BOOMTOWN RATS Vinyl Records and CDs

Irish rock band, formed in 1975 in Garry Roberts' kitchen in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, the group originally took the name The Nightlife Thugs. They changed it during the interval of their first gig on October 31st 1975 to The Boomtown Rats, after Woody Guthrie's term for oilfield workers. The group is led by vocalist Bob Geldof. The other members of the original line-up were Garry Roberts (lead guitar), Johnnie Fingers (keyboard), Pete Briquette (bass), Gerry Cott (rhythm guitar) and Simon Crowe (drums). They produced six studio albums and a string of successful singles, remaining together until just after the 1985 Live Aid concert of which Bob Geldof, KBE, was the organiser.