The Art of Artists

Mark L · Loudmouth

The Art of Artists

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I always find it odd that few interviewers ever really delve into the art where Geldof is concerned and this was no different. More of a synopsis of his life with Mondays, family and famine to the fore.
Also this marvellously successful solo career. I would love to know how much his last album sold because it wasn't in the stores too long and wasn't setting the world on fire in terms of amazon sales.
On the upside, Dave got a rare airing on the radio and even if you have heard much of it before there are always some embellishments like Geldof hearing the Sex Pistols passing by a record store that make him a very interesting raconteur.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Only about 20 days to listen to this in fact.

I enjoyed this, but ArrGee is right on what this was really. I also question the 'cupboard full of awards' line. Charts as such are not as they were, as the interview explores, but surely the Vegetarians of Love was commercially the most successful solo album?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
surely the Vegetarians of Love was commercially the most successful solo album?

Almost certainly. The only small doubt is Deep in the Heart of Nowhere. It got Gold certification from the BPI which Vegetarians of Love didn't. Now it may have ended up in bargain bins all over the world, but there were more copies produced in the UK. If it wasn't on sale or return then it would have been the biggest money maker of the lot. Interestingly, it's not one I have seen in the charity shops which suggests a large number were recycled. In 1986, vinyl was still the dominant format.

Vegetarians of Love would definitely be the biggest selling album. Wouldn't surprise me if it sold five or more times all the others combined. I doubt the sales of the last album even ran into five figures and may not even have breached four. I got mine second hand.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 4th of February 2016 01:20:05 PM

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

He probably has cupboards full of awards for his humanitarian work. I doubt he has much for the music. Brit Award in 2005...

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
He probably has cupboards full of awards for his humanitarian work. I doubt he has much for the music. Brit Award in 2005...

I wouldn't say he got the Brit for his solo music either. Being generous, his recordings with the Rats may have made a small contribution, but it was mainly for Band Aid/Live Aid. Same as his Ivors.

I can't think of any awards the Rats ever won though they must have got something. They were nominated for an Ivor, but lost to Baker Street. Never won an NME award. Did come third behind the Clash & The Jam in a readers poll in 1978. More popular than Genesis...

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

No, he wouldn't have got it for the Rats alone. If the Rats got anything it would have been for Mondays. I'm not aware of anything. His solo stuff is pretty obscure really. If I wasn't such a fan I'd probably never have heard of it.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Didn't DLT present the Rats with best 1979 single for Mondays at the 1980 British Rock and Pop Awards.

Best group in May 1980 on Swap Shop I recall, but could be wrong.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Didn't DLT present the Rats with best 1979 single for Mondays at the 1980 British Rock and Pop Awards.
Best group in May 1980 on Swap Shop I recall, but could be wrong.

Don't know about them, can't find any evidence, but best group on Swap Shop, is that as good as it got?

Bowie was best singer. Wish I could read his mind and know what he was thinking about Dave Letch Travis.

Funnily enough after watching that it was followed by Mrs. Geldof failing miserably in her attempts to interview the Thin White Duke...

Mark L · Loudmouth

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4092722.stm

Evidence attached.

Ivor Novello for Mondays too.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4092722.stm
Evidence attached.
Ivor Novello for Mondays too.

Not sure what the evidence was, all I got was the article with the Rats suing Geldof.

Though you are spot on with the Ivors. It did the double!

http://theivors.com/archive/1980-1989/the-ivors-1980/

The 25th Ivor Novello Awards were presented by BASCA and sponsored by PRS; they were held at the Grosvenor House, London

1980 Winners

The Best Pop Song
I Dont Like Mondays
Written by: Bob Geldof
Published in the UK by: Sewer Fire Hits / Zomba Management and Publishing Ltd

The Outstanding British Lyric
I Dont Like Mondays
Written by: Bob Geldof
Published in the UK by: Sewer Fire Hits / Zomba Management and Publishing Ltd

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 4th of February 2016 08:09:17 PM

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

Funny to see the article about suing and 8 years later they were back on stage, all forgiven and forgotten.

.

. Remind me of how impossible a thought it once was to have the Rats back together.

A very feint bell rings in my head about an Ivor Novello for Mondays. Still not a cupboard full. Maybe a drawer

.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Isn't it funny that The Rats won British awards whilst U2 won the International awards. And they have an Englishman in the band!

Mark L · Loudmouth

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7523462.stm

The 'sue' story is irrelevant, its the photo m'lud showing DLT, who presented the show with Sue Lawley, standing back as Geldof took to the mic and Simon and Gerry are watching. I remember them getting it, wasn't sure it was definitely DLT but that photo confirms it for me.

Above is Geldof clutching the award later with other winners. Feb 1980 at Cafe Royale.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Page 5

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Case Proven

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

OK Rumpole, can you prove Geldof won a solo award for How To Compose Songs That Sell?

OJ Simpson's brief may have to be retained for that.

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

That's why I remember, the photo with Kate Bush.

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

Mark L wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7523462.stm
The 'sue' story is irrelevant, its the photo m'lud showing DLT, who presented the show with Sue Lawley, standing back as Geldof took to the mic and Simon and Gerry are watching. I remember them getting it, wasn't sure it was definitely DLT but that photo confirms it for me.
Above is Geldof clutching the award later with other winners. Feb 1980 at Cafe Royale.

Yes, I was just commenting on it.

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

Free your Mind award MTV. What was it for?

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

A mix of rather interesting awards here. Well they aren't all humanitarian:
www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/robert-frederick-zenon-geldof-888.php

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

Presumably to do with Live Aid/8 Band Aid?

http://www.m-magazine.co.uk/news/sir-bob-geldof-honoured-gold-badge-awards/

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

OK, Petrocelli and Rumpole - where's the How to Decompose award?

PS Did Petrocelli ever build that fcuking house? Even Alan Partridge managed to get his constructed.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Jules wrote:
Mark L wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7523462.stm
The 'sue' story is irrelevant, its the photo m'lud showing DLT, who presented the show with Sue Lawley, standing back as Geldof took to the mic and Simon and Gerry are watching. I remember them getting it, wasn't sure it was definitely DLT but that photo confirms it for me.
Above is Geldof clutching the award later with other winners. Feb 1980 at Cafe Royale.
Yes, I was just commenting on it.

I know Jules. I was trying to advise ArrGee to disregard the 'sue' story and concentrate on the smaller picture.

I agree, it's hard to believe all is seemingly well, water under the bridge etc and a new album will be out later this year?

Bob just needs to sit down and compose popular songs that will sell.

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

Is there really going to be a new album out this year? Been talked about and denied. I hope you're right.

I cannot find reference to a reward for How to Compose, I did get tired and give up. Maybe I'll look again later. It's an excellent album, especially Here's to You and Dazzled by You. Two of his best solo songs. Along with GSOI. Not sure if it's worthy of reward? Or got a reward.

On the suing story, I have a feeling Bob is good at falling out with people, but equally good at sorting it out. Maybe that? Or they just decided they'd gone to far and buried the hatchet. It wasn't worth all those years of friendship. I don't think anyone was ever actually sued.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Jules wrote:
Or they just decided they'd gone too far and buried the hatchet.

Or they just all came to an agreement over the royalties. Given Geldof's other income streams, giving up a proportion of the royalties wasn't going to impact him too much. Also reforming the band and sharing the proceeds of the appearance fees has probably satisfied Crowe and Roberts. Not sure if Cott would have been too fussed as he appears to be doing pretty well for himself and Fingers probably gave up on it as he was so far away. All of this is just speculation on my part, I doubt anyone outside will ever know the truth because it will inevitably be bound up in confidentiality agreements. Not that many people would be interested anyway.

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

Could well be. Bob has often said that money isn't a problem him, although it comes in handy, but the others have needed it more.

Maybe he just took the royalties without a further thought and when they challenged him and threatened to take it further, he stepped back and realised he was actually grabbing it all and leaving them with nothing.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Best female singer and best single writer 1979 celebrate in the street, late February 1980.

Ian D · House on Fire

I wonder if they would ever consider instead of releasing new songs, release a 2016 version of In The Long Grass. Perhaps with original songs tweaked if they are not happy with the way the 1984 version sounds now. Bob always seems sad that the album had to be dropped because of Band Aid. I mean the songs on In The Long Grass are so much better that what they have released since the comeback!

Mark L · Loudmouth

Ian D wrote:
I wonder if they would ever consider instead of releasing new songs, release a 2016 version of In The Long Grass. Perhaps with original songs tweaked if they are not happy with the way the 1984 version sounds now. Bob always seems sad that the album had to be dropped because of Band Aid. I mean the songs on In The Long Grass are so much better that what they have released since the comeback!

Mainly, although I rate Back to Boomtown over Lucky and A Hold of Me.

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

Id be excited for them to release anything. Whether or not it might be a bit disappointing is another matter. However, I'm sure they have something good hidden up their sleeves, if they took the time. They are talented and you don't just lose it, unless your confidence takes a nose dive.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I don't see the motivation to release a new Rats album. Over thirty years is a long time between albums and I can't think of any band that has released a decent album after ten years away never mind thirty. The sales are likely to be low. At best, about 1% of those who turned up to see them in the last three/four years would get it. Aside from Bowie, I haven't bought anything new from a band from the last century in the last ten years or so. I am sure there have been a few Elvis Costello, Damned, and Stranglers albums but I don't have them.

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

According to news reports Garry said they were doing a new album, Bob says unlikely that they would and laughed at the suggestion. Strange.