Living on a prayer

suss · In the Long Grass

Living on a prayer

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

Bob says never. But hopefully we are not as close as we'll ever be.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
Bob says never. But hopefully we are not as close as we'll ever be.

Bob said never. But that was then. I doubt it will happen, but when you consider that Garrick and Gerry have both appeared on stage with him, and Garrick contributed to one of the best songs on How To Compose Songs, then it is not beyond the bounds of possibility as it was say four or five years ago.

Maybe someone will see four Rats on stage/in a venue together. Absolutely convinced Gerry Cott is stalking me, that's the second time he's turned up when I've gone to a concert!

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 21st of September 2011 10:22:14 AM

noelindublin · Loudmouth

The only unknown factor is the relationship between Simon and Bob. Bob was upset when Simon and Johnny wanted to form Gung Ho, but surely this could have been done as a side project, and also Geldof could have recorded a solo album and put the Rats on hold for a few years. Stretching it, Garrick could have indulged himself and recorded some blues as a solo project.

Lots of bands have agreements where the release records which may be different to the main bands work. Also it is a chance for the band to get a break from each other and come back refreshed and with new enthusiasm and ideas.

How this would have worked in actuallity we will never know.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
The only unknown factor is the relationship between Simon and Bob. Bob was upset when Simon and Johnny wanted to form Gung Ho...

I think he was more upset about the News of the World article back in 1998.

http://new.music.yahoo.com/boomtown-rats/news/no-good-deed-goes-unpunished--12036568

(5/1/98) - Bob Geldof, whose humanitarian efforts via Live Aid won him a knighthood, is being condemned by his former band's drummer for being a penny-pinching pervert.

Geldof's onetime Boomtown Rats bandmate Simon Crowe told London's News Of The World newspaper that Geldof bedded "a different girl every night" and liked a game that involved "kinky spanking sessions with a silk Oriental slipper and a string of quivering naked groupies." Crowe even went so far as to divulge that Geldof "romped" with a Scottish horsewoman and left her naked and glowing from his smacks. He also claimed that Geldof never bought him a drink during the entire time he was with the band, and often took his dirty laundry out on the road in order to have management pay for his dry-cleaning. .

Sir Bob yesterday vehemently denied the scandalous allegations. "It's complete bollocks," he retorted..

The disgruntled drummer says Geldof owes him more than $334,000 in royalties, most of it from the hit "I Don't Like Mondays," which Crowe claims still generates more than $30,000 a year in radio play.

Being positive though, Geldof did go to see the Rats when they supported The Blockheads and he must have had a chat with Simon and Garrick. The whole royalties issue which seems to have been the source of the friction has obviously been resolved. I can't see Geldof re-forming the Rats formally, but it wouldn't surprise me if there was the odd cameo appearance every now and then in both acts.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Geldof's fortune is estimated at something like £36 million so it seems very possible that royalty issues were settled out of court, rather than having Geldof and the band thrashing it out in court as a public spectacle.

Geldof does have a reputation of being a bit stingy with money, but then lots of rich people are the same way. The old NOTW article is a bit sad, in every sense.

Simon Crowe, looking back on old videos over the years always gave of his best, enthusiastically doing great backing vocals and smashing those drums with great enthusiasm and skill. What went on behind the scenes, and the course of interpersonal relationships between all the band members we will never fully know-and yes money can have a poisonous influence to muddy the waters.

I'm not sure if there are still unresolved issues between Simon and Bob.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Just over two years ago, Gerry Cott is on record saying he and Bob Geldof weren't in touch and he had not played a Rats song since 1981. Just goes to show anything can happen and nothing is impossible.

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/bob-wanted-to-get-famous-rich-and-lots-of-women-1688955.html

Despite the rows and the fact that the pair have not been in touch, Gerry believes that Geldof may have saved him from a life of misery.

"I was resentful about how he steered the bank but I wouldn't have manifested my dream of being involved in music had it not been for Bob. I'd probably be unfulfilled, divorced and an alcoholic".

Gerry has not played any of the group's many hits since quitting.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Unfortunately the Herald feature is blocked. Wonder what went through Gerry's mind when the Rats and Geldof performed at Live Aid? Gerry did invite Bob to his Urban Landscape's gig in Surrey last year but I'm not sure exactly how the got in contact again. Thirty years is a long time. The fact that Gerry was on stage with Geldof and Pete Briquette is almost miraculous when you think about it and anybody who witnessed it should feel lucky.

I don't know how Chris de Burgh was in a group with Gary and Simon. Mike Odlum, Gary and Simon attended the same school in Waterford, but I don't know how Chris de Burgh comes into it.

When CG says he was resentful about how Geldof 'steered the bank' should that read 'band' or is it some reference to financial affairs?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Unfortunately the Herald feature is blocked.

Here's the article in full...

By Clodagh Sheehy

Friday March 27 2009

Getting rich, famous and laid were Bob Geldof's only goals, an ex-member of his rock group, the Boomtown Rats, has claimed.

Gerry Cott, co-founder and lead guitarist quit after clashes with the gobby Geldof and says he has never played their music from that day to this.

Gerry (54) blames Geldof's obsession with fame for the collapse of the Irish chart-topping group which had a series of hits between 1977 and 1980.

"Bob always said he wanted to be in The Boomtown Rats to get rich, famous and laid", says Gerry. "I just loved music. That's ultimately why we parted company. Our music became secondary.

"By the fourth album I had fully disengaged. It wasn't the Boomtown Rats anymore, it was Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats.

"His head was turned by celebrity. We'd lost direction. That's why I left".

The relationship between the two friends from Dun Laoghaire deteriorated to such a stage that at one point they had to be physically restrained from fighting on stage.

When the outspoken Geldof linked up with rock journalist Paula Yates, the relationship between Bob and Gerry deteriorated even further. Gerry resigned from the band in April 1981.

Despite the rows and the fact that the pair have not been in touch, Gerry believes that Geldof may have saved him from a life of misery.

Dream

"I was resentful about how he steered the bank but I wouldn't have manifested my dream of being involved in music had it not been for Bob. I'd probably be unfulfilled, divorced and an alcoholic".

Gerry has not played any of the group's many hits since quitting.

Rat Trap was the first rock song by an Irish band to reach No 1 in Britain and the group had nine straight singles in the British top 40.

Gerry and his wife Cathy train animals to perform in adverts and movies and have a second-hand clothes business.

He dismisses rumours of a Boomtown Rats reunion. "Garry Roberts and Simon Crowe reformed last year. They asked me but I wasn't interested but I wish them well".