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The Boomtown Rats | |
|---|---|
 The Boomtown Rats at Knott's Berry Farm in 1981 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1975–1986, 2013–present |
| Labels | Mulligan, Ensign, Mercury WEA Ireland, Columbia, BMG |
| Members | Bob Geldof Pete Briquette Simon Crowe |
| Past members | Garry Roberts Johnnie Fingers Gerry Cott |
The Boomtown Rats are an Irish new wave band originally formed in Dublin in 1975.[4] Between 1977 and 1985, they had a series of Irish and UK hits including "Like Clockwork", "Rat Trap", "I Don't Like Mondays" and "Banana Republic". The original line-up comprised six musicians; five from Dún Laoghaire in County Dublin; Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar), Simon Crowe (drums), Johnnie Fingers (keyboards), Bob Geldof (vocals) and Garry Roberts (lead guitar), plus Fingers' cousin Pete Briquette (bass). The Boomtown Rats broke up in 1986, but reformed in 2013, without Fingers or Cott. Garry Roberts died in 2022. The band's fame and notability have been overshadowed by the charity work of frontman Bob Geldof, a former journalist with the New Musical Express.[5]
- ^ "Biography by William Ruhlmann". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ "The Boomtown Rats and other bands from yesteryear who have reformed". The Independent. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022.
- ^ "The Boomtown Rats Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
- ^ Crampton, Luke; Rees, Dafydd (1996). The Q Book of Punk Legends. Enfield: Guinness Publishing Ltd. pp. 26–31.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 105–106. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.