyn died at age 45 of a cerebral [[haemorrhage]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/bob-geldof-speaks-of-personal-experiences-of-grief-1.2447886|title=Bob Geldof speaks of personal experiences of grief|first=Niamh|last=Towey|newspaper=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-saving-of-geldofs-soul-29105411.html|title=The saving of Geldof's soul|website=independent|date=4 March 2013 }}</ref> He had two sisters, Cleo and Lynn.<ref name="Goodbye" /> Cleo died in 2010 and Lynn is a writer, journalist, and Unicef campaigner.<ref>{{cite web
	| title = Death of Bob Geldof's sister Cleo
	| date = 2010-10-10
	| website = Irish Times
	| url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/death-of-bob-geldof-s-sister-cleo-1.6620
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
	| title = Photographic Archive
	| date = 1984-11-01
	| website = RTÉ Archives
	| url = https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2160/036.html
}}</ref>

He attended [[Blackrock College]], Dublin where he was bullied for being a poor rugby player and for his middle name, Zenon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=16101 |title=The World of Rugby League |website=Rleague.com |access-date=10 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113051322/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=16101 |archive-date=13 January 2009 }}</ref> After working as a slaughterman, a [[Navvy|road navvy]] and pea canner in [[Wisbech]], England, he was hired as a music journalist in [[Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]], Canada, for ''[[The Georgia Straight]]''.<ref>{{cite news | title=History of the Georgia Straight| url=https://www.straight.com/history | newspaper=[[The Georgia Straight]]| access-date=9 November 2014}}</ref> He briefly guest hosted the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] children's program ''[[Switchback (TV series)|Switchback]]''.

==Musical career==
===The Boomtown Rats===
[[File:Bob Geldof, October 1985 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Geldof in 1985]]
He returned to Ireland in 1975 and became the lead singer of [[the Boomtown Rats]], a [[rock group]] closely linked with the [[punk rock|punk]] movement. In 1978, The Boomtown Rats had their first No. 1 single in the UK with "Rat Trap", the first [[New wave music|new wave]] chart-topper in Britain. In 1979, they gained international attention with their second UK No. 1, [[I Don't Like Mondays (song)|"I Don't Like Mondays"]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2941142.stm | work=BBC News | title=Geldof: From singer to saint | date=27 May 2003 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> This song was both successful and controversial. Geldof had written it [[Cleveland Elementary School shooting (San Diego)|in the aftermath]] of [[Brenda Ann Spencer]]'s attempted [[School massacre|massacre]] at an elementary school in [[San Diego]], [[California]], in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/justice-story/justice-story-don-mondays-article-1.1504277 |title=Justice Story: 16-year-old girl shoots up school, tells reporter 'I Don't Like Mondays' |work=New York Daily News |publisher=NY Daily News |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref> In 1980, The Boomtown Rats released the album ''[[Mondo Bongo]]''.

Geldof became known as a colourful interview subject. The Boomtown Rats' first appearance on Ireland's ''[[The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)|The Late Late Show]]'' saw Geldof as deliberately brusque to host [[Gay Byrne]] and during his interview, he attacked Irish politicians and the Catholic Church, which he described as "a form of social repression"<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 September 2025 |date=19 September 2025 |title=White saviour complex? That doesn't exist.|author=Shaun Curran |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/bob-geldof-white-saviour-complex-woke-stuff-3921764?srsltid=AfmBOooL8z2rNTkDEbQTONz9QYgX966Y7dqJjO1qYy407jJJ03buhtwe |website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> and blamed for many of the country's problems. He responded to nuns in the audience who tried to shout him down by saying they had "an easy life with no material worries in return for which they gave themselves body and soul to the church". He also criticised [[Blackrock College]], where he had been beaten by the priests.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 September 2025 |date=19 September 2025 |title=White saviour complex? That doesn't exist.|author=Shaun Curran |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/bob-geldof-white-saviour-complex-woke-stuff-3921764?srsltid=AfmBOooL8z2rNTkDEbQTONz9QYgX966Y7dqJjO1qYy407jJJ03buhtwe |website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> The interview, which "lit a fire under Ireland's youth",<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 September 2025 |date=19 September 2025 |title=White saviour complex? That doesn't exist. |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/bob-geldof-white-saviour-complex-woke-stuff-3921764?srsltid=AfmBOooL8z2rNTkDEbQTONz9QYgX966Y7dqJjO1qYy407jJJ03buhtwe |author=Shaun Curran|website=inews.co.uk}}</ref> caused uproar, making it impossible for The Boomtown Rats to play in Ireland again.<ref name="GeldofBio" />

In January 2013, Geldof announced that The Boomtown Rats would be reforming to play together for the first time since 1986 at that year's [[Isle of Wight Festival 2013|Isle of Wight Festival]] in June. They subsequently announced further tour dates and released a new CD ''[[Back to Boomtown: Classic Rats Hits]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jonze |first=Tim |date=28 January 2013 |title=Boomtown Rats re-form for Isle of Wight festival |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jan/28/boomtown-rats-reform-isle-of-wight-festival |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |access-date=14 October 2014 }}</ref>

===After the Boomtown Rats===
[[File:Bob Geldof Rock am Ring 1987.jpg|left|upright|thumb|Geldof performing as a solo artist in 1987]]

Geldof left the Boomtown Rats in 1986 to launch a solo career and publish his autobiography, ''Is That It?'',<ref name="GeldofBio" /> which was a UK best-seller.

His first solo records sold reasonably well and spawned the hit singles "This Is The World Calling" (co-written with [[Dave Stewart (Eurythmics)|Dave Stewart]] of [[Eurythmics]]) and "The Great Song of Indifference". He also occasionally performed with other artists, such as [[David Gilmour]] and [[Thin Lizzy]]. A performance of "[[Comfortably Numb]]" with Gilmour is documented in the DVD release ''[[David Gilmour in Concert]]'' (2002). In 1992, he performed at the [[Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert]] with the surviving members of [[Queen (band)|Queen]] at the old [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], singing a song he jokingly claimed to have co-written with Mercury, called "Too Late God". (The song was actually co-written by [[Karl Hyde]].)

Geldof has also worked as a DJ for [[XFM]] radio. In 1998, he [[List of premature obituaries|erroneously announced]] [[Ian Dury]]'s death from cancer, possibly due to hoax information from a listener who was disgruntled at the station's change of ownership.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/500829/geldof-falsely-reports-dury-death.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514234944/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/500829/geldof-falsely-reports-dury-death.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=14 May 2013 |title=Geldof Falsely Reports Dury Death |publisher=  MTV |date=27 August 1998}}</ref> The event caused music paper ''[[NME]],'' which had been involved in a running feud with Geldof since his Boomtown Rats days, primarily  because of his disparagement of [[The Clash]], to call Geldof 'the world's worst DJ'.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/330571.stm |title=Geldof's choice a hit  |work=  BBC News |date=28 April 1999}}</ref>

[[File:Breiti, Campino, Bob Geldof.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Geldof performing with [[Die Toten Hosen]] at Your Voice Against Poverty concert in [[Rostock, Germany|Rostock]], Germany on 7 June 2007]]
With [[U2]]'s Bono, he has devoted much time since 2000 to campaigning for [[debt relief]] for developing countries. His commitments in this field, including the organisation of the [[Live 8]] concerts, kept Geldof from producing any more musical output since 2001's album ''[[Sex, Age & Death]]''.

In 2002, he was listed as one of the [[100 Greatest Britons]] in a poll conducted among the general public,<ref name=BBC100>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2208671.stm| title=100 great British heroes| work=BBC News| publisher=BBC| date=21 August 2002| access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref> despite not being British.

After Live 8, Geldof returned to his career as a musician by releasing a box set containing all of his solo albums, entitled ''Great Songs of Indifference – The Anthology 1986–2001,'' in late 2005. Following that release, Geldof toured, although with mixed success.

In July 2006, Geldof arrived at [[Milan]]'s [[Arena Civica]], a venue capable of holding 12,000 people, to play a scheduled concert, and found that the organisers had not put tickets on general sale and that only 45 people had shown up.<ref>{{cite news | author=Barbara McMahon in Rome | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/jul/24/arts.italy |title=Guardian: Geldof cancels Italian tour after only 45 fans turn up for Milan gig |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date= 24 July 2006|access-date=10 August 2010 | location=London}}</ref> Geldof refused to go on stage when he found how small the attendance was. To offer compensation for fans, Geldof signed autographs for those who had shown up. He played a well-attended free ''Storytellers'' concert for [[MTV Italy]] in Naples in October 2006.

The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2025 for a 12-date, 50th anniversary tour of the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-boomtown-rats-announce-2025-50th-anniversary-uk-tour-3817950 |title=The Boomtown Rats announce 2025 50th anniversary tour |website=nme.com |date=2 December 2024 |access-date=19 September 2025 }}</ref> A two-album compilation on vinyl and CD, "The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory", was released on 19 September 2025.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=19 September 2025 |date=19 September 2025 |title=White saviour complex? That doesn't exist.|author=Shaun Curran |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/bob-geldof-white-saviour-complex-woke-stuff-3921764?srsltid=AfmBOooL8z2rNTkDEbQTONz9QYgX966Y7dqJjO1qYy407jJJ03buhtwe |website=inews.co.uk}}</ref>

==Charity work==
Geldof's first major charity involvement took place in September 1981 when he performed as a solo artist for [[Amnesty International]]'s benefit show ''[[The Secret Policeman's Other Ball]]'', held at [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane|Drury Lane theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]]. At the invitation of Amnesty show producer [[Martin Lewis (humorist)|Martin Lewis]], Geldof performed a solo{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} version of "I Don't Like Mondays". Other rock artists had 'planted a seed' and appeared to have affected Geldof in a similar manner.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2006/1020/1160606784745.html |title=Fri, Oct&nbsp;20, 2006 – REVOLVER |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=10 October 2006 |access-date=10 August 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[Monty Python]] alumnus [[John Cleese]] conceived (and directed) the show, and on its impact on Geldof, [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] stated "he took the 'Ball' and ran with it."<ref>{{cite news |title=How the Secret Policeman's Ball Got Rolling... |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/secret-policemans-ball_b_1318876 |access-date=2 December 2021 |work=Huffington Post}}</ref>

===Band Aid===
{{Main|Band Aid (band)}}

[[File:AcropoleHotelKhartoumBobGeldofLetter RomanDeckert25042018.jpg|thumb|right|190px|Letter of thanks from Geldof to the [[Acropole Hotel]] in Khartoum, Sudan, for supporting Band Aid during the 1980s drought in Darfur and Ethiopia]]
In 1984, Geldof responded to a BBC News report from [[Michael Buerk]] about the [[1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia|famine in Ethiopia]] by mobilising the pop world to do something about the images he had seen.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/mj2jf0US8zI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20100423115035/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2jf0US8zI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj2jf0US8zI |title=BBC on Ethiopian famine 1984 |date=4 October 2008 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=10 August 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> With [[Midge Ure]] of [[Ultravox]] he wrote "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]" in order to raise funds. The song was recorded in a single day at [[Sarm West Studios]] in [[Notting Hill]], London on 25 November 1984, by various artists performing under the name of [[Band Aid (band)|Band Aid]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111219224029/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643506/looking-back-at-live-aid-25-years-later.jhtml "Looking Back At Live Aid, 25 Years Later"]. MTV. Retrieved 22 October 2016</ref>

In its first week of release, the single became the UK's fastest-seller of all time. It entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number one and stayed there for five weeks, becoming the [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number one]] of 1984.<ref name="Release">{{cite magazine |title=Flashback: Band Aid Raises Millions With 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/do-they-know-its-christmas-band-aid-1984-geldof-761428/ |access-date=27 August 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone|quote= The single, released in the United Kingdom on December 3rd, 1984, was crafted to "touch people's heartstrings and to loosen the purse strings".}}</ref> It sold over three million copies, making it the biggest-selling single in UK history up to that point, a title it held for almost 13 years.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ami |last=Sedghi |title=UK's million-selling singles: the full list |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London, England |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2012/nov/04/uk-million-selling-singles-full-list |date=4 November 2012 |access-date=4 November 2012}}</ref> The single was also a major US hit, peaking at number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and selling an estimated 2.5&nbsp;million copies in the US by January 1985.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Paul |last=Green |title=Ethiopia-Aid Single, Video Take Off |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |publisher=Billboard Publications |location=New York City, US |date=5 January 1985 |page=3 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Holden |title=The Pop Life; Artists Join in Effort for Famine Relief |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |location=New York City, US |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/27/arts/the-pop-life-artists-join-in-effort-for-famine-relief.html |date=27 February 1985 |access-date=27 July 2014}}</ref> The single sold 11.7&nbsp;million copies worldwide.<ref name="guinness">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCmp92JXMjsC&q=best-selling+single|title=Guinness Book of World Records, 1989, page 155-156|access-date=2 February 2012|publisher=[[Jim Pattison Group]]|first=Donald|last=McFarlen|isbn=9780806902760|date=December 1988}}</ref>

New versions of "Do They Know It's Christmas?" were recorded in 1989 and 2004. In November 2014, Geldof announced that he would be forming a further incarnation of Band Aid, to be known as [[Band Aid (band)#Band Aid 30|Band Aid 30]], to record an updated version of the [[Charity record|charity single]], with the proceeds going to treat victims of the [[Ebola virus disease|Ebola virus]] in West Africa.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Bob Geldof to record Band Aid 30 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29980841 |website= [[BBC News]]| date= 9 November 2014|access-date=10 November 2014 }}</ref>

===Live Aid===
{{Main|Live Aid}}
{{Quote box|width=26%|align=right|quote="The greatest legacy of Live Aid for me personally, is the example of how Bob Geldof's leadership demonstrated the power of the individual. How the voice and action of just one person could start a movement that could make a difference."|source=—Live Aid production manager Andy Zweck.<ref name="Greatest">{{cite news |title=Aaaaaay-o! Aaaaaay-o! Why Live Aid was the greatest show of all |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-anniversary-queen-freddie-mercury-performances-bob-geldof-a9612071.html |access-date=13 July 2020 |work=The Independent}}</ref>}}
As Geldof began to learn more about the situation, he discovered that one of the main reasons why African nations were in such dire peril was the obligation to make repayments on loans that their countries had taken from Western banks. For every pound donated in aid, ten times as much would have to leave the country in loan repayments. It became obvious that one song was not enough.

Geldof and Ure organised Live Aid, a huge event staged simultaneously on 13 July 1985 at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] in London and [[John F. Kennedy Stadium]] in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aaaaaay-o! Aaaaaay-o! Why Live Aid was the greatest show of all |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/live-aid-anniversary-queen-freddie-mercury-performances-bob-geldof-a9612071.html |access-date=13 July 2020 |work=The Independent}}</ref><ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/01/liveaid.memories/index.html Live Aid 1985: A day of magic]. CNN. Retrieved 22 May 2021</ref> Thanks to an unprecedented decision by the BBC to clear its schedules for 16 hours of rock music, the event was also broadcast live in the UK on television and radio.<ref>{{cite book |last1=West |first1=Aaron J. |title=Sting and The Police: Walking in Their Footsteps |date=2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |page=92}}</ref> It was one of the most monumental stage shows in history. [[Phil Collins]] flew on [[Concorde]] so that he could play at both Wembley and Philadelphia on the same day.<ref name="artists" /> During the broadcast of Live Aid, Geldof shocked viewers into giving cash by twice mouthing profanities, and also by slamming his fist on the table and ordering them not to go out to the pub, but to stay in and watch the show.<ref name="artists">{{cite news |title=Live aid in their own words |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/oct/17/popandrock5 |access-date=6 June 2020 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>[[File:Bob Geldof-Conspiracy of Hope-by Steven Toole.jpg|thumb|upright|Geldof performing at the [[A Conspiracy of Hope|Conspiracy of Hope]] concert on 15 June 1986 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.]]  Nearly seven hours into the concert in London, Geldof gave an infamous interview in which he used the word ''fuck''. The BBC presenter [[David Hepworth]], conducting the interview, had attempted to provide a list of addresses to which potential donations should be sent. Geldof interrupted him in mid-flow and shouted: "Fuck the address, let's get the [phone] numbers!" It has passed into folklore<ref>{{cite web | title=1985 Live Aid – BBC web-site |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1985/music1.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010913025706/http://www0.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1985/music1.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2001 |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> that he yelled at the audience, "Give us your fucking money!" although Geldof has stated that this phrase was never uttered.<ref>Geldof, Bob. ''Live Aid'' DVD.</ref> Because of his Irish accent, the profanity was stated to be misheard as "fock" and "focking" respectively. After the outburst, donations increased to £300 per second.<ref name="Greatest" /> A harrowing video of dying skeletal children was introduced by [[David Bowie]] after the end of his set that had been made by [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]] photo-journalists, who set their films to the tune of "[[Drive (The Cars song)|Drive]]" by [[The Cars]].<ref name="artists" />

In total, Live Aid raised over [[Pound sign|£]]150&nbsp;million for famine relief. Geldof subsequently received an honorary knighthood, at age 34, for his efforts. His autobiography, written soon after with [[Paul Vallely]], was entitled ''Is That It?''.<ref name="GeldofBio" /> The book achieved further fame for being featured on the [[General Certificate of Secondary Education]] examination syllabus.

Much of the money raised by Live Aid went to NGOs in Ethiopia, some of which were under the influence or control of the [[Derg]] military junta. Some journalists suggested that the Derg had used Live Aid and [[Oxfam]] money to fund its enforced resettlement and "villagification" programmes, under which at least 3&nbsp;million people were said to have been displaced and between 50,000 and 100,000 killed.<ref>David Rieff  [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/24/g8.debtrelief "Cruel to be kind?"],  [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/24/g8.debtrelief] ''[[The Guardian]]'', 24 June 2005</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=SPIN |url=http://www.spin.com/featured/live-aid-the-terrible-truth-ethiopia-bob-geldof-feature/ |title=Live Aid: The Terrible Truth |work=SPIN |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> In November 2010 the BBC formally apologised to Geldof for misleading implications in its stories on the subject of Band Aid, and said it had 'no evidence' that Band Aid money specifically went to buy weapons.<ref>{{cite web | last=Midgley |first=Neil |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8035539/BBC-apologises-to-Bob-Geldof-for-Band-Aid-slur.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8035539/BBC-apologises-to-Bob-Geldof-for-Band-Aid-slur.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=BBC apologises to Bob Geldof for Band Aid slur |work=The Telegraph|date=4 November 2010 |access-date=10 April 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Commission for Africa===
In January 2004, on a visit to Africa, Geldof came to believe that more people were at risk of starvation there than had died in the famine of 1984/85 which had prompted Live Aid. He telephoned the British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] from [[Addis Ababa]]. According to the Live 8 programme notes by Geldof's biographer and friend, [[Paul Vallely]], the Prime Minister responded: "Calm down Bob. ... And come and see me as soon as you get back."<ref>Live 8 programme notes by Paul Vallely</ref>

The result was the [[Commission for Africa]]. Blair invited Geldof and 16 other Commissioners, the majority from Africa and many of them politicians in power, to undertake a year-long study of Africa's problems. They came up with two conclusions: that Africa needed to change, to improve its governance and combat corruption; and that the rich world needed to support that change in new ways. That meant doubling aid,  cancelling debts, and reforming trade rules.  The Commission drew up a detailed plan of how that could be done and reported in March 2005. To force the issue, Geldof decided to create a new international lobby for Africa with eight simultaneous concerts performing around the world to put pressure on the [[G8]], which he called [[Live 8]]. The commission's recommendations later became the blueprint for the [[G8 Gleneagles]] African debt and aid package.

===Africa Progress Panel===
Geldof is a member of the [[Africa Progress Panel]] (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. Every year, the Panel releases a report, the Africa Progress Report, that outlines an issue of immediate importance to the continent and suggests a set of associated policies. In 2012, the Africa Progress Report highlighted issues of Jobs, Justice and Equity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://africaprogresspanel.org/en/publications/annual-reports/annual-report-2012/ |title=Africa Progress Report 2012 |publisher=Africa Progress Panel |access-date=27 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109214313/http://www.africaprogresspanel.org/en/publications/annual-reports/annual-report-2012/ |archive-date= 9 January 2013 }}</ref> The 2013 report outlined issues relating to oil, gas and mining in Africa.

===DATA and One Campaign===
Bob Geldof worked closely with [[DATA]] (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), an organisation founded by U2's Bono in 2002 to promote debt relief, third-world trade and AIDS relief in Africa. It merged with One Campaign in 2008, where Geldof also is very active. In June 2009, on behalf of One Campaign, he co-edited a special edition of the Italian newspaper ''[[La Stampa]]'' with a view on [[35th G8 summit]].<ref name="stampa01">{{cite web|title=Direttore per un giorno |language=it |url=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/esteri/200907articoli/45157girata.asp |date=4 July 2009 |work=La Stampa |location=Italy |access-date=4 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707003006/http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/esteri/200907articoli/45157girata.asp |archive-date=7 July 2009 }}</ref>

===Live 8 concerts===
[[File:geldofsigning.jpg|right|thumb|Geldof at a ''Live 8: DVD'' signing in 2007]]
On 31 March 2005, Geldof and Ure announced the [[Live 8]] project, to raise awareness of issues that burden Africa, including government debt, trade barriers, hunger, and AIDS issues. Geldof organised ten concerts on 2 July 2005 in large cities throughout the industrialised world. They featured musicians from different genres and locations around the world.  The cities where Live 8 concerts were played were in industrialised countries, and drew huge crowds. The locations were [[Hyde Park, London|London]], [[Palace of Versailles|Paris]], [[Berlin Victory Column|Berlin]], [[Circus Maximus|Rome]], [[Philadelphia Museum of Art|Philadelphia]], [[Molson Park|Barrie]], [[Makuhari Messe|Chiba]], [[Mary Fitzgerald Square|Johannesburg]], [[Red Square|Moscow]], [[Eden Project|Cornwall]] and [[Murrayfield Stadium|Edinburgh]].

The concerts were free, and were scheduled just days before world leaders gathered in [[Gleneagles Hotel|Gleneagles]], for the [[G8]] economic summit, on 6 July.<ref name="IrishmanAbroad">{{cite podcast |author-link=Jarlath Regan |author=Jarlath Regan|edition=200 |work=[[An Irishman Abroad]] |title=Bob Geldof |publisher=[[SoundCloud]] |date=13 July 2017 |url=https://soundcloud.com/an-irishman-abroad/sir-bob-geldof-episode-200 |access-date=24 August 2017}}</ref> Ure organised the 'final push' Live 8 concert at Edinburgh. 'The boys and girls with guitars will finally get to turn the world on its axis,' Geldof said in a statement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.live8live.com/media/index.shtml |title=LIVE 8 – Media Centre |website=Live8live.com |date=29 July 2006 |access-date=10 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206031414/http://www.live8live.com/media/index.shtml |archive-date= 6 February 2010}}</ref> [[Pink Floyd]]'s performance in London was their first since 1981 to include original vocalist/bassist, [[Roger Waters]].

===Night for Ukraine benefit===
Geldof performed his rendition of [[Nick Lowe]]'s "[[(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding]]" at Night for Ukraine, a fundraising benefit held at the [[Roundhouse (venue)|Roundhouse]] in north [[London]] on the evening of 9 March 2022, with the funds raised being donated to the [[Disasters Emergency Committee]] appeal, to provide aid to people fleeing [[Ukraine]] following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion]]. The event was organized by [[Fabien Riggall]] in collaboration with the Ukrainian pop duo [[Bloom Twins]].<ref>{{ cite news
| url = https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-03-10/bob-geldof-shows-solidarity-with-ukraine-at-london-fundraising-event
| title = Bob Geldof shows solidarity with Ukraine in fundraising event at London's Roundhouse
| date = 10 March 2022
| access-date = 7 September 2022
| website = [[itv.com]]
}}</ref>

==Criticism of his charity work==
Although part of the campaign "[[Make Poverty History]]" (MPH), Live 8 was accused by John Hilary, then a senior executive of the campaign, of hijacking MPH by planning its concerts on the same day as the march in [[Edinburgh]], which was said to be the biggest social justice march in Scottish history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/05/geldof-arrogance-poverty-agenda-starsuckers | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=The arrogance of Saint Bob | first=John | last=Hilary | date=5 April 2010 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

Geldof was also criticised for the lack of African acts performing at Live 8.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/15/live8 | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=Pressure forces Live 8 to add African concert | first=Sarah | last=Left | date=15 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> Geldof responded that only the biggest-selling artists would attract the huge audience required to capture the attention of the world in the run-up to the G8 meeting. In the lead-up to the G8 summit, Geldof, who had been a member of Tony Blair's Commission for Africa on which the Gleneagles recommendations were largely based,<ref>{{cite news | first=Bob| last=Geldof| url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/mar/02/bob-geldof-africa-tony-blair| title=Bob Geldof: Gleneagles G8 summit was a triumph for Africa – and Tony Blair| date=2 March 2013| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> labelled [[Kumi Naidoo]]'s criticism of the summit "a disgrace".<ref>{{Cite news | first=John| last=Hilary| url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/05/geldof-arrogance-poverty-agenda-starsuckers| title=The arrogance of Saint Bob| date=5 April 2010| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> Some leading African campaigners have asked Geldof to stand down from the global [[anti-poverty]] movement, and the ''[[New Internationalist]]'' (between January and February 2006) said 'It would be long overdue if he did.'<ref name=20060101newint>{{cite web | url=http://www.newint.org/columns/worldbeaters/2006/01/01/bob-geldof/ |title=Does Africa any longer need Bob Geldof as its champion? After Live 8 many people are saying no. |date=1 January 2006|work= New Internationalist |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

There were also accusations that Live 8 gave unqualified support to the personal and political agendas of [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], particularly in the lead-up to an election. Though many felt that it was the British politicians who had accepted Geldof's agenda, rather than the other way round, this led to accusations that Geldof had compromised his cause.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/print/0,3858,5220235-103677,00.html | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=Bards of the powerful | first=George | last=Monbiot | date=21 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

The promises made for Africa at the Gleneagles summit were widely praised: "the greatest summit for Africa ever" ([[Kofi Annan]]), "an important, if incomplete, boost to the development prospects of the poorest countries" economist ([[Jeffrey Sachs]]) or "a major breakthrough on debt" (Kevin Wakins, former head of research at Oxfam). But many aid agencies pronounced their disappointment with the outcome, feeling that the strict conditions imposed on African countries for accepting debt relief left them little better off than before. The ''New Internationalist'' scathingly stated, since becoming prominent in the salvation of Africa, "Geldof has re-released the entire back catalogue of the Boomtown Rats."<ref name=20060101newint/>

[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] guitarist [[Noel Gallagher]] became one of the more vocal sceptics about the impact of Live 8, citing his belief that rock stars have less influence over world leaders than popular culture may believe.  His explanation was:
{{blockquote|Correct me if I'm wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the [[G8]] is on a quick 15-minute break at [[31st G8 summit|Gleneagles]] and sees [[Annie Lennox]] singing "[[Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)|Sweet Dreams]]" and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know?'  And [[Keane (band)|Keane]] doing "[[Somewhere Only We Know]]" and some Japanese businessman going, 'Aw, look at him. ... we should really fucking drop that debt, you know.'  It's not going to happen, is it?<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jun/19/arts.live8 | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=Gallagher casts doubt on the value of Live8 | first=David | last=Smith | date=19 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> }}

==Controversies==
{{Criticism section|date=May 2025}}
Geldof swore on the music television programme ''[[CD:UK]]'', saying "Fuck the tape" while concluding his chat with [[Cat Deeley]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZrUHGEHcA |title=Bob Geldof on CD:UK |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref> At the NME awards in 2006, when accepting an award, Geldof referred to the host [[Russell Brand]] as a "[[cunt]]".  Brand responded by saying "It's no wonder Bob Geldof knows so much about famine – he's been dining out on '[[I Don't Like Mondays]]' for 30 years".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jun/18/broadcasting.arts | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=This charming man | first=Barbara | last=Ellen | date=18 June 2006 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> Then, in mid-July 2006, he infuriated many New Zealanders by criticising the New Zealand government's foreign aid contribution as "shameful" and "pathetic".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Field |first1=Michael |title=Foreign aid 'shameful' |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3732261a11,00.html |website=stuff.co.nz |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717035339/http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3732261a11,00.html |archive-date=17 July 2006 |date=15 July 2006}}</ref> [[Winston Peters]], the [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] responded that Geldof failed to recognise the "quality" of New Zealand aid as well as other New Zealand contributions.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0607/S00212.htm |title=Geldof deserves support but has his facts wrong &#124; Scoop News |website=Scoop.co.nz |date=14 July 2006 |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

During mid-November 2008, a local for-profit organisation, Diversity@Work, invited Geldof to Melbourne, to speak about Third World poverty and the failure of governments to combat the crisis.  It was later revealed that he was paid $100,000 for his speech, which included a luxury hotel room and first-class airfares.<ref name="dt15Nov2008">{{cite news | title=Sir Bob Geldof wants $100,000 for anti-poverty speech | url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sir-bob-geldof-wants-100000-for-anti-povery-speech/story-e6freuy9-1111118041648| access-date=19 July 2010| newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=15 November 2008}}</ref>

===Mauritius Leaks===
After being criticised earlier in the decade for his stance on aid to African countries,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/08/bob-geldof-wrong-africa|title=Why Bob Geldof is wrong about Africa|first=Greg|last=Mills|date=8 March 2013|website=Theguardian.com|access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref> in July 2019, according to a report on its "[[Mauritius Leaks]]" project by the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]] (ICIJ), Bob Geldof was mentioned as allegedly involved in tax avoidance by corporations and individuals doing business in Africa and other continents. His private equity fund 8 Miles (named after the shortest distance between Europe and Africa: the eight miles width of the [[Strait of Gibraltar]]), which aimed to generate a 20 per cent return by exclusively buying stakes in African startup businesses, had set up subsidiaries in the tax haven of Mauritius, "an offshore jurisdiction with a wide network of double taxation treaties in interesting markets". Geldof declined to comment on the leaks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/bob-geldof-s-private-equity-firm-sets-up-office-in-tax-friendly-mauritius-1.3966464|title=Bob Geldof's private equity firm sets up office in tax-friendly Mauritius|first=Will|last=Fitzgibbon|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/mauritius-leaks/about-the-mauritius-leaks-investigation/|title=All you need to know about ICIJ's Mauritius Leaks Investigation|website=Icij.org|date=23 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/mauritius-leaks/treasure-island-leak-reveals-how-mauritius-siphons-tax-from-poor-nations-to-benefit-elites/|title=Mauritius Leaks exposes tiny tax haven's role in vast offshore system|website=Icij.org|date=23 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://africatimes.com/2019/07/24/mauritius-leaks-details-africas-revenue-loss-to-offshore-tax-haven/|title='Mauritius Leaks' details Africa's revenue loss to offshore tax haven &#124; Africa Times|date=23 July 2019|website=Africatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/mauritius-leaks/icij-publishes-list-of-mauritian-companies-used-by-conyers-corporate-clients/|title=Download Mauritius Leaks Data: Mauritian companies used by Conyers' clients|website=Icij.org|date=23 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/mauritius-leaks/inside-the-firm-at-the-heart-of-mauritius-leaks/|title=Meet the Firm at the Heart of Mauritius Leaks: Conyers Dill & Pearman|website=Icij.org|date=23 July 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1671301/bob-geldofs-african-fund-8-miles-used-mauritius-to-avoid-taxes/|title=How Bob Geldof's African investment fund avoids paying taxes to some of the continent's poorest countries|first1=Max| last1=de Haldevang|first2= Justin|last2=Rohrlich|website=Quartz Africa|date=23 July 2019 }}</ref>

==Businessman==
By 1992, Geldof had established himself as a businessman through co-ownership of the TV production company [[Planet 24]], which made early-morning Channel 4 show ''[[The Big Breakfast]]''.  Planet 24 was sold to Carlton TV in 1999. TV production company [[Ten Alps]] was founded the next day by Geldof and business partner Alex Connock.  In April 2011, a new entertainment-formats company, Pretend, was launched.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tenalps.com/catimg.php?cid=31#bob |title=Ten Alps website |website=Tenalps.com |access-date=10 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100825162303/http://www.tenalps.com/catimg.php?cid=31#bob |archive-date=25 August 2010}}</ref>

The ''Dictionary of Man'', announced by Geldof in 2007, is a project he started with director John Maguire, and is financed by the [[BBC]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Gibson| first=Owen| title=Geldof plans the definitive record of mankind| url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/apr/18/musicnews.music| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=18 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=British Broadcasting Corp. and Bob Geldof to create massive "Dictionary of Man" Web site| url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=432801&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_world&cate_rss=WORLD_eng| access-date=6 November 2012| newspaper=[[Taiwan News]]| date=19 April 2007}}</ref> It was planned that the collected material would be displayed on a website, and be available for distribution through DVDs, books, magazines, CDs, and exhibitions.<ref name=variety>{{cite news|last=Guider|first=Elizabeth|title=Geldof, BBC plan mankind project|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/news/geldof-bbc-plan-mankind-project-1117963234/|newspaper=Variety|date=17 April 2007}}</ref> Geldof reportedly had been planning it since he visited Niger in the 1980s and became aware of the number of native languages becoming lost forever as [[native speaker]]s died.<ref name=hello>{{cite news | title=Concerned Bob sets out to build a Dictionary of Man| url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2007/04/18/bod-geldof-man/| newspaper=Hello Magazine| date=18 April 2007}}</ref>

{{As of|2009}}, he served a term as patron of the Exeter Entrepreneurs' Society at the [[University of Exeter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.exeterentrepreneurs.co.uk/what-we-do/ |title=Exeter Entrepreneurs |publisher=University of Exeter |access-date=29 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101107042629/http://www.exeterentrepreneurs.co.uk/what-we-do/ |archive-date=7 November 2010}}</ref>

Geldof is chairman of 8 Miles, a private equity firm active in Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.8miles.com/team/chairman/bob.html |title=Bob Geldof, KBE - Chairman of 8 Miles|website=8miles.com |access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Borin|first1=Matthew|title=Bob Geldof on Investing in Africa|url=https://blogs.cfainstitute.org/investor/2017/03/15/bob-geldof-on-investing-in-africa/|website=CFA Institute|date=15 March 2017 |access-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>

===Groupcall===
In 2002, he became a founding partner of Groupcall,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.groupcall.com/bobgeldof.html |title=Bob Geldof on Messenger website |publisher=Groupcall Ltd |access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref> which specialises in providing communication software and data extraction tools to the [[education]], public and business sectors.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.groupcall.com/ |title=Groupcall Ltd website |publisher=Groupcall |access-date=23 August 2012}}</ref> His initial involvement arose from concerns for his children's safety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1188616_geldof_tackles_truants_by_text |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420234334/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1188616_geldof_tackles_truants_by_text |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2013 |title=Geldof tackles truants by text |newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]] |access-date=11 January 2010 }}</ref>

==Views==
===Politics===
[[File:Bob Geldof urges young people to come out and be heard -BREXIT (28054729195).jpg|thumb|right|240px|Geldof outside the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]] in London during the Brexit Protest March on 2 July 2016]]
In 2002, Geldof appeared in an advertisement opposing the possibility of the United Kingdom joining the [[Euro|single EU currency]], saying it was "not anti-European to be against the euro".<ref name="Euro">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2080930.stm |title=UK &#124; Politics &#124; Geldof says no to euro |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 July 2002 |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> He also criticised the [[European Union]] in 2004 for what he called its "pathetic" response to [[Ethiopia]]'s food crisis.<ref name="Ethiopia">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2939878.stm |title=Africa &#124; Geldof: Ethiopia aid 'pathetic' |work=[[BBC News]] |date=27 May 2003 |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Glenys Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead|Glenys Kinnock]] responded that Geldof's comments were "unhelpful and misinformed".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2947560.stm | work=BBC News | title=Kinnock attacks famine hero Geldof | date=29 May 2003 |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

In 2003, during a visit to [[Ethiopia]], Geldof praised U.S. President [[George W. Bush]]'s proposal to fight [[AIDS]] in Africa.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=1960 |title=Geldof praises US AIDS plan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030619042325/http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=1960 |archive-date=19 June 2003 |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref>

In December 2005, Geldof agreed to give advice on global poverty to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4563258.stm | work=BBC News | title=Geldof helps Tory poverty policy | date=28 December 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> He stated, however, that he was uninterested in party politics: "I've said I'll shake hands with the devil on my [[left-wing politics|left]] and the devil on my [[right-wing politics|right]] to get to where we need to be."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/geldof-i-am-no-conservative-politician-237276.html | newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] | title=Geldof: 'I am no conservative politician' | date=30 December 2005 | access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]] Geldof posted a video endorsing the re-election of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate and [[Minister of State for Development and Africa]] [[Andrew Mitchell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/19/vote-tory-cabinet-minister-friend-says-sir-bob-geldof/ |title=Watch: Vote for my Tory Cabinet minister friend, says Sir Bob Geldof |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=19 June 2024 |access-date=20 June 2024 |last1=Sigsworth |first1=Tim }}</ref>

In July 2025, Geldof accused Israeli authorities of "lying" about the [[Gaza Strip famine|famine]] caused by the [[Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip]].<ref name=a>{{cite news |title=Bob Geldof accuses Israeli authorities of 'lying' about starvation in Gaza |url=https://news.sky.com/story/bob-geldof-accuses-israeli-authorities-of-lying-about-starvation-in-gaza-13402178 |work=Sky News |date=26 July 2025}}</ref> 
"Israel is preventing food from reaching hungry, terrified, and exhausted mothers. While these mothers gather to receive a small amount of food through the absurd spectacle created under the guise of humanitarian aid, they are enticed and then mercilessly shot, he said.<ref name=a/> He also criticized the strict [[Censorship in Israel|censorship of news]] and social media in Israel.<ref name=a/>

===Anti-nationalism===
Geldof generally holds [[anti-nationalist]] views, having broadly condemned [[nationalism|nationalism as an ideology]] and both [[Irish nationalism|Irish]] and [[English nationalism]] specifically over the decades. Geldof has described [[patriotism]] as "entirely good and healthy" which provides "a real sense of who you are, who you belong to, a sense of place and belonging to something", but warned that "Evil men and women of ill intent can turn that natural sense of place and belonging into a political philosophy that only leads to blood".<ref>{{cite episode |credits= |host=[[Ryan Tubridy]] |date=30 March 2018 |title= |url= |location= |series=[[The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)|The Late Late Show]] |series-link= |season=<!-- usually for North American shows --> |series-no=<!-- usually for non–North American shows --> |issue= |episode-link= |language=EN |publisher= |minutes= |time= |network= |station=[[RTÉ]] |transcript= |transcript-url= |access-date= |quote= |trans-quote=}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media |people= |host=[[Ryan Tubridy]] |date=30 March 2018 |title="We are in very dangerous times" - Bob Geldof |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekc3cyXm9ys&ab_channel=TheLateLateShow |trans-title= |format= |work=[[The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)|The Late Late Show]]  |type= |language= |location= |publisher= |access-date=}}</ref> 

====Freedom of Dublin, Easter Rising and Aung San Suu Kyi comments====
In 2016, when Ireland was marking the 100th anniversary of the [[Easter Rising]], Geldof caused controversy when he likened [[Patrick Pearse]]'s call for a "blood sacrifice" to the dogma of [[Islamic terrorism|Islamist]] [[suicide bomber]]s. The uprising in Dublin against British rule was a key event that led to Irish independence.<ref name="Examiner Feb 2018">{{cite news |title=Straight talker Bob Geldof releases WB Yeats documentary |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30828314.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=16 February 2018}}</ref> In 2018, Geldof called the Easter Rising the "[[original sin]]" of the Irish state, rejecting the idea that the blood sacrifice of 1916 was heroic, and linking it to the isolationism and theocratic oppression of [[de Valera]]'s Ireland, while viewing the [[Irish Famine]] as the true linchpin moment in Irish history that shaped the country’s trajectory.<ref name="Examiner Feb 2018"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Keogh |first=Jackie |date=23 October 2018 |title=Geldof says depression of Irish can be traced back to the famine |url=https://www.southernstar.ie/news/geldof-says-depression-of-irish-can-be-traced-back-to-the-famine-4163811 |work=[[The Southern Star (County Cork)|The Southern Star]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Drohan |first=Freya |date=16 October 2018 |title=1916 Rising was "nonsense" says Bob Geldof, Famine was birth of Irish nation |url=https://www.irishcentral.com/news/famine-beginning-of-irish-nation-geldof |work=Irish Central |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>

In 2017, Geldof returned his [[Freedom of the City of Dublin|Freedom of Dublin]] award in protest at Burmese leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] holding the same honour. He said he does not want to be associated "with an individual currently engaged in the [[Rohingya persecution in Myanmar (2016–present)|mass ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya people]]".<ref name = renounce>{{cite news|title = Bob Geldof renounces honour also held by Aung San Suu Kyi|first = Isabel|last = Bennett|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/bob-geldof-renounces-honour-also-held-by-aung-san-suu-kyi|date = 13 November 2017|access-date = 13 November 2017|newspaper = [[The Guardian]]|url-status = live|archive-date = 13 November 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113052832/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/13/bob-geldof-renounces-honour-also-held-by-aung-san-suu-kyi}}</ref> He added that if Suu Kyi "is stripped of her Dublin Freedom, perhaps the council would see fit to restore to me that which I take such pride in".<ref name = renounce /> The [[Lord Mayor of Dublin]], [[Mícheál Mac Donncha]], accused Geldof of hypocrisy, saying "I find it ironic that he makes this gesture while proudly retaining his title as [[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire]], given the shameful record of British imperialism".<ref>{{cite news |title=Geldof returns Freedom of the City of Dublin in Aung San Suu Kyi protest |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30813886.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=13 November 2017}}</ref>

One month later, Dublin City Council voted to revoke the Freedom of the City from both Suu Kyi and Geldof, with several councillors saying Geldof had "insulted" Dublin.<ref name = SuuKyiRevokedRTE>{{cite news|url = https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2017/1213/927221-aung-san-suu-kyi/|title = Councillors vote to revoke award from Aung San Suu Kyi|work = [[RTÉ News]]|date = 14 December 2017|access-date = 15 December 2017|archive-date = 14 December 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171214071527/https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2017/1213/927221-aung-san-suu-kyi/|url-status = live}}</ref> Geldof was furious at the decision to revoke his award, calling it a "[[Sinn Féin]] stitch-up" because of his Easter Rising comments.<ref>{{cite news |title=Furious Geldof blames 'Sinn Féin stitch-up' for losing freeman status |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/furious-geldof-blames-sinn-fein-stitch-up-for-losing-freeman-status-sx66zr55s |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=15 December 2017}}</ref>

====Brexit====
Geldof opposed [[Brexit]], the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, and repudiated it as "an expression of English nationalism", describing it as a serious mistake and predicting it would be a "disaster" for both Britain and Ireland. He criticised the British government under Prime Minister [[Theresa May]] as "incapable and inept". He contrasted its handling of the issue with what he saw as the patient and pragmatic approach of the Irish government, emphasising that in Ireland "we know where [nationalism] leads to". While arguing against Brexit, he acknowledged the broader debate over Europe’s future and argued that the European Union itself needed restructuring from top to bottom.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=14 January 2019 |title=Bob Geldof slams 'the worst British government in my life' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/bob-geldof-slams-the-worst-british-government-in-my-life-1.3757922 |work=[[Irish Times]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>  

Shortly before the [[Brexit referendum]] on 23 June 2016, in what was described as the "most surreal day in British politics ever",<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Deacon Parliamentary Sketchwriter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-a-chase-down-the-thames-and-the-most-sur/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-a-chase-down-the-thames-and-the-most-sur/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Nigel Farage, Bob Geldof, a chase down the Thames... and the most surreal day in British politics ever |website=Telegraph.co.uk |date=15 June 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Geldof led a flotilla on the River Thames to attack an opposition flotilla led by Eurosceptic politician [[Nigel Farage]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Robert Booth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-rival-eu-referendum-thames-flotillas |title=Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof's rival EU referendum flotillas clash on the Thames &#124; Politics |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> Later that year, Geldof campaigned for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate [[Sarah Olney]] at the [[2016 Richmond Park by-election|Richmond Park by-election]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Jessica Elgot and Rebecca Pinnington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/30/bob-geldof-rails-against-brexit-backs-lib-dems-richmond-park-byelection|title=Bob Geldof rails against Brexit as he backs Lib Dems in Richmond Park |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 November 2016 |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> He described [[Brexit]] as "the greatest act of national self-harm" in British history and vowed to "undermine" [[Theresa May]] every step of the way. He said the EU was "a mess" but warned Britain's young people had their futures "taken from them" as a result of the referendum.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jon Hopkins |url=https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/market_reports/174977/singer-and-liveaid-founder-bob-geldof-brands-brexit-the-greatest-act-of-national-self-harm-in-british-history-174977.html |title=Singer and LiveAID founder Bob Geldof brands Brexit "the greatest act of national self-harm" in British history |website=Proactive Investors |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

===Anti-authoritarianism===
Geldof has criticised [[authoritarian]] leaders around the world. In 2016, he denounced [[Putin]], [[Erdogan]], [[Xi Jinping]] and [[Donald Trump]] as "thugs",<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=29 September 2016 |title=Bob Geldof attacks Donald Trump and Boris Johnson at Canada summit |url=https://www.aol.co.uk/2016-09-29-bob-geldof-attacks-donald-trump-and-boris-johnson-at-canada-summit.html |work=AOL.co.uk |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref> adding in 2020 that "Putin is a weak man, a gangster. Xi Jinping is a repressive dictator. Erdogan is a religious fantasist, Trump is a vulgar fool".<ref>{{cite news |last=Harrison |first=Ellie |date=4 April 2020 |title=Bob Geldof calls Trump a 'vulgar fool' and Putin a 'weak man' as he discusses world politics |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/bob-geldof-trump-putin-zuckerberg-coronavirus-a9447501.html |work=[[The Independent]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref> 

===Fathers' rights===
From January 2002 until sometime in 2005, Geldof listened very closely to [[Father's Rights]] campaigners; it was reported that he had sacks of mail arriving at his door on a daily basis from fathers who were unhappy with the British family courts.  He said, "I am heartbroken. I just cannot believe what happens to people, what is done to them in the name of the law.<ref name="Spig.clara.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.spig.clara.net/geldof.htm |title=SPIG – Bob Geldof 17&nbsp;June&nbsp;2002 |website=Spig.clara.net |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref> You only have to open your eyes to see what I call the 'Sad Dads on Sundays Syndrome'".  He has also called for the [[Children Act 1989|Children Act]] to be repealed and his latest statement to Father's Rights campaigners was, "It's not in my nature to shut up".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parents4protest.co.uk/bob_geldof.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209212754/http://www.parents4protest.co.uk/bob_geldof.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 9 December 2006 |title=Bob Geldof and Fathers Rights |website=Parents4protest.co.uk |date=7 February 2010 |access-date=10 August 2010 }}</ref>

===Climate action and environmentalism ===
In 2007, Bob Geldof contributed to an online debate on hybrid cars and climate change, expressing scepticism about the effectiveness of renewable energy initiatives. While acknowledging he drove a hybrid car mainly to avoid London’s congestion charge, he described hybrid technology as "not coherent" and dismissed wind and wave power as "Mickey Mouse". Geldof argued that behavioural change through taxation can influence actions, but technologies like hybrids alone are insufficient to address climate change. He advocated for a rapid expansion of nuclear power as the most effective way to reduce environmental impact.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=12 December 2007 |title=Geldof: 'help the planet ... go nuclear' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/dec/12/advertising.digitalmedia |work=[[The Guardian]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>

In March 2012, Geldof expressed concern about [[population growth|rising population]] and falling [[Water table|water levels]] in Arab countries. He also predicted [[famine]], [[Plague (disease)|plague]], and [[wars]] if the population did not stabilise. Geldof asked countries to lower their birth rates to lessen the burden on the environment. "We must see the possibility of life, not just to individual children, but to the human species," he said "And I'm not that optimistic."<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Bob Geldof calls for women to have fewer children|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/sir-bob-geldof-calls-for-women-to-have-fewer-children|website=Thenational.ae|date=16 March 2012 |publisher=The National, Abu Dhabi Media's first English-language publication}}</ref>

In a 2019 Guardian article, Geldof discussed his climate action views; He noted that after decades of decline, global hunger has begun rising again, with 820 million people facing chronic food insecurity, and that smallholder farmers are particularly affected by extreme weather events. He also emphasised that food production contributes to climate change through methane emissions and deforestation. Geldof argued that achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly zero hunger, requires immediate investment in smallholder farmers and coordination among governments, international organisations, and private actors. He cited the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme as an example of effective international cooperation and noted upcoming global summits as opportunities to address hunger while maintaining environmental sustainability.<ref>{{cite news |author=Bob Geldof |date=16 October 2019 |title=How do we feed the world without destroying the planet? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/16/how-do-we-feed-the-world-without-destroying-the-planet |work=[[The Guardian]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>

In October 2022, Bob Geldof expressed support for climate activists who threw soup over [[Sunflowers (Van Gogh series)|Van Gogh's ''Sunflowers'']] at the [[National Gallery]] in London, describing their actions as "1,000% right" and "clever" because the painting was protected by glass and not damaged. He acknowledged that while the act was annoying, it drew attention to the urgency of climate change, which he considered a greater threat than temporary disruption. Geldof also commented on the broader climate movement, stating he supported the passion and bravery of activists and rejected the idea that Western humanitarian efforts should be dismissed as “white saviour” interventions.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=22 October 2022 |title=Bob Geldof backs climate activists |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2022/1025/1331075-bob-geldof-backs-climate-activists/ |work=[[RTÉ News]] |location= |publisher= |access-date=22 September 2025}}</ref>

===Sex work and AIDS prevention===
During a special session at the [[XX International AIDS Conference, 2014]], Geldof referred to [[sex workers]] as "[[Prostitute|hookers]]",<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/PIo4TMZSMy4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150528090804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIo4TMZSMy4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIo4TMZSMy4 |title=A Conversation with Sir Bob Geldof: HIV and Poverty - the Challenges Ahead |publisher=International AIDS Conferences |date=15 August 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> for which he was subsequently criticised. Christian Vega, a [[sex workers' rights]] activist, criticised speakers (including Geldof) for their use of what he viewed as pejorative language; Vega contended that this language perpetuated stigmas that are among the key barriers to HIV prevention.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/07/24/engage-africa-fight-aids-geldof |title=Engage with Africa to fight AIDS: Geldof |publisher=SBS News |date=24 July 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref> Geldof responded to the criticism during the closing session of the conference: "I read today in the paper that my talk yesterday was littered with profanities – fuck them." In Geldof's view, rights-based language hampered HIV prevention, and he defended using terms such as "hookers" and "[[wikt:junky|junkies]]": "Let's not get distracted by diversionary language. Let's call it as it is."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ZNATkRmIUp0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150522092413/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNATkRmIUp0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNATkRmIUp0 |title=Closing Session |publisher=International AIDS Conferences |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In a radio show after the conference on [[Joy 94.9]], Vega dismissed Geldof's view that rights-based language was a waste of time as "ridiculous". In Vega's view, this language served as an important tool to challenge [[Social stigma|stigma]] and discrimination, particularly within an HIV context.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://joy.org.au/saturdaymagazine/2014/07/when-someone-calls-you-a-hooker/ |title=When someone calls you a hooker |publisher=Ben Rylan JOY 94.9 |date=26 July 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
[[File:Star Knight Commander of the British Empire.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire|Honorary KBE]] insignia]]

Geldof has received many awards for his fund-raising work including being invested by Elizabeth II as an honorary Knight Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] in 1986. Geldof is entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KBE" but not to be [[style (manner of address)|styled]] "[[Sir]]", as he is not a citizen of a [[Commonwealth realm]];<ref>{{cite book | title=Debrett's Correct Form| year=2006| publisher=Debrett's Limited|location=Richmond, Surrey| isbn=978-1-870520-88-1| pages=98, 100| edition=2006|editor1=Elizabeth Wyse |editor2=Jo Aitchison |editor3=Zöe Gullen |editor4=Eleanor Mathieson | chapter=Forms of Address| quote=When a foreign national receives an honorary knighthood of an order of chivalry, he is not entitled to the prefix Sir, but he may place the appropriate letters after his name. ... An honorary knight of an order of chivalry uses the appropriate letters after his name, but without the prefix 'Sir', because he is not eligible to receive the [[accolade]].}}</ref> nevertheless the nickname "Sir Bob" has stuck and media reports continue to refer to him as "Sir Bob Geldof".<ref>E.g. {{cite news|title=Sir Bob Geldof at 60 |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/starinterviews/article-23988530-sir-bob-geldof-at-60.do |access-date=5 February 2012 |newspaper=[[Evening Standard]] |location=London |date=19 September 2011 |author=Simon Mills |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228164958/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/starinterviews/article-23988530-sir-bob-geldof-at-60.do |archive-date=28 December 2011 }}</ref>

In 1985, he was made a Grand Officer of the [[Order of the Two Niles]] by Sudan's president [[Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bob Geldof Receives the Order of the Two Niles |url=https://anecdotage.com/anecdotes/bob-geldof-receives-the-order-of-the-two-niles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313202259/https://anecdotage.com/anecdotes/bob-geldof-receives-the-order-of-the-two-niles |archive-date=13 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=anecdotage.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=FASHION FOR AID » 16 Nov 1985 » The Spectator Archive |url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/16th-november-1985/20/fashion-for-aid |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313195249/http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/16th-november-1985/20/fashion-for-aid |archive-date=13 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023 |website=The Spectator Archive}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chittenden |first=Maurice |title=Bob Geldof swaps punk for heavy medal show |language=en |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/france/paris/bob-geldof-swaps-punk-for-heavy-medal-show-07tr25gw666 |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313193937/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bob-geldof-swaps-punk-for-heavy-medal-show-07tr25gw666 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In 1986 Geldof was made a [[estates of the realm|Freeman]] of the [[Borough]] of [[Borough of Swale|Swale]], in north [[Kent]], England.  Geldof had for some years been resident in the borough, at [[Davington Priory]], [[Faversham]], and was still living there {{As of|2013|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news | first=Lauren |last=Fruen|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/bob-geldof-4191/| title=Boomtown Spat: Superstar Bob Geldof in bitter row with neighbour over new gate near Davington home| date=2 August 2013| website=Kentonline.co.uk| access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> He received his award during a special meeting of the Swale Borough Council from the mayor, Councillor Richard Moreton, and the mayoress, Rose Moreton.

In 2006 the ''[[New Statesman]]'' magazine conducted a survey of their readers to find the ''Heroes of our Time'', Geldof was voted third behind [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] and [[Nelson Mandela]].<ref name="NewStatesmanHeroes">{{cite web |author1=Jason Cowley |title=Heroes of our time - the top 50 |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/politics/2014/04/heroes-our-time-top-50 |website=New Statesman |access-date=21 May 2019 |date=22 May 2006}}</ref>

===Other awards===
*2005: received a [[Man of Peace|Man of Peace Award]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4466340.stm|title=BBC NEWS Entertainment Bob Geldof receives peace award|website=News.bbc.co.uk|access-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>
*2006: awarded the medal of [[Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/lifestyle/2007-06/05/content_887723.htm |title=Geldof breaks dress etiquette with major medal-wearing faux pas |website=Chinadaily.com.cn |date=5 June 2007 |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref>
*2006: awarded the [[Freedom of the City of Dublin]] for his humanitarian work.<ref>{{cite news|title = Geldof awarded freedom of Dublin|url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4779378.stm|work = [[BBC News]]|date = 6 March 2006|access-date = 10 April 2014|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140413155601/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4779378.stm|archive-date = 13 April 2014}}</ref> In 2017, Geldof returned the award in a protest at Myanmar leader [[Aung San Suu Kyi]] holding the same honour. Dublin City Council voted to revoke both Suu Kyi's and Geldof's awards.<ref name = SuuKyiRevokedRTE />
*2010: awarded [[Honorary degree|Hon.]] [[Master of Arts]] degree from the [[University for the Creative Arts]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10312885 | title=Bob Geldof to get UCA honorary degree | publisher=BBC | date = 14 June 2010 | access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref>
*2013: awarded the [[Freedom of the City of London]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.therightaddress.co.uk/news/Bob-Geldof/ |title=Blog - New Honour for Sir Bob Geldof |website=Therightaddress.co.uk |date=3 September 2013 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref>
*2014: awarded with [[BASCA]] Gold Badge Award<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/sir-bob-geldof-honoured-gold-badge-awards/|title=Sir Bob Geldof to be honoured by Gold Badge Awards - M Magazine|date=10 September 2014|work=M magazine: PRS for Music online magazine|access-date=22 November 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145257/https://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/sir-bob-geldof-honoured-gold-badge-awards/|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> in recognition of his unique contribution to the field of music production.

==Personal life==
[[File:Bob Geldof.jpg|right|thumb|upright|Geldof in 1991]]

Geldof's longtime girlfriend and first wife was [[Paula Yates]]. Yates was a rock journalist, and later became the presenter of the music show ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]'' which ran from 1982 to 1987. She was known for her in-bed interviews on the show ''[[The Big Breakfast]]'' from 1992. Geldof met Yates when she became an obsessed fan of The Boomtown Rats during the band's early days. They became a couple in 1976 when Yates flew to Paris to surprise him when the band was playing there.

Before they were married, the couple had their first daughter, Fifi Trixibelle Geldof, born 31 March 1983. She was named Fifi after Bob's aunt Fifi and Trixibelle because Yates wanted a 'belle' in the family.<ref name="GeldofBio"/>

After 10 years together, Geldof and Yates married in June 1986 in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], with [[Simon Le Bon]] (of [[Duran Duran]]) acting as Geldof's [[best man]]. The couple later had two more daughters, [[Peaches Geldof|Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://twitter.com/peaches_g/status/10584937407 |title=Twitter / Peaches Geldof: Just to clarify once and f |website=Twitter.com |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref> (known as Peaches Geldof) on 13 March 1989,{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} and [[Pixie Geldof|Little Pixie Geldof]] (known as Pixie Geldof) on 17 September 1990.{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} Pixie is said to be named after a celebrity daughter character from the cartoon ''Celeb'' in the satirical magazine ''[[Private Eye]],'' itself a lampoon of the names the Geldofs gave to their other children.

In February 1995, Yates left Geldof for [[Michael Hutchence]], the lead singer of [[Australia]]n band [[INXS]].<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/sep/18/broadcasting.uknews2|title=Sex, drugs and rock'n'roll stars: the lethal cocktail that ended in tragedy|first=Vikram|last=Dodd|date=18 September 2000|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref> Yates had first met Hutchence in 1985 when she interviewed him on ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]].''<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/the-story-of-michael-hutchence-and-paula-yates-36330465.html|title=The story of Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates|website=Independent.ie|date=20 November 2017 }}</ref> Geldof and Yates divorced in May 1996.<ref name="auto2"/> Yates and Hutchence had a daughter, [[Tiger Hutchence-Geldof|Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence]] (known as Tiger), in July 1996.<ref name="auto1"/>

Hutchence died by suicide in a [[Sydney]] hotel room on 22 November 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/november/22/newsid_4006000/4006205.stm|title=1997: Michael Hutchence found dead in hotel|date=22 November 1997|website=News.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> After Hutchence's death, Geldof and Yates each gave police statements on the phone calls they exchanged with Hutchence that morning; however, they did not volunteer their phone records. Yates' statement on 26 November included "He was frightened and couldn't stand a minute more without his baby ... [he] was terribly upset and he said, 'I don't know how I'll live without seeing Tiger.{{'"}} Yates contended that Geldof had repeatedly said, "Don't forget, I am above the law," referring to his influence since Live Aid.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michaelhutchenceinfo.com/library_section1.htm |title=Michael Hutchence – Official Website – Library – Section 1 |website=Michaelhutchenceinfo.com |access-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> Geldof's police statements and evidence to the coroner indicated that he patiently listened to Hutchence who was "hectoring and abusive and threatening." A friend of Yates and Geldof confirmed the substance of this call and added that Geldof had said, "I know what time the call ended, it was 20 to 7, I was going to log it as a threatening call." The occupant in the hotel room next to Hutchence's heard a loud male voice and swearing at about 5:00&nbsp;a.m. The coroner was satisfied that this voice was Hutchence arguing with Geldof.<ref name="HandInquestReport">{{cite web |url=http://www.destinytours.com.au/factsheet3.doc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901015306/http://www.destinytours.com.au/factsheet3.doc |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 September 2007 |title=Inquest into the death of Michael Kelland Hutchence |website=Destinytours.com.au |format=doc |access-date=9 December 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Hand">{{cite book |last1=Hand |first1=Derrick |last2=Fife-Yeomans |first2=Janet |title=The Coroner: Investigating Sudden Death |orig-year=2004 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Allen & Unwin]] |location=Sydney, NSW |isbn=978-0-7333-2221-1}}</ref>

Geldof later went to court and obtained full custody of his three children.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/geldof-blames-decision-of-family-courts-for-daughters-pain-30689924.html|title=Geldof blames decision of family courts for daughters' pain|website=Independent.ie|date=24 October 2014 }}</ref> He has since become an outspoken advocate of [[fathers' rights]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/12/children.immigrationpolicy|title=Geldof asked to save family courts from angry fathers|first1=Gaby|last1=Hinsliff|date=11 October 2003|website=Theguardian.com}}</ref> After Yates' death from a heroin overdose in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/11/peaches-geldof-died-next-to-her-baby/|title=Peaches Geldof died next to her baby|website=Mercurynews.com|date=11 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=8 November 2000|title=Heroin overdose killed Yates|language=en-GB|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1013404.stm|access-date=14 June 2020}}</ref> Geldof became the legal guardian of Tiger Hutchence<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-peaches-geldof-dead-bob-geldof-20140407-story.html|title=Peaches Geldof found dead at home; Bob Geldof's daughter was 25|date=7 April 2014|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> and later adopted her in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawyer |first=Miranda |date=18 October 2014 |title=Bob Geldof: 'We are a normal family. And one of us didn't make it' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/18/bob-geldof-peaches-paula-yates-press-boomtown-rats |quote=Bob and his family took in their daughter, Tiger Lily, formally adopting her in 2007. |website=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/tiger-lily-hutchence-19-looks-like-the-spitting-image-of-late-father/news-story/9e0dd20abe1ba60eadd675e6eaf05bc7|title=Tiger Lily Hutchence is all grown up|date=20 September 2015|website=Heraldsun.com.au}}</ref> As of 2022, Tiger's legal name is Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence-Geldof.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2022 |title=Pond frontman Nick Allbrook on life with Tiger Lily Hutchence-Geldof and new album 9 |url=https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/pond-frontman-nick-allbrook-on-life-with-tiger-lily-hutchence-geldof-and-new-album-9-ng-b881902602z |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221003105619/https://thewest.com.au/entertainment/pond-frontman-nick-allbrook-on-life-with-tiger-lily-hutchence-geldof-and-new-album-9-ng-b881902602z |archive-date=3 October 2022 |access-date=18 August 2025 |website=[[The West Australian]]}}</ref>

In April 2014, his daughter Peaches died at the age of 25, of a heroin overdose.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26931337 |title=BBC News - Peaches Geldof: Writer and TV presenter dies aged 25 |website=Bbc.co.uk |date=26 April 2013 |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-33376849|title=Peaches Geldof drug death case closed|date=3 July 2015|work=BBC News|access-date=22 November 2018|language=en-GB}}</ref> Geldof stated the family was "beyond pain" after he confirmed the news of her death.<ref>{{cite news| author=Robert Booth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2014/apr/07/peaches-geldof-found-dead-aged-25 |title=Peaches Geldof found dead aged 25 &#124; Culture |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=10 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/bob-geldof-admits-he-half-expected-tragic-death-of-daughter-peaches/| website=Evoke.ie| title= Bob Geldof admits he 'half expected' tragic death of daughter Peaches| date= 29 November 2015| access-date= 30 November 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151208063710/http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/bob-geldof-admits-he-half-expected-tragic-death-of-daughter-peaches/| archive-date= 8 December 2015| url-status= dead}}</ref>

Geldof announced his engagement to French actress Jeanne Marine, his partner of 18 years, on 1 May 2014, and they were married in France on 28 April 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Bob Geldof engaged to marry girlfriend of 18 years Jeanne Marine as Peaches' toxicology results due|url=https://metro.co.uk/2014/05/01/grieving-bob-geldof-engaged-to-marry-girlfriend-of-18-years-jeanne-marine-as-peaches-toxicology-test-results-set-to-reveal-heroin-overdose-4715130/|access-date=2 May 2014|newspaper=Metro|date=1 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url= http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/bob-geldof-marries-in-france-just-weeks-after-first-anniversary-of-daughter-peaches-tragic-death/ | website=Evoke.ie | title= Bob Geldof marries in France..just weeks after the first anniversary of daughter Peaches' tragic death | date= 28 April 2015 | access-date= 29 April 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150504064048/http://www.evoke.ie/showbiz/bob-geldof-marries-in-france-just-weeks-after-first-anniversary-of-daughter-peaches-tragic-death/ | archive-date= 4 May 2015 | url-status= dead}}</ref> They currently reside in [[Battersea]], South London.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/bono-and-i-were-the-fking-eejits-29568318.html| title= Bono and I, we're the f**king eejits...| date=10 September 2013| newspaper=[[Irish Independent]]| access-date=12 September 2013}}</ref>

According to [[The Sunday Times Rich List]], Geldof was worth £32 million in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100158302/the-problem-with-god-is-he-thinks-hes-bob-geldof | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518232659/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100158302/the-problem-with-god-is-he-thinks-hes-bob-geldof/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=18 May 2012 | title=The problem with God is He thinks He's Bob Geldof| date=16 May 2012| access-date=10 October 2013| newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{For|more information on Geldof's solo recordings|Bob Geldof discography}}
{{For|Geldof's recordings with the Boomtown Rats|The Boomtown Rats discography}}

===Solo albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
!rowspan="2"|Title
!colspan="10"|Peak chart positions
|-
!width="35"|<small>[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]</small><br /><ref name="UK">Bob Geldof in UK Charts
* {{cite web | url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/bob%20geldof/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208201849/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/bob%20geldof/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 February 2013 | title=Bob Geldof | publisher=The Official Charts Company | access-date=23 February 2011 }}
* {{cite web | url=http://zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_G.HTM | title=Chart Log UK 1994–2008: Gina G – GZA | website=Zobbel.de | access-date=23 February 2011 }}
* {{cite web | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ | title=The Official Charts Company – Bob Geldof | publisher=[[Official Charts Company]] | access-date=10 September 2011 }}
</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small><ref name="AUT" />
!width="35"|<small>[[MegaCharts|AUT]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT">{{cite web 
 |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof 
 |title=dutchcharts.nl – Discografie Bob Geldof 
 |publisher=Hung Medien 
 |access-date=10 September 2011
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025194535/http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof 
 |archive-date=25 October 2012
}}</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[Media Control Charts|GER]]</small><br /><ref name="GER1">{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.de/search.asp?search=bob+geldof&x=0&y=0&cat=a&country=de | title= charts.de – suche (Album): Bob Geldof | publisher=[[Media Control]] | access-date=10 September 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[Irish Albums Chart|IRE]]</small><br /><ref name="IRE1">{{cite web |url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof |title=irish-charts.com – Bob Geldof (2000–2011) |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007221253/http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof |archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[MegaCharts|NL]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT" />

!width="35"|<small>[[VG-lista|NOR]]</small><br /><ref name="NOR">{{cite web 
 |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof 
 |title=norwegiancharts.com – Discography Bob Geldof 
 |publisher=Hung Medien 
 |access-date=10 September 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007234613/http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Bob+Geldof 
 |archive-date=7 October 2011
}}</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT" />

!width="35"| <small>[[Swiss Music Charts|SWI]]</small><br /><ref name="SWI1">{{cite web
 |url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=bob%20geldof&cat=a 
 |title=hitparade.ch – search (alben) : Bob Geldof 
 |publisher=Hung Medien 
 |access-date=10 September 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009171257/http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=bob%20geldof&cat=a 
 |archive-date=9 October 2011
}}</ref>

!width="35"|<small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small><br /><ref name="US1">{{cite web
| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-geldof-p4348/charts-awards/billboard-albums | title=Allmusic – Billboard Albums > Bob Geldof | website=[[AllMusic]] | access-date=10 September 2011}}</ref>
|-
|1986
|''[[Deep in the Heart of Nowhere]]''
* Released: 24 November 1986
* Label: [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] (UK) / [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] (US)
| style="text-align:center;"| 79
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| 130
|-
|1990
|''[[The Vegetarians of Love]]''
* Released: 23 July 1990
* Label: Mercury (UK) / Atlantic (US)
| style="text-align:center;"| 21
| style="text-align:center;"| 43
| style="text-align:center;"| 27
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 37
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| -
|-
|1992
|''[[The Happy Club]]''
* Released: 5 October 1992
* Label: Mercury (UK) / Atlantic (US)
| style="text-align:center;"| —<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/23730/bob-geldof/|title=BOB GELDOF &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=5 June 2020}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"| 91
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
| style="text-align:center;"| 52
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 73
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 39
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
|2001
|''[[Sex, Age & Death]]''
* Released: 1 October 2001
* Label: [[Eagle Records]] (UK) / [[Koch Records]] (US)
| style="text-align:center;"| 134
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
|2010
|''[[How to Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell]]''
* Released: 12 October 2010
* Label: Mercury (UK) / Atlantic (US)
| style="text-align:center;"| 89
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 87
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart.
|}

===Compilation albums===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:400px;"|Title
!|Peak chart positions
|-
!width="35"|<small>[[UK Albums Chart|UK]]</small><br /><ref name="UK" />
|-
|1994
|''[[Loudmouth – The Best of Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats]]''
* includes solo recordings and Boomtown Rats songs
* Released: 27 June 1994
* Label: [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
|-
|2005
|''Great Songs of Indifference: The Anthology 1986–2001''
* Box Set including the first 4 solo albums
* Released: 14 November 2005
* Label: Mercury
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart.
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="9" | Chart positions
!rowspan="2"| Album
|-
!width="35"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small><br /><ref name="UK" />
!width="35"| <small>[[ARIA Charts|AUS]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT" /><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.bubblingdownunder.com/2025/06/week-commencing-7-june-1993.html| title=Bubbling Down Under Week commencing 7 June 1993  |website=Bubbling Down Under|access-date=7 June 2025}}</ref>
!width="35"| <small>[[Media Control Charts|GER]]</small><br /><ref name="GER2">{{cite web | url=http://www.officialcharts.de/search.asp?search=bob+geldof&x=2&y=8&cat=s&country=de | title= charts.de – suche (Song): Bob Geldof | publisher=[[Media Control]] | access-date=10 September 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
!width="35"| <small>[[Irish Singles Chart|IRE]]</small><br /><ref name="IRE2">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement 
 |title=The Irish Charts – search: Bob Geldof 
 |publisher=[[Irish Recorded Music Association|IRMA]] 
 |access-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105231849/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement 
 |archive-date=5 January 2010
}}</ref>
!width="35"| <small>[[MegaCharts|NL]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT" />
!width="35"| <small>[[VG-lista|NOR]]</small><br /><ref name="NOR" />
!width="35"| <small>[[Sverigetopplistan|SWE]]</small><br /><ref name="AUT" />
!width="35"| <small>[[Swiss Music Charts|SWI]]</small><br /><ref name="SWI2">{{cite web
 |url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=bob%20geldof&cat=s 
 |title=hitparade.ch – search (songs) : Bob Geldof 
 |publisher=Hung Medien 
 |access-date=10 September 2011 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009211237/http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=bob%20geldof&cat=s 
 |archive-date=9 October 2011
}}</ref>
!width="35"|<small>[[Billboard 200|US]]</small><br /><ref name="US3">{{cite web
| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-geldof-p4348/charts-awards/billboard-singles | title=Allmusic – Billboard Albums > Bob Geldof | website=[[AllMusic]] | access-date=10 September 2011}}</ref>
|-
| 1986
| "This Is the World Calling"
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 93
| style="text-align:center;"| 28
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 29
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 10
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"| 82<br /><sup>{{anchor|ref_A}}[[#endnote A|'''[A]''']]</sup>
|rowspan="5"| ''Deep in the Heart of Nowhere''
|-
|rowspan="4"| 1987
| "Love Like a Rocket"
| style="text-align:center;"| 61
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"| 21
| style="text-align:center;"| 76
| style="text-align:center;"| 11
| style="text-align:center;"| 60
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| "Heartless Heart"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| "I Cry Too"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| "In the Pouring Rain"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
|rowspan="3"| 1990
| "The Great Song of Indifference"
| style="text-align:center;"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| 25
| style="text-align:center;"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|rowspan="3"| ''Vegetarians of Love''
|-
| "Love or Something"
| style="text-align:center;"| 86
| style="text-align:center;"| 74
| style="text-align:center;"| 55
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —<br /><sup>{{anchor|ref_B}}[[#endnote B|'''[B]''']]</sup>
|-
| "A Gospel Song"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1992
| "Room 19 (Sha La La La Lee)"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 53
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|rowspan="4"| ''Happy Club''
|-
| "My Hippy Angel"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 143
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1993
| "The Happy Club"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| "Yeah, Definitely"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1994
| "Crazy"
| style="text-align:center;"| 65
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 72
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| ''Loudmouth – The Best of Bob Geldof & the Boomtown Rats''
|-
| 1996
| "[[Rat Trap]]" <br /><small>''([[Dustin the Turkey|Dustin]] & Geldof)''</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|
|-
| 2002
| "Pale White Girls"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| ''Sex Age & Death''
|-
|rowspan="2"| 2011
| "Silly Pretty Thing"
| style="text-align:center;"| 146
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|rowspan="2"| ''How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell''
|-
| "Here's To You"
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|}
;Table Notes
* A{{anchor|endnote_A}}'''[[#ref A|^]]''' "This Is the World Calling" also charted at No. 23 on [[Mainstream Rock Tracks|Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks]] Chart.<ref name="US2" />
* B{{anchor|endnote_B}}'''[[#ref B|^]]''' "Love or Something" charted at No. 24 on [[Modern Rock Tracks|Billboard Modern Rock Tracks]] Chart.<ref name="US2">{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/great-songs-of-indifference-the-best-of-bob-geldof-the-boomtown-rats-r260032/charts-awards/billboard-single | title=Great Songs of Indifference: The Best of Bob Geldof & the Boomtown Rats – Boomtown Rats|website=[[AllMusic]]| access-date=10 September 2011}}</ref>

==Film appearances==
{{BLP sources section|date=February 2020}}
* ''[[Pink Floyd – The Wall]]'' (1982) – Pink<ref>{{cite web|author=J.C. Maçek III|title=The Cinematic Experience of Roger Waters' 'The Wall Live'|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/162226-the-cinematic-experience-of-roger-waters-the-wall-live/|date=5 September 2012|work=[[PopMatters]]|access-date=3 November 2020}}</ref>
* ''Number One'' (1985) – Harry 'Flash' Gordon
* ''[[Bernard and the Genie]]'' (1991 film) – as Himself (cameo)
* ''[[Spiceworld (film)|Spiceworld]]'' (1997) – as himself (cameo)
* ''[[Being Mick]]'' (2001) – as himself
* ''I am Bob'' (short film 2007) – in which he loses a lookalike contest (even after singing the Boomtown Rats' hit "[[I Don't Like Mondays]]".)
* ''Oh My God'' (2009) – as himself
* ''[[Bad Girl (2012 film)|Bad Girl]]'' (2012) – as George
* ''A Fanatic Heart: Geldof on Yeats'' (2016)
* ''[[Zombie Plane]]'' (2025)

==In literature==
In the story "Le jour du jugement dernier", from the collection "Les Mémoires de Satan", by [[Pierre Cormon]], God tries to judge Bob Geldof but doesn't succeed.

==See also==
* [[Millennium Development Goals]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q216608|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|species=no|f=no|q=no|wikt=no}}
* {{Official website}}
*{{AllMusic}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{IMDb name|0002097|Bob Geldof}}
*{{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{Bob Geldof|state=expanded}}
{{Africa Progress Panel}}
{{Commission for Africa}}
{{The Boomtown Rats}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geldof, Bob}}
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