From: Dun Laoghaire
Active: 1975-86
Style: New Wave
Lineup:
- Bob Geldof - mouth
- Gary Roberts - guitar
- Gerry Cott - guitar
- Johnny Fingers - keyboards
- Pete Briquette - bass
- Simon Crowe - drums
Bio:
The Boomtown Rats formed in 1975. Lead singer Bob Geldof and manager
Fachtna O'Kelly were both music journalists which no doubt helped to
get the band signed to Ensign/Phonogram for a very large fee. Being
associated with the emerging punk rock scene in those early days when
confusion reigned, also helped in this regard, but the band was soon
being slagged off in the fanzines. In fact the Rats mixed pub rock and
R'n'B roots with new wave energy and some power chords, and as such
had something in common with Eddie & The Hot Rods and Graham Parker &
The Rumour (and even Bruce Springsteen on the debut LP). But they also
had a strong pop sensibility and scored a memorable hit with "Rat
Trap" in 1978, a UK No.1, followed by several more hit singles up
until about 1980, when their profile began to drop. Gerry Cott left in
July 1981; the band split in 1986 and Geldof pursued a largely unsuccessful
solo career.
See the Videos page for details of online videos.
Discography
•1976 demo tape
includes unreleased track "Riot In Cell Block #9"
• 1st Peel Session
Recorded 26 July 1977
tracks:
Joey
Neon Heart
Looking After Number One
Mary Of The 4th Form
• Lookin' After No.1 / Born to Burn / Barefootin' (live in Amsterdam)
7/12" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 011 - IRL - 1977
7/12" - Ensign Records - ENY-4 - UK - September 1977
7" - Mercury Records - 6008 507 - Netherlands - 1977
7" - Mercury Records - SFL-2216 - Japan - 1977
Entered the Irish charts on 1 September 1977 for an 11 week run, peaking at #2.
• Boomtown Rats
LP - Mulligan Records - LUN 012 - IRL - 1977 - 9 tracks
LP - Ensign Records - ENVY-1 - UK - September 1977
LP - Phonogram Records - RJ 7296 - Japan - 1977 - with obi and insert; white label promo exists
LP - Mercury Records - 6310 952 - Italy - 1977 - 12 tracks
Released on Mercury Records worldwide.
If anyone knows of any other notable variations, please let me know.
tracks:
Lookin' After No. 1
Neon Heart
Joey's On The Street Again
Never Bite The Hand That Feeds
Mary Of The 4th Form
(She's Gonna) Do You In
Close As You'll Ever Be
I Can Make It If You Can
Kicks
The Italian release adds:
Do The Rat
Born To Burn
Mary Of The 4th Form (alternate version)
• Mary of the Fourth Form (alternate version) / Do the Rat
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 712 - IRL - November 1977
7" - Ensign Records - ENY-9 - UK - November 1977 - red, blue and green PS variations
7" - Mercury Records - SFL 2252 - Japan - 1977 - different PS
Entered the Irish charts on 5.1.78 for an 3 week run, peaking at #12.
• Do the Rat / Mary of the Fourth Form
7" - Mercury Records - 6008 513 - Netherlands - 1977 - different PS
7" - Mercury Records - 6173 502 - France - 1977 - different PS
• 2nd Peel Session
Recorded 15 May 1978
tracks:
Like Clockwork
Me And Howard Hughes
Living In An Island
(Watch Out For) The Normal People
• She's So Modern / Lying Again
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 715 - IRL - 1978 - PS
7" - Ensign Records - ENY-13 - UK - May 1978 - PS
Entered the Irish charts on 20 April 1978 for an 7 week run, peaking at #10.
• Like Clockwork / Dun Laoghaire
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 716 - IRL - 1978 - no PS?
Entered the Irish charts on 29 June 1978 for an 8 week run, peaking at #5.
• Like Clockwork / How Do You Do?
7" - Ensign Records - ENY-14 - UK - July 1978 - PS
7" - Mercury Records - 6008 526 - Netherlands - 1978 - different PS
• A Tonic for the Troops
LP - Ensign Records - ENVY-3 - UK - July 1978
LP - Mulligan Records - LUN 016 - 1978
LP - Mercury Records - RJ-7518 - Japan - 1978 - with obi and insert
side one:
Like Clockwork
Blind Date
(I Never Loved) Eva Braun
She's So Modern
Don't Believe What You Read
side two:
Living In An Island
Me And Howard Hughes
Can't Stop
(Watch Out For) The Normal People
Rat Trap
• Rat Trap / So Strange
7" - Mulligan Records - LUNS 717 - IRL - October 1978
7" - Ensign Records - ENY-16 - UK - November 1978
7" - Mercury Records - 6173 675, France 1978
7" - Mercury Records - 6008 530, Portugal 1978
• Rat Trap / Like Clockwork
7" - Nippon Phonogram - SFL-2357 - Japan - 1978
Entered the Irish charts on 19 October 78 for a 15 week run, peaking at #2.
• In Concert #IC0184
The Boomtown Rats featured on BBC's In Concert series in 1978.
• Dun Laoghaire
7" - Flexipop - 013 - UK - 1981 - red, yellow and clear vinyl flexis
1-sided flexi free w/Flexipop magazine
• The band recorded several more albums and singles in the pop domain,
eventually encompassing more reggae and world music influences.
Help!
We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more
information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can
use, or spare copies of any releases,
then please get in touch.
See Also:
Gerry Cott
