Geldof Concert in Libya 20th September 2007

Scottie · Loudmouth

Geldof Concert in Libya 20th September 2007

Joke · The Dutch One

RE: Has Bob ever played Lybia???????

oshora · CRAZY

Oh, no...Can't be? hmm

Lets do some research guys to see if it is possible that he was in Libia this month...

Well, he was booked for Dubai earlier this year. I don't think that concert was held. HMMMMMMMM.

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

I think Bob tends to maintain a dignified silence when there is bad press. Probably especially when it is lies. Responding may only serve to fuel the fire and he or his management will only get misquoted or taken out of context.

Ian · House on Fire

i can confirm that Bob and the Band did play in Libya

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

LIBYA

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

RE: Has Bob ever played Lybia???????

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Scottie wrote:
I am going to try to find out what happened from someone who was there, if I can. Will let you know if I get any response.

"What remains difficult to understand, however, is what was Geldof doing there in the first place? Accepting an invitation to play after the dictator's son's speech suggests support of a regime that has oppressed the Libyan people for 38 years." - Hisham Matar Booker Prize shortlisted Author

That is from someone who knew people that were there, seems pretty black & white, and is what I would consider to be a reliable non-anonymous source. There are other news items out there on this.

This sainted Geldof is not the Geldof I know, and some of the comments on this thread imply he is. How could Geldof have anything other than the best intentions?

Mine were tounge in cheek, yet seem to have caused an extreme reaction/discussion. I don't see that it's so hard to comprehend that Geldof is available for hire to the highest bidder, with little thought of the consequences.

"I think Bob tends to maintain a dignified silence when there is bad press. " - Jules

The way I see it is he doesn't like critcism. Dignified silence? He keeps quiet and likes to try to silence people. I know. I've been there.

I may be a fan of Geldof, but why does that mean he has to infallible? Surely he is due a bit of criticism from time to time.

-- Edited by ArrGee at 21:51, 2007-09-22

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

ArrGee I didn't take offence from anyone and was making a diplomatic statement, certainly not suggesting Bob is any kind of saint. I am under no illusion about him! wink

But sometimes I want to defend him whether it is justified or not smile

Not sure what's gone wrong on this thread and why it has caused unpleasantness! hmm

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
Not sure what's gone wrong on this thread and why it has caused unpleasantness!

I don't see the unpleasantness, all I see is a disagreement.

http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?forumID=48603&p=3&topicID=3144054

Netiquettes - a few basic rules: (extract)

3. If you're going to make a statement, give some supporting evidence. Preferably something based on both evidence and logic, and preferably something that doesn't come from a blatantly biased source.

4. Attack IDEAS, not people.

5. When quoting another person, edit out whatever isn't directly applicable to your reply.
Take the time to edit any quotations down to the minimum necessary to provide context for your reply.

3. The statement I made is supported by a Booker Prize shortlisted author. He may be biased with regard to the Libyan dictatorship, but would suggest he has been objective with regards to Geldof's involvement as he has no axe to grind with him.

4. I am attacking the idea that Geldof's motivation for this gig were sound. I just think he did it for the money. And he doesn't care who pays for him to play as long as they stump up enough cash.

5. I'm glad I did that, though the full context of the thread is now somewhat diminished.

OK, now maybe I should have cut out the sarcasm, but the image of thousands of Libyans rioting because Geldof played the Great Song of Indifference just made me laugh, so I just made it more riduculous. I meant that to be humourous, though it has been perceived as an affront.

Time was I could have a disagreement on this forum. As long as there are no personal insults and people make their point, I see nothing wrong with passionate disagreement.

I know how Richard Dawkins feels. Not a good thing to tell people God ain't real.

-- Edited by ArrGee at 21:50, 2007-09-22

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

Hey ArrGee I wasn't arguing with anyone anywhere and hadn't taken offence, but noticed that there had been some discussion about unpleasantness. Also I noted you saw my statement and thought I was giving Bob some kind of Saint status!! Ho ho, no!!! biggrin

Both these things were separate. Should be careful about how I write too, maybe. I try to put emoticons by statements but it still doesn't work hmm

Scottie · Loudmouth

You dont get it do you Arr GEE? Sarcasim IS the unpleasantness. I dont care about your anti stance. Sarcasim is a form of verbal abuse. It makes the receiver feel belittled, stupid, ridiculed, made fun of, and hurts like hell. It makes other people join in the ridicule too. Believe me, I know what I am talking about. I have been bullied a throughout my life and have discussed this with other people who have been through the same. Sarcasm is hateful and hurtful and cruel. It NEVER, EVER works, it only makes things worse and puts people's backs up. It IS an attack on the person, not their ideas. In the past, you have called me condesending and patronising on a very public forum for all the world to see. So, I think this is the end of the road.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

RE: Has Bob ever played Libya???????

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

RE: Has Bob ever played Lybia???????

Mark Boyle · House on Fire

Hi Folks,

I have EXTREME misgivings on this story for a large number of reasons:

1. Libyans never - I repeat never - have been banned from learning English. This is complete bull****. One of the paradoxes of the Libyan regime (and there are many) is that the regime is happy to let Western magazines such as "Time" and "Life" be sold in the country, and for western programmes to be available via satellite TV. There was an attempt at "Arabisation" in the 1970s, but it was a total failure, & was given up by the 1980s (Libya under Gaddafi is well known for having undergone various "fads", the one doing the rounds just now is getting to host a World Cup & growing fruit not normally associated with Libya - Gaddafi's a mega-fan of fruit it seems, particularly dates!). Libya's close ties with Malta always made it a non-starter anyway.

2. Seif is not guaranteed to be the successor to Gaddafi, who would have chucked in the job he never wanted in the first place about 20 years ago (how he came to become Libya's dictator is a tale worthy of the Marx Brothers' Duck Soup). Seif is merely the West's "preferred candidate".

Some of the clever money is on his daughter, Aisha, who is a regular visitor to the Knesset (Israel's parliament) & is Libya's preferred "Devil's Advocate" when having dealings of a potentially sensitive nature.

3. I don't think Colonel Gaddafi would have been very happy had he known Bob was in town. It was Bob's blazing row with French MEPs on live TV in 1985 in which he accused the French of cutting a deal with Gaddafi to carve Chad in two (Libya taking the Arab half with all the Nitron & underground water, France the black half with all the oil!) that exposed to the world both sides' duplicity in the Chad civil war.

4. Far too many Libya stories in the Guardian tend to be penned by members of Libya's outlawed opposition group, the so-called National Front For The Salvation Of Libya. Sponsored by the CIA and the Saudis, their aim is to overthrow Gaddafi & establish the same sort of pro-Western dictatorship that Mubarak has in Egypt. And thereby lies the explanation why Gaddafi's never been overthrown by his own people...

MJ · Tonight

Mark - Thank you for the insightful post - Would you happen to have some links for people you'd like to learn more?

I very much would like to know the reason behind Geldof playing in such a volatile venue. Money? I doubt he's that desperate. I also doubt he went there in ignorance of the situation.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

MJ wrote:
I very much would like to know the reason behind Geldof playing in such a volatile venue. Money? I doubt he's that desperate. I also doubt he went there in ignorance of the situation.

Very unlikely the reasons will come out. I doubt he's desparate, but he may be just plain greedy. I wouldn't say he was fully informed of the Libyan situation(unlike Mark Boyle; that was a very enlightening post), but surely playing a gig at a political rally in a country with the reputation of Libya would make most people think of the consequences.

Normally, the lack of any notice of the concert on the official site would betray misgivings, but frankly I just think the site isn't updated and nothing should be read into that.

Ultimately, no reason/explanation/discussion will eminate from Geldof and his management, so we can all speculate on this. Personally, I think he did it for the ca$h, and intended to keep quiet about it. Had a riot not broken out, no one would ever have known.

Who knows, Geldof may have done other concerts down the years in similarly dubious circumstances. Wild speculation, of course, but that's what "dignified silences" lead to. (Jules, not intended as jibe at you, but given the high horse Geldof is often on, probably how he sees it).

-- Edited by ArrGee at 09:48, 2007-09-24

Katharina · Dave

For god's sake, can't you just leave it??

ArrGee wrote:

Ultimately, no reason/explanation/discussion will eminate from Geldof and his management, so we can all speculate on this.

Yes, and do you know why? Because it's a no win situation. Whatever they say - you'd come and walk all over it.

As far as I know the only source there is is a comment/blog entry that quotes the youbloom thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do we know what really happened? All your speculations are based on one single blog entry. I think that's a bit thin. Nothing against Hisham Matar, I don't know him, he seems to be a novelist but I don't know which other sources he has. Or IF there are other sources. Is there free press in Lybia? No idea. I think none of us here has the knowledge to understand the situation in Lybia.

ArrGee wrote:

Who knows, Geldof may have done other concerts down the years in similarly dubious circumstances. Wild speculation, of course, but that's what "dignified silences" lead to.

"Dubious circumstances?" I think you're going clearly too far. Wild speculations indeed. For my understanding, this is libellous or at least getting close.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Katharina wrote:

As far as I know the only source there is is a comment/blog entry that quotes the youbloom thing. Correct me if I'm wrong. Do we know what really happened? All your speculations are based on one single blog entry. I think that's a bit thin. Nothing against Hisham Matar, I don't know him, he seems to be a novelist but I don't know which other sources he has. Or IF there are other sources. Is there free press in Lybia? No idea. I think none of us here has the knowledge to understand the situation in Lybia.

There is also this link, and others. I had already refered to it via another link earlier in the thread.

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/partenariat/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN26087couacizahgn0&part=50

Katharina · Dave

ArrGee wrote:
There is also this link, and others. I had already refered to it via another link earlier in the thread.

http://www.jeuneafrique.com/partenariat/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN26087couacizahgn0&part=50

In fairness I have to say I overlooked that (didn't click the link). But the jeuneafrique article is in French, my French isn't very good and it seems to be mainly anti-Gaddhafi and not so much anti-Geldof.

But my point was that you make spiteful assumptions on the basis of press comments.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Katharina wrote:
But my point was that you make spiteful assumptions on the basis of press comments.

What are the spiteful assumptions?

Let me clarify what I think. Geldof took on this gig because someone offered to pay his fee. He did not take into consideration the circumstances of this gig (i.e. a political rally) nor that it could be seen as implicit support for a succesor to Gadaffi. I think Geldof made this decision to play based wholly on the cash on offer.

Please remember at least the first four posts (maybe more, some have gone) on this thread dismissed the possibility of him playing there at all, because Geldof is an honourable man. I put forward the suggestion that he did it simply for the money. Of the potential conclusions on Geldof's involvement that is possibly one of the least spiteful that could have been drawn.

Katharina · Dave

ArrGee wrote:

What are the spiteful assumptions?

Who knows, Geldof may have done other concerts down the years in similarly dubious circumstances.

THIS is what I'm talking about. This is clearly an assumption, and it's not friendly.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Katharina wrote:

ArrGee wrote:

What are the spiteful assumptions?

Who knows, Geldof may have done other concerts down the years in similarly dubious circumstances.

THIS is what I'm talking about. This is clearly an assumption, and it's not friendly.

Fair enough, I retract that. Lazy speculation on my part.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

RE: Geldof Concert in Libya 20th September 2007

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark Boyle wrote:
... Far too many Libya stories in the Guardian tend to be penned by members of Libya's outlawed opposition group, the so-called National Front For The Salvation Of Libya. Sponsored by the CIA and the Saudis, their aim is to overthrow Gaddafi & establish the same sort of pro-Western dictatorship that Mubarak has in Egypt. And thereby lies the explanation why Gaddafi's never been overthrown by his own people...

Well that holds no water whatsoever! Looks like the real reason he survived was divide and conquer...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8343859/Libya-protests-The-tangled-web-keeping-Gaddafi-in-power.html

They are getting shot of all the dictators right now. The Egyptians, the Libyans, the Tunisians...

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

ArrGee wrote:
I saw this on facebook.....

Anyone have any Bob/Rats dedications they'd like to make. Here's one for Colonel Gaddafi... Love Julesxxx The Boomtown Rats - Go Man Go!
Not sure Geldof will be too pleased with that, one of his big paydays is off the agenda. He gets the magical 2000 out there.

I never realised it was so degenerative on facebook...

That's a dedication from me not Bob, he can think how he wishes biggrin

that's how I think.

Maybe Bob will be singing another piece of dictator left my atlas today soon?

-- Edited by Jules on Thursday 24th of February 2011 08:23:22 AM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Maybe the revolution in the middle east all started here.....

A couple of days after Seif al-Islam's speech and Sir Bob Geldof's attempted gig, an eyewitness account, published in the dissident news website Libya Al-Mustaqbal, stated that around 400 young men, blindfolded and handcuffed, were seen stepping off an airplane in Tripoli International Airport. The men were packed into prison trucks and driven away. The plane had come from Benghazi.

http://www.ifddesign.com/index.php Some pictures prior to the gig taking place can be seen here.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Tuesday 1st of March 2011 11:34:05 PM

ArrGee1991 · Dave

http://www.baabamaal.tv/daccord/issue03/article4.html

The reasons why Geldof played. Sadly his fears were justified...

Geldof confided why he was playing this Libyan show: 'I'm doing this because I want to see what's going on. They've just released the Bulgarian nurses, who they'd sentenced to death for infecting four hundreds kids in a Benghazi hospital with AIDS. Gaddafi wanted a scapegoat.' Tortured in prison since 1999, six Bulgarian health workers and a Palestinian doctor were sentenced to death in 2004. This summer, after French intervention, they were freed. 'The French had to give Gaddafi a nuclear reactor in return,' Geldof grimaced.

Saif Gaddafi had helped negotiate; the heir-apparent, he wields the knife of Libya's face-lift. 'About time,' said Geldof. 'I was in Chad once when Libyan planes flew over, chucking bombs down.' But he also revealed a secret worry: 'I hope I'm not being used as a patsy.'

... in a backstage tent shortly before his set, he revealed: 'There's been a wobbler. I was going to dedicate I Don't Like Mondays to the policewoman Yvonne Fletcher. But the translation people sussed it I thought they wouldn't know who she was.' I had to hand it to him for his bottle.

...

When Saif Gaddafi took to the stage, it signalled something like Beatlemania. For more than five minutes the number-one son stood at the front of the apron, arms slightly outstretched, beaming beatifically at his future subjects - his 'fans' screamed and cheered exaggeratedly. 'They're plants,' said Geldof. 'I was looking at the crowd on the TV monitors: no-one at the back was responding like that.'

As we stepped across the tarmac to the plane the next morning, Bob Geldof turned to me and grinned. 'The West's fookin' alright, isn't it?' he chuckled.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

So is Geldof forgiven now, seeing that he was checking out what was going on in Lybia at first hand. I doubt he is naive enough to just turn up and take the money.

What was the main contention anyway? That he was propping up Gadafi's regime by playing a concert?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
So is Geldof forgiven now, seeing that he was checking out what was going on in Lybia at first hand. I doubt he is naive enough to just turn up and take the money.
What was the main contention anyway? That he was propping up Gadafi's regime by playing a concert?

Forgiven? What for? And who am I to forgive?

I think it was naive to check things out in this manner and Geldof alluded to that before going. I don't think, and never thought Geldof was in support of the regime. I was wrong to say that he did it simply for the money.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 14th of September 2011 12:14:25 PM

Scottie · Loudmouth

I know Bob received no money for this, as it was billed as a charity, multi artist gig for the youth of Lybia. He was not the only one who performed that night.

I have taken the executive decision(on my own) to close this thread. It was 4 years ago and some awful untruths are still being toted in the press.

Scottie/Irene

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Scottie wrote:
I have taken the executive decision(on my own) to close this thread.

I don't see any reason to close this thread.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Scottie wrote:
It was 4 years ago and some awful untruths are still being toted in the press.

Fcuk the press. Don't Believe What You Read.

I am sick and tired of this idea that the press read this forum looking for some juicy gossip on Geldof. There is not one story out there where a thread on this forum has been used as the basis of an article.

Scottie · Loudmouth

I was not suggesting they do. Just think it is time to put this to bed now.

Derek The Dane · In the Long Grass

Just reading about this in Niall Powers (Bobs drummer)book.Apparantly the gig had bad vibes way before Bob and co started and Bob managed two and a half songs before all hell broke out and ended up in gunfire and god knows what else.

-- Edited by Derek The Dane on Wednesday 6th of September 2017 04:11:02 PM

Thunk123 · Lookin' After Number 1

Hello, i can confirm the gig as i was there.

i kind of

thought that one day i would write a little piece on this but i just havent got around to it yet

it was pretty eventful to be honest. I was there as a technician with a speciality act that was performing in front of the stage.it was a prety weird gig ending in a riot of sorts. However it didnt seem to me like an angry mob but just Panicking crowd and bad management of the audience, if you like i can tell you some funny tales about what happened?

including-

being threatened by the english security detail then giving them the slip to go back and get our gear

laughing at a call to fall back to the compound

watching at close quarters as a gentleman was trying to placate a crowd on a stage mic just hastily vacated by bob while weilding a pistol in a slightly uncalm manner.

Getting assistance to pack our equipment From the rioting crowd and help from these rioters to form a human chain to protect our performers from being stampeded

I think the band left pretty quickly after about two songs - the audience threw their slippers at them, then plastic chairs

leaving a site about an hour after the band as rioters climb light towers and flood the stage

going back the next day to find that all the bands gear was still where they left it onstage.. which was hard to imagine from a riot...

it was one of a few weird gigs that year, but the only one involving a huge ammount of automatic gunfire... i think the only time i heard gunfire before was when i lived in hackney in the 90s

obviously a gig in lybian for gadaffis son is a bit contrivercial..

but it was quite a funny gig

we ended up going to a local restaurant in a taxi after the gig - to the great frustration of the security team who seemed to think we should all hide in the hotel, i seem to remember having the fish!

Anyway - one day i guess i will write it all up! I think the backstage and crew often have the funniest stories.

-- Edited by Thunk123 on Monday 13th of November 2017 07:34:02 AM

-- Edited by Thunk123 on Monday 13th of November 2017 07:37:15 AM

-- Edited by Thunk123 on Monday 13th of November 2017 07:41:33 AM

-- Edited by Thunk123 on Monday 13th of November 2017 07:42:55 AM

Derek The Dane · In the Long Grass

Ok,spil the beans,who are you?.

Thunk123 · Lookin' After Number 1

I was there working as part of the fluff that went on during the show.

an act with hellium baloons with performers under them

i found a few photos in an old account

Derek The Dane · In the Long Grass

Great photos,thanks for sharing.