1. Bob Geldof

2. So who is Bob? ► ► Geldof was born Robert Frederick Zenon Geldof in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland, to parents of Catholic nationalist ethos he disliked. After work as a slaughterman, road navvy and pea canner, he started as a music journalist in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for the weekly publication Georgia Straight. Dún LaoghaireCounty DublinRepublic of Ireland Catholic Vancouver, British ColumbiaCanadaGeorgia Straight

3. ► Upon returning to Ireland in 1975, he became the lead singer of the band The Boomtown Rats, a rock group closely linked with the punk movement. Geldof's first major charity involvement took place in September 1981, when he performed as a solo artist for Amnesty International's benefit show. The Boomtown RatspunkAmnesty International The Boomtown RatspunkAmnesty International

4. Live 8 ► On 31 March 2005, Geldof announced the Live 8 project, to raise awareness of issues that burden Africa, such as government debt, trade barriers, and AIDS issues. Geldof organised six concerts on 2 July 2005: in London, with Elton John, U2, Coldplay, The Who, Madonna, and Paul McCartney; in Paris, with Andrea Bocelli, Muse; and Youssou N'Dour; in Rome, with Duran Duran and Faith Hill; in Berlin, with Brian Wilson, Green Day, Audioslave, and Crosby Stills & Nash; The rock band Pink Floyd also performed together in London, in its classic lineup, for the first time since 1981. 31 March2005Live 8Africa2 July2005LondonElton JohnU2ColdplayThe WhoMadonnaPaul McCartneyParisAndrea BocelliMuseYoussou N'DourRomeDuran Faith HillBerlinBrian WilsonGreen DayAudioslave Crosby Stills & Nash Pink Floyd31 March2005Live 8Africa2 July2005LondonElton JohnU2ColdplayThe WhoMadonnaPaul McCartneyParisAndrea BocelliMuseYoussou N'DourRomeDuran Faith HillBerlinBrian WilsonGreen DayAudioslave Crosby Stills & Nash Pink Floyd

5. ► The concerts were free, and were scheduled just days before world leaders gathered in Scotland for the G8 economic summit, on 6 July. 'The boys and girls with guitars will finally get to turn the world on its axis,' Geldof said in a statement. ScotlandG86 JulyScotlandG86 July