Is that it? - Bob Geldof

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As this book is written by the man who swore on "Live Aid", it shouldn't be a surprise that the publishers put this warning on the back of it.

The book was published in 1986 when Bob was given an honorary knighthood as recognition for his work in trying to relieve famine in Africa. So, it's very out of date and it's actually quite sad when you think of everything that has happened since. The book starts with a prologue ...
...goes back to when Bob is about 4 years old. I would have liked more background information on his parents and his sisters but I suppose in fairness, this is Bob's story.

Bob discusses his bad relationship with his father and his hatred of the schools he went to. Later, he tells us how he left school and went to England, then went to Spain to teach English and then went back to Ireland only to move to Canada! He was there as an illegal ... more

"The author and publishers wish to make it clear that some parents and other readers will find portions of this book offensive".

As this book is written by the man who swore on "Live Aid", it shouldn't be a surprise that the publishers put this warning on the back of it.

The book was published in 1986 when Bob was given an honorary knighthood as recognition for his work in trying to relieve famine in Africa. So, it's very out of date and it's actually quite sad when you think of everything that has happened since. The book starts with a prologue - 13th July 1985. Live Aid. In the prologue Bob quickly outlines his history of useless jobs, self abuse and how he had an "almost neurotic and unspecified ambition".

Then in Chapter 1, the story goes back to when Bob is about 4 years old. I would have liked more background information on his parents and his sisters but I suppose in fairness, this is Bob's story.

Bob discusses his bad relationship with his father and his hatred of the schools he went to. Later, he tells us how he left school and went to England, then went to Spain to teach English and then went back to Ireland only to move to Canada! He was there as an illegal immigrant so had to go back to Ireland again. He was a blagger more than anything in the early days - lying to get certain jobs, for instance.

By about Chapter 8, we hear the details of how Bob and his friends/acquaintances formed the "Boom Town Rats" band. I won't give away all of the ins and outs of that story but I will say is that the name came from a gang Bob had read about in Woody Guthrie's autobiography "Bound for Glory".

Later Bob tells of his first meeting with Paula Yates and how she was 17 when he met her when she worked in a promoter's office. He details the success of the band and how they began having trouble in 1984 as they weren't making the hits they used to. The Boomtown Rats scored 14 hit singles in the UK charts between 1977 and 1984 - including two number ones - and released five hit albums. They split in 1986 but were still together when this book was published.

Anyway, Bob had other music on his mind as well at this point. He had just written the charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" with Midge Ure. The rest as they say, is history.

The rest of the book details Bob'swork and his relationship with Paula and of course, the book is dedicated to her and their daughter, Fifi. As I said earlier, many things have happened since then and it's hard reading it, knowing what we know now.

It's quite a long book with 443 pages and Bob often rambles, I think. Also, as the title of this review suggests, it's full of sexual encounters and swearing. There's also a bit of Irish stereotyping and many rants against Catholicism. Do not read if easily offended!

The book ends where it began, just after "Live Aid". Bob doesn't discuss what happens after that. The title of the book "Is That It?" refers to a kid in Philadelphia who asked that very question at the end of the US Live Aid concert.

This book costs around £4 but is probably only available second hand, as it's nearly 20 years old. There are a few black and white pictures in it. It would be nice if Bob could update his auto-biography but many deeply personal things have happened over the years that he may not want to share. The story is remarkable though. I am no fan of his music except certain songs - I don't even think he can sing, quite frankly - but I found this book very interesting. 

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