Bob Geldof has told the Evening Standard newspaper he believes he could have forged a more successful solo career akin to that of Paul Weller and Sting had he not begun pursuing high profile charity initiatives in the Eighties.
Geldof told the paper it would have been ‘criminally irresponsible’ of him not to launch the Band Aid and Live Aid fundraising events following the news of a large-scale famine which had hit parts of northern Africa, in particular Ethiopia, in the mid-Eighties, but admitted his philanthropic efforts have ‘damaged his music career’.
“It’s completely damaged my ability to do the thing I love,” he said. “If it hadn’t happened I think I would have been able to make the transition from The Boomtown Rats to a solo thing more like Paul Weller or Sting.”
Bob Geldof released his most recent solo album, ‘How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell‘, in February last year.
The difference between Geldof and Sting/Weller is they both left bands at their peak to pursue solo careers. Geldof only got a shot at a solo career in the wake of Live Aid. And totally blew it..
Had it not been for Live Aid, he’d probably have never recorded the last Rats album, and certainly would never have got a solo record deal. The reason he hasn’t had a solo career of any note is that his songs have been so consistently poor and there aren’t that many of them. Cancelling gigs at the drop of a hat hasn’t done too much for his fan base. Had he made some good records the adulation and respect may have followed, but these days he struggles to sell out smallish venues. And as for blaming his activism for his floundering music career, it hasn’t done his mate Bono too much harm.
I think that’s a load of balls from the sociopathic messiah that is bob geldof, he wouldn’t even BE famous without live aid, he rode the charity gravy train, come on let’s be honest here.