When the Rats went to University

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

When the Rats went to University

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Jules wrote:

For some reason unknown to myself I didn't see the Rats more than once live and that was in 1979. In the early to mid 80s they were doing the Uni circuit. A friend of mine saw them, probably around 82-85 (that's when he was at Uni) and he said they refused, or rather Bob did, to do Rat Trap and Mondays and everyone was clamouring for them to do both tracks. Perhaps they were fed up with playing them and wanted to show the world they had more to offer. I was wondering if anyone else saw them at this time and found the same thing?

I only saw them about three times in Ireland around the Long Grass period so didn't see them earlier.

My answer is that they had new material out which they probably considered worth playing live and were fed up of playing the old songs over and over.

It must be hard for any artist to go through the same songs night after night on tour and not feel a little like they are going through the motions.

I like the freshness and thrill of new songs so bring on the new Geldof album!

PS RE University- I think Gary and Simon dropped out of architecture college at Bolton Street in Dublin to form a little band.

Laibach · Someone's Looking At You

I saw the Rats at Bradford Uni in 83 and 84, Derek kindly provided a cd of the concerts and looking at the track list for the 83 gig they did perform Rat Trap but not Mondays, I vaguely remember being disapointed they didn't play it as its my favouraite Rats track but the excitement of hearing a number of new tracks made up for it.

BTR · Tonight

I saw them at the packed Manchester Apollo on the Long Grass tour and I was sure they didn't play Mondays at that gig. However, they did play Do They Know It's Christmas.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

BTR wrote:

I saw them at the packed Manchester Apollo on the Long Grass tour and I was sure they didn't play Mondays at that gig. However, they did play Do They Know It's Christmas.

There was a famous incident at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in the eighties when some actor who had enough of life on stage, and in the middle of a play said to the audience, "Sod this for a game of soldiers " and walked off stage never to be heard of again.

I always wanted the Rats to play their more obscure songs like the b sides which are rather good and I'd love to hear a live version of Real Different.

If people don't hear the hits they feel shortchanged and equally devoted fans always want to hear live versions of the less well known tracks or interesting cover versions of other songs. As the say you can't please all of the people .....

jamieuka · House on Fire

I saw them at Oxford Apollo on 21 Feb 1985 (ITLG tour). I distinctly remember they played 'A Hold Of Me', immeditately after which Geldof said (paraphrasing), "That's our latest single, not that you'd know it listening to the radio, they think this is our latest single," and went straight in to 'Mondays'. IIRC, 'Do They Know Its Christmas?' was the second and final encore.

I recall Geldof saying on a number of occasions that 'Mondays' became an albatross round their neck and the took to playing it as fast as possible and I've seen videos on youtube that bear this out!

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Why did I miss that gig in my home town? What was wrong with me? Not as though I was tired of them confuse

My friend thought Bob was arrogant in his refusal to play those 2 tracks. He'd probably just had enough and wanted people to hear other, better songs.