Boomtown Rats sing Do They Know Its Xmas

Scottie · Loudmouth

Boomtown Rats sing Do They Know Its Xmas

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Scottie wrote:

I hope this has not been posted before. I never knew the Rats sang this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XerxzfppEA

This song actually appeared on the Boomtown Rats on film compilation. It was somewhere in the extras.

Gary looks exceedingly bored and unimpressed, possibly knowing the song was rejected for In The Long Grass- the song at the stage was called Its My World.

Why didn't they include a proper Rats song from the Tube session like Tonight or A Hold Of Me instead of this. Not impressed by the naff audience and their lame clapping either and the singalong antics. These tv audiences always seem to be on Mogadon- very sheepish and controlled. This clip does not show the Boomtown Rats in their best light but I suppose Do They Know.... had to be promoted at the time.

Ian MD · The Elephant's Graveyard

They sang this at a gig at Portsmouth Guildhall in 1985 on the long grass tour, i remember a load of buckets being passed around for a collection. Simon sings well on it i reckon.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Ian MD wrote:

They sang this at a gig at Portsmouth Guildhall in 1985 on the long grass tour, i remember a load of buckets being passed around for a collection. Simon sings well on it i reckon.

This song to me represents the moment when Geldofs involvement in famine aid started to overshadow his being perceived as a musician in his own right and the band started to recede into the musical background- paradoxically when arguably the were on a strong comeback trail with the brilliant In The Long Grass.

Not exactly sure how the others in the Rats dealt with Geldofs increasing media availability-maybe Geldof didn't see much of a future for the Boomtown Rats. Like loads of good indie bands I know sometimes no matter how good the songs are when you're not selling records or getting airplay it gets a bit frustrating.

You just reminded me Ian- the played the Royal Dublin Society around that time and I think they passed a bucket around too. For the collection!

I always wonder what if Geldof had not gotten involved in the Ethiopian famine situation- was drunk in his room when the reports came on tv and missed the whole thing. What would have happened with the Boomtown Rats? Makes you wonder!

PS Simon always gave great backing vocals on almost every song.

Wes[Wolverhampton] · House on Fire

I remember this on the tube--They also did it in Birmingham that year with the buckets being passed round.Not %100 sure they did Wolves on this tour.

BTR · Tonight

I watched them play at the Manchester Apollo. The crowd went wild.

Derek The Dane · V Deep

They played it at The Dominion,London and it blew me away.I also remember the buckets being passed around.Great,great night.

Laibach · Someone's Looking At You

Same here at Leeds University, the original date was cancelled as Bob was accepting an award at the Brits, I think it went ahead a week later, I remember Bob apologising for cancelling the gig but he had to accept an award for being so f**king wonderfull. I remember the buckets being passed around too.

BTR · Tonight

Hi guys, I have an audio clip from a couple of weeks ago.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Geldof could have sang Three Blind Mice and it would still would have got huge applause around that time because of his famine work in Ethopia.

Wonder if the Ethiopian situation had not happened how many would have turned up to see the band or could they have been able to tour at all- at the time they could play all the major cities in the UK and Ireland on the back of Bobs famine efforts. Just months before Geldof couldn't get arrested. But at least the band never sold out or put out substandard product.