On this day, 25 November, in 1984, a Dublin native by the name of Bob Geldof rounded up 44 friends and fellow musicians to record a pop song entitled ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’.

Band Aid was born.

Geldof grew up in the middle class Dublin area of Dun Laoghaire. He first came to prominence as lead singer of the punk group, the Boomtown Rats, in the late 1970’s. The Rats had two UK number1 singles, ‘Rat trap’ and ‘I don’t like Mondays’. They appeared on The Late Late Show, the iconic Irish television programme hosted by Gay Byrne. Geldof was outspoken on The Late Late, attacking various aspects of Irish society that he was not happy with. He believed in being different. Bob Geldof and the Boomtown Rats were ground breakers for Irish bands.

In October 1984 BBC reporter Michael Buerk alerted the world to the famine in Ethiopia. Geldof acted. Along with Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he co-wrote and produced the song ‘Do they know it’s Christmas?’, which was recorded by a star studded group of musicians collectively known as Band Aid. It became the second biggest selling single in UK chart history and remains a popular Christmas song to this day.

Band Aid led to Live Aid, two concerts on the same day, 13 July 1985, in London and Philadelphia. Many of the biggest names in music played that day. The performance of Freddie Mercury and Queen was voted the greatest in the history of rock music in a 2005 poll. Phil Collins performed in both venues. Over 150 million pounds was raised.

Subsequently Geldof established himself as a successful businessman with his television production companies, Planet 24 and Ten Alps.

Geldof’s personal life has been touched by tragedy. His daughter Peaches died of a drug overdose in 2014.

Opinions are sometimes divided on Geldof.

He would not want it any other way.