After Dinner Speakers: Bob Geldof, Alastair Stewart, Frances Edmonds

Born in 1954 in Dublin, Ireland, Bob Geldof pursued a career in journalism beforeforming the rock group Boomtown Rats in 1975 and relocating to London. The Boomtown Rats became a well-known punk/new-wave act in Britain from 1977 until their breakup in 1986, though Americansuccess largely eluded them. Geldof is probably best known for organizing the 1985 Live Aid benefit for starvingAfrican children, inspired by a 1984 BBC documentary about famine in Ethiopia.When Geldof learned about the ongoing tragedy he flew to Africa to observe the situationfirst hand, then returned to England and gathered numerous British pop starstogether to record a charity single under the name Band Aid; that song, "Do They KnowIt's Christmas," became the best-selling U.K. single of all time, and inspired a similar1985 U.S. single "We Are The World." During the summer of 1985 Geldof helped planthe intercontinental charity event Live Aid, a set of simultaneous all-star charity concertsheld in London and Philadelphia on July 13, 1985. The proceeds and other donationsamounted to millions of dollars, which was used to feed starving Africans. Geldof wasnominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. His autobiographywent on to become a best-seller in Britain. When the final Boomtown Rats album, In the Long Deep Grass, stiffed in 1986,the band broke up and Geldof began a solo career. His first album, Deep in theHeart of Nowhere was released later that same year and featured a more traditionalrock sound than the Boomtown Rats, even featuring a guest appearance by Eric Clapton.The album was followed by 1990's Irish-influenced Vegetarians of Love, 1992'sHappy Club, and 1994's Loudmouth. While his work with the BoomtownRats and highly regarded reputation gave Geldof's solo career some modicum of success in Britain, he remains virtually unknown in the U.S., perhaps best remembered for a majoracting role in the 1982 film adaptation of Pink Floyd's The Wall.