My husband gave me an autographed copy of "Geldof in Africa" today for my birthday and I'm very pleased to have it. Wouldn't like to actually ask Bob for a photo or an autograph if I saw him out somewhere (as much as I admire some of the lovely avatars on this forum....) though! He looks a moody git and I reckon he could as easily oblige you as give you the cold shoulder.

Anyway, I think it's always disappointing to meet someone you've been a fan of.  You might feel you know them through their work or interviews you've seen on TV (etc,etc.) but they don't know you from a bar of soap. You're just intruding on their privacy; bothering them when they don't want to be bothered. Even though you may have bought every record and been to a multitude of gigs, they don't feel the same connection to you as you feel to them.

Timing is maybe all important too. If you met Bob at a book signing or at the stage door after a show, he might be a bit more receptive.

The first time I met Bob Geldof in person, he had just finished a 2 hours + show, was sick with an awful cold, he was barely able to speak, but he was still gracious enough to stay more than an hour after the show to shake hands and sign autographs with everyone who had stay behind to meet him. He even signed every single records this one fan had brought with him, and he had over 20 of them. I personally would have told the guy to **** off, but Bob did not. He signed all of them. With a smile.

Geldof finally gets a few days of rest and relaxation, after several months of trying to save the world *again*. Personally, I think you're lucky you got your autograph. In my opinion, he was not the unpolite one here. You said it yourself: "he was just trying to unwind in that little cave from the rest of the world...". So you go and bother him against your better judgement, but you're still surprised he gave you the cold shoulder?? Sorry if I sound so harsh here, but you got what you went for, so I can't really feel sorry for you.

MJ wrote:

---

He even signed every single record this one fan had brought with him, and he had over 20 of them. I personally would have told the guy to **** off, but Bob did not. He signed all of them.

---

20!  Pah, lightweight!  I must have about 100 records he could sign for me

(yes, I know he hasn't made 100 records, but considering I have 6 copies of Tonic alone....)

well if anyone went and asked him for the aoutograph don't you think that they would seem a bit......immature?

If I saw Bob sitting in a cafe - anywhere, let alone where I live - my eyes would pop out, my knees would tremble and I'd lose the power of speech.  Even if I could regain my composure, I'd probably sit down at another table with a good vantage point and drool .

Having never been one for autographs, I probably wouldn't think of asking. I'd love to sit down and have a long conversation, but more realistically, I'm with cazzy - a smile would be diamonds.

Julia wrote:

---

my eyes would pop out, my knees would tremble and I'd lose the power of speech.  Even if I could regain my composure, I'd probably sit down at another table with a good vantage point and drool . Having never been one for autographs, I probably wouldn't think of asking. I'd love to sit down and have a long conversation, but more realistically, I'm with cazzy - a smile would be diamonds.

---

That was me the first time I met Bob Geldof. It was after a show in Toronto, and he came out to greet the fans who had waited for him, so he obviously wanted to be there. I was so nervous I could barely talk, and the fact that English is not my first language did not help matters. When my turn came I handed him my ticket to sign just because I couldn't speak even to say hello I was so nervous. It's so silly when I think about it, but he's such a bigger than life character. Bob was absolutely charming, warm and kind. Here's Bob smiling at MEEEEEEEEE!

Second time I was lucky enough to be in a bar, where I gulped down a beer to calm my nerves, and even luckier to have been introduced, so the setting was much more informal. My best memory is the morning after, we're driving out of the hotel parking lot, and Bob is out taking a walk. He sees us in the car, and waves at us as if we were old friends. That memory alone is worth a million autographs. Thanks Bob

Julia wrote:

---

 Fantastic pic, MJ ... did someone else take the photo of Bob smiling at you, or was that your pic of him smiiling? I CANNOT IMAGINE being that close to Bob either way!!

---

That's the sad part of the story. I was at the show with a friend who had no idea who Bob Geldof was before that night (She loved him btw), and I had brought my camera and taken pictures throughout the show. I kept a few shots at the end of my film, just in case.

When Bob came out, I shoved the camera in my friends hands, and told her to take pictures of me and Bob. Bob and I. Whatever. Anyways, my turn comes, and I hand Bob my ticket with a shaking hand. I see that he's not insulting me as I imagines in my worst nightmares, and he's even smiling, so I ask him if he would mind posing for a picture with me. He gracefully agrees to the picture, and put his arm around my shoulders. My friend is fumbling around with the camera. She knows how important this is for me, as I've been annoying her about The Rats and Geldof for about 13 years now, so she's very nervous. And then I hear it. The sound the camera makes when the film is rewinding

So I thank Bob for his time, and go back a bit further away, totally devastated. There was a nice ending though. Before the show we had met the lovely Lenair and her husband, and they witnessed the picture fiasco, so they kindly invited me for a group picture with Bob and them. I also felt better when I saw the picture you've already seen (I'm actually in the complete shot, but I figured I'm ruining it so I just kept the best part for you guys).

MJ wrote:

... he's even smiling, so I ask him if he would mind posing for a picture with me. He gracefully agrees to the picture, and put his arm around my shoulders. My friend is fumbling around with the camera. She knows how important this is for me, as I've been annoying her about The Rats and Geldof for about 13 years now, so she's very nervous. And then I hear it. The sound the camera makes when the film is rewinding

OMG That would've been so awful ... how on earth did you keep your composure?!!  With the advent of digital cameras (though a bit pricey, at least in Oz), such problems will cease to be ... and one day the concept of 'film' may be relegated to "the olden days"!

When I took pics at The Police concert in 1980 (am I really that old?), I used an ordinary instamatic camera that took those cubed flashes that provided 4 flashes before you had to take it off and put on a new one. I have no idea how many packets of these flashes I had stuffed in my pockets, but it was well worth it!  As far as I know, they've gone to "outdated heaven". 

Before the show we had met the lovely Lenair and her husband, and they witnessed the picture fiasco, so they kindly invited me for a group picture with Bob and them. I also felt better when I saw the picture you've already seen (I'm actually in the complete shot, but I figured I'm ruining it so I just kept the best part for you guys).

How wonderful for them to give you a second chance - even if it's not quite the same as 'having your picture taken' (sorry, couldn't resist BTR reference there) with Bob's arm around your shoulder.

Before I went to the link for your pic, I wondered whether I'd get a chance to see you! I very much doubt that you'd ruin the photo . 

Oshora, this is an argument that has been going on forever, and I don't think anyone is likely to change anyone else's mind about it.

The way I see it, why would being a celebrity be any different than any other job? I personally think it's quite rude to ask a doctor or a lawyer for advice in a social setting, and consider asking for an autograph from a celebrity out in the street as a similar situation.