Boomtown Rats

The Boomtown Rats formed in Dublin in 1975 with Bob Geldof on vocals, Garry Roberts on guitar, Pete Briquette on bass, Johnnie Moynihan on drums, and Gerry Cott on keyboards. They put out their first album, 'The Boomtown Rats,' in 1977. Their sound had a punk edge but leaned into catchy melodies, which set them apart from some of their contemporaries.

In 1979, they released 'I Don't Like Mondays,' a song inspired by a school shooting in San Diego. It became their biggest hit, reaching number one in the UK and making waves internationally. The track's blunt title and dark subject matter gave it a lasting presence, even as the band's other material like '(I Never Loved) Eva Braun' and 'Another Piece Of Red' explored different territory.

They released six studio albums between 1977 and 1984, including 'A Tonic for the Troops' and 'The Fine Art of Surfacing.' Geldof's outspoken nature sometimes drew criticism, and the band faced occasional legal hassles, like over the word 'fuck' in 'Banana Republic.' They called it quits in 1986, though Geldof would later become better known for his humanitarian work with Live Aid.