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As the Boomtown Rats embark on their 50th Anniversary tour we celebrate them and their lead singer through Bob Geldof’s ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ appearances over many decades.
Bob remembers standing on a teacher’s table at their first gig at a college in 1975, getting early support from John Peel, releasing rats into the audience at concerts in Dublin, helping George Harrison remember the chords for Here Comes The Sun and helping to build the M25/M23 junction.

We also hear about the origin of key songs such as the first Irish and New Wave Number One single Rat Trap, the controversial news story which inspired I Don’t Like Mondays as well as their other hits such as Mary Of The Fourth Form, She’s So Modern and Someone’s Looking At You and the fact that many of the subjects remain pertinent today.

Bob also talks about the differences in his solo career and the problems with managing his reputation as world famous campaigner while trying to make a living as a songwriter and performer and reforming what he calls “the greatest rock band in the world… from Dun Laoghaire".

Presenters featured include Paul Gambaccini, Steve Wright, Tim Smith, Bob Harris, Janice Long, Terry Wogan, Sue Lawley & Zoe Ball