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The Boomtown Rats

The Boomtown Rats are an Irish New Wave band originally formed in Dublin in the mid 1970s, that had a series of Irish and UK hits in th elate 1970s and early 1980s.

The group was led by vocalist Bob Geldof, the other members of the original line-up were Garry Roberts (lead guitar), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar) and Simon Crowe (drums).

They were another early starter band coming out of the Punk movement but developed their sound to really place them as New Wave artists in my opinion.

They always suffered for not being as cool as Stiff Little Fingers or as popular as The Undertones but they were the Republic's pride before teh rise and fall of U2.

Their first hit was the controversial 'Mary of the IV Form', a record I remember going to the local Boots store to purchase soon after hearing it on the radio.


They followed this up with 'Lookin after No1'



Before developing into a more sophisticated sound and teh release of their two classic tracks 'I Don't Like Mondays' written after hearing of a young girl turning school shooter in America...




... and 'Rat Trap' a tale of growing up in 1970s Dublin.




The band broke up in the mid 1980s, obviously after Geldof went on to greater things with his Band Aid movement.



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