The Creative Entrepreneur - Sir Bob Geldof - April 2026
Apr, 1 2026
Tragedy, faith and bullying – these are the early circumstances that made Irish born Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof (better known as Bob Geldof) the resilient man he became and the determination to do good and to better his youthful experiences that were full of sadness and frustration.
Born 5th October 1951 he started his career just over 50 years ago as frontman of The Boomtown Rats who achieved chart success with songs such as ‘Rat Trap ‘ and ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’.
But it was to be his philanthropic work that he will always be remembered by. It was in 1984 when Geldof and frontman of Ultravox Midge Ure organised the charity supergroup Band Aid for famine relief with the best- selling single ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’ The following year the incredible Live Aid concert was transmitted around the world with a 20th anniversary show Live 8 in 2005.
Here he is talking to Parkinson in a sincere interview –
Geldof was just about to perform a Boomtown Rats number as this video ended but you can read the latest information on the band who last year celebrated their 50th anniversary –
https://www.theboomtownratsofficial.com/
As previously mentioned and in the video, Geldof articulately touched on his time creating Band Aid and the subsequent concerts. The song itself has experienced a series of re-workings over the years but the original will always be fondly remembered and all the proceeds went to third world areas in Africa.
Live Aid has recently reached a 40 year milestone and will no doubt be the thing that contributors Midge Ure and Spandau Ballets Tony Hadley will forever be grateful for.
Here they are with Geldof reflecting on the 40 years of Live Aid –
Geldof’s efforts were never in vain and the artists he chose to represent Live Aid will never forget their inclusion in this charitable endeavour. Even 40 years later they will recall Live Aid as their pivotal music highlight not winning awards or being on Top of the Pops. The collaborative efforts of each musician came to be an amazing night and although it’s attempted to be repeated – it simply could not.
The following article will see where we’re at in the timescale of Live Aid at 40 – What’s different now? –
https://msf.org.uk/article/live-aid-40-whats-different-now
Geldof is also involved in a series of organisations – as 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. The 2013 report outlined issues relating to oil, gas and mining in Africa.
In addition, 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.
He has been criticised for his philanthropic work over the years but this is a man who has stood by what’s right and remained loyal to his entrepreneurial spirit that makes this the business man not afraid to come out of his comfort zone and a determination to do good in a world full of bad.
His work in the 90’s which helped launch The Big Breakfast established himself as a business man. As of 2009, he served a term as patron of the Exeter Entrepreneurs' Society at the University of Exeter. Geldof is chairman of 8 Miles, a private equity firm active in Africa.
Now at 74 there is no sign of him slowing down, he is a testament to resilience and strength developed through personal tragedy and the courage to believe in something that will do good for the world. A charismatic frontman of a band and a legacy that is built around his philanthropic work never to be forgotten.
^Alex As
