You don’t have to be a saint to do something that has a profound effect on history, and the world around you. Sometimes you just have to be a regular person who gives a damn. After all, consider the case of Bob Geldof. Back in 1984, Geldof, a pop star on the shady side of his career, was eating dinner and watching TV. Flashing across the screen were images of people whose problems were far worse than a disintegrating band. On that night was a documentary about the venomous famines that had stricken Africa. Geldof was moved to do something about it. At first, his plans were modest —... Read More

It was late 1984, and Boomtown Rats front man Bob Geldof was sitting down to watch a bit of telly as the calendar began to turn towards the holidays. However, what he saw that evening was anything but festive. Geldof watched as a documentary news program detailed the horrible starving and suffering going on in Africa due to incredible droughts and oppression. And as he watched, he was moved to tears, sorrow, and finally, action. He knew he had to do something to help, but just donating money himself seemed so small, so insignificant. How could he do something larger? Finally, he had the idea, and... Read More

Its Monday, and you know what that means. That’s right. It’s time for The Video You Deserve. Mondays can be pretty dismal and dingy. And really, so is the subject matter of this song and video, but it’s so damn cheesy and goofy that it transcends what should and could be a much sadder subject. It was the biggest hit for Britain’s Boomtown Rats, and their only hit to cross over to America. It was also one of the most popular videos in the early days of MTV, and it’s probably the only number one hit to create a poppy chart smash about a mass murder by a demented schoolgirl, who,... Read More

It was late 1984, and Boomtown Rats front man Bob Geldof was sitting down to watch a bit of telly as the calendar began to turn towards the holidays. However, what he saw that evening was anything but festive. Geldof watched as a documentary news program detailed the horrible starving and suffering going on in Africa due to incredible droughts and oppression. And as he watched, he was moved to tears, sorrow, and finally, action. He knew he had to do something to help, but just donating money himself seemed so small, so insignificant. How could he do something larger? Finally, he had the idea, and... Read More