The Boomtown Rats

The Boomtown Rats formed in 1975 and rose to prominence in Dublin, Ireland. The collective consisted of 6 natives of the Irish town Dún Laoghaire including the following lineup: vocalist Bob Geldof, lead guitarist Garry Roberts, keyboardist Johnnie Fingers, bassist Pete Briquette, rhythm guitarist Garry Cott, and drummer Simon Crowe. Before they were known as the Boomtown Rats they were called the Nightlife Thugs (a name that guitarist Roberts detested). The band later switched their name to a reference Geldof came across when reading Woody Guthrie’s autobiography “Bound for Glory”.

A year after the band’s formation they moved to London and inevitably got caught up in the punk rock movement combusting in the city. Influenced by the likes of the Sex Pistols, the band released their first single “Lookin’ After No.1” a grating, rhythmically dislocated track that oozed with excitement. This track headed their 1977 self-titled debut album, which features a string of tongue-in-cheek punk songs including the No.15 UK charting single “Mary on the 4th Form”.

The band’s second album “A Tonic for the Troops” was a landmark release for the punk community. It was very well received both critically and commercially, containing the 3 hit tracks “Like Clockwork”, “She’s So Modern” and “Rat Trap”. The latter track broke multiple records being recognized as the first single by an Irish Rock Band to top the charts in the UK, the first single by an Irish band to peak at No.1 on the BBC charts and also the first New Wave Single to take the top spot on the charts.

The group did not remotely let up on their stride. They subsequently put out their highly catchy but controversial single (a song about the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School Shootings) to widespread praise and commercial acceptance. It climbed the charts to the No.1 position in multiple countries although it did not top the charts in America. However it was the band’s first and only single to reach the US Billboard Hot 100. This song was later included on their third studio album “The Fine Art of Surfacing” alongside another U.K. Top Ten hit “Someone’s Looking At You”.

A year later the band put out another UK Top Ten single “Banana Republic” and followed it up with their 1981 album “Mondo Bongo”. The band started to lose steam after this release. “Banana Republic” was the band’s last major commercial success and their album “Mondo Bongo” would be the last release to feature guitarist Cott (who left the group to pursue a solo career).

The band continued to press on without Cott’s presence and released their 5th studio album “V Deep” in 1982 through Ensign Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US. “V Deep” featured the production work of skilled recording engineer Tony Visconti a producer who is credited with the involvement of such classic albums as T. Rex’s “Electric Warrior”, David Bowie’s “Heroes”, and Iggy Pop’s “The Idiot”.

The group’s next album “In the Long Grass” saw release in the UK in 1984; however, Columbia Records refused to put it out until the band made alternations on the track “Dave”. The album was eventually released in the US in 1985 and managed to chart at No. 188 on the US Billboard 200; however, it failed to chart in the UK and consequently ended the band’s recording contract.

Despite the Boomtown Rat’s disintegration, Geldof was able to establish a name for himself outside the band and with the help of Ultravox singer Midge Ure he wrote the massive hit “Do They Know it’s Christmas”, which went on to become the highest selling single in the U.K.

Geldof also immersed himself in charity work and founded the Live Aid concert series. Apart from his career as a recording artist and a his role as a political activist he received wide acclaim for his starring position in the Pink Floyd movie the Wall.