Bob Geldof

BOB GELDOF. Irish singer-songwriter, author, political activist and occasional actor. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Irish rock band The Boomtown Rats in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band scored UK No1 hits with his compositions ; "Rat Trap" and "I Don't Like Mondays". He also co-wrote the charity song "Do They Know It's Christmas" which is one of the biggest selling singles of all time. He was married to journalist and music presenter Paula Yates between 1986-1995. She died of an accidental heroin overdose aged 41 in 2000. Geldof is widely recognised for his activism, especially anti-poverty efforts concerning Africa. In 1984, he and Midge Ure founded the charity supergroup Band Aid to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. They went on to organise the charity super-concert Live Aid the following year and the Live 8 concerts in 2005. He was appointed an honorary knight by Elizabeth II and is a recipient of the Man of Peace title which recognises individuals who have made "an outstanding contribution to international social justice and peace", among numerous other awards and nominations.