Boomtown Rats

created by GollyGee

(thing) by GollyGee (?) (print) ? (I like it!) Sat Nov 13 1999 at 10:19:31

Irish new wave band from Dun Laoghaire founded in 1975 by Bob Geldof, originally called Nightlife Thugs. Named for a gang in the Woody Guthrie tribute film Bound For Glory. Included Johnnie Fingers, Gerry Cott, Pete Briquette, Gerry Roberts, Simon Crowe.

Big (late 70s) UK hits: Rat Trap, I Don't Like Mondays. Disbanded in 1986.

(thing) by too_fast_to_live (2.8 mon) (print) ? (I like it!) 1 C! Mon Mar 07 2005 at 18:11:05

The Boomtown Rats formed in 1975 in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. They went by the name Nightlight Thugs, but later changed their name and relocated to London in '76. They released their first album, Boomtown Rats, in 1977 - their first single was Lookin' after No. 1 which charted at #11. Their album was also the first punk album to be playlisted by the BBC. By 1981 they had released nine consecutive top twenty singles (their final U.K. top ten single would be Banana Republic).

The Boomtown Rats were moved by reports of the famine in Ethiopia, Bob Geldof, the bands frontman, and with Ultravox's Midge Ire cowrote and released Do they know it's Christmas?. Recorded in a single 24 hour session which included Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Boy George, Sting, and many others - they single sold over two million copies world wide in 10 days, charting at #1. The song still remains the biggest selling single to date in the history of British Pop. All the procedings went directly to famine relief.

Geldof and the Boomtown Rats played to host the 1985's Live Aid which included David Bowie, U2, Duran Duran. Led Zeppelin, Queen, and Madonna - all proceedings went to world hunger.

In earling 1986 the Boomtown Rats split up. Bob Geldof was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize

Boomtown Rats Discography:

Looking After No.1 (EP) - 1977 Ensign
The Boomtown Rats - 1977 Ensign
A Tonic For The Troops - 1978 Ensign
The Fine Art Of Surfacing - 1979 Ensign
Mondo Bongo - 1981 Mercury
House On Fire (EP) - 1982 Mercury
V Deep - 1982 Mercury
Charmed Lives (EP) - 1982 Mercury
Ratrospective (EP) - 1983 Columbia (U.S. release)
In The Long Grass - 1984 Mercury
Tonight (EP) - 1984 Mercury
Dave (EP) - 1984 Mercury
A Hold Of Me (EP) - 1985 Mercury

printable version
chaos

I Don't Like Mondays	Bob Geldof	The playing of the following four songs anywhere near a pianist is prohibited	Banana Republic
The Boondock Saints	Tales of Beatnik Glory	Toilet Humor	Irish-speak
sociology	The Alarm	Boston	Kool and the Gang
Parents don't understand the new economy	pet name	rat trap	Discordian Code
Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System	George Washington's 1793 State of the Union Address	Capitals of the World	pre
Toaster	Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof	punk	The Official UK Charts Company's 50th Anniversary Top 100 List

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