Sir Bob Geldof has been around for a while, rising to the limelight as the lead singer of the Irish band The Boomtown Rats in the ’70s and ’80s, followed by a successful solo career and then fronting a global concert series for the world’s poor. No doubt he’s given countless press interviews, which probably explains his blunt answers. But in what has become an annual tradition, the man who was once in the running for a Nobel Peace Prize for his Live 8 concert initiative, back at Dubai’s Irish Village as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Soundbites chatted to the star ahead of his visit.
Q: You will always be known as the activist promoting aid for Africa — how do you feel about that?
A: How I feel doesn’t really matter; I did it simply because I wanted to.
Q: You are 61 and still on tour. What’s the lure?
A: Of course I would like to say the girls and the money, but on a serious note, I love entertaining.
Q: You’ve said in the past that you have a low boredom threshold — is that what continues to motivate you?
A: I definitely have a magpie-like mind. So yes, that’s probably right and I’m motivated by curiosity and boredom.
Q: As an Irishman how significant is St. Patrick’s Day for you?
A: I associate it with fun.
Q: Do you think your music from back in the day is still relevant today?
A: Yes, because it was inspired by the same conditions of economic distress, just at a different time.
Q: What do your kids think of your music?
A: They now understand their father is a genius.
Q: And what can we expect from Sir Bob Geldof in the future?
A: Maybe something from the Boomtown Rats, you’ll have to wait and see.
DONT MISS IT
Sir Bob Geldof kick starts the St. Patrick’s Day weekend celebrations at the Irish Village on Thursday March 14. Tickets, priced at Dh125, are available at the venue. Call 04 2824750 or go to irishvillage.ae
By Yusra Farzan
