Boomtown Rats guitarist Garry Roberts dies aged 72

[Davy]

RIP Garry, love the rats when I was younger

Boomtown Rats guitarist Garry Roberts dies aged 72

The Irish rock group described Roberts as "the guy who summed up the sense of who The Rats are".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Peevemor]

Shame. RIP.

What a band!

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[Spanish-hibs]

Rat Trap was great but my favourite Rats track was ‘I never loved Eva Brown’

 

[Peevemor]

Rat Trap was great but my favourite Rats track was ‘I never loved Eva Brown’

There are loads, I just wanted something that shows how good they were live.

 

[Findlayhibby]

Saw them live .A poor man's Rolling Stones.Mary of the 4th Form and She's So Modern were just about acceptble to me and my punky mates but after that...forget it.I went along with some sense of embarrasement to the Playhouse,Geldof made Jagger like moves and played the mouthy.It wasn't terrible but it wasn't very good.

 

[Jack K]

Rat Trap was great but my favourite Rats track was ‘I never loved Eva Brown’

Eva Brown! ... you mean "(I Never Loved) Eva Braun"

 

[Peevemor]

Saw them live .A poor man's Rolling Stones.Mary of the 4th Form and She's So Modern were just about acceptble to me and my punky mates but after that...forget it.I went along with some sense of embarrasement to the Playhouse,Geldof made Jagger like moves and played the mouthy.It wasn't terrible but it wasn't very good.

I find the Stones comparison a bit strange.

 

[sockyboy]

Looking at ya and I don't like Mondays are fantastic songs.

 

[Plasticman]

I find the Stones comparison a bit strange.

I see it in the singers posturing - I had the misfortune of going to a Razorlight gig many many years ago and came away thinking the singer wanted to be Mick J or Bob G - so I deffo see what the Moatman sees

 

[Peevemor]

I see it in the singers posturing - I had the misfortune of going to a Razorlight gig many many years ago and came away thinking the singer wanted to be Mick J or Bob G - so I deffo see what the Moatman sees

You could say the same about Freddie Mercury in the 70s - but nobody would compare Queen with the Rolling Stones.

In terms of music, lyrics & vocal style I really struggle to see any comparison between Geldof/Boomtown Rats & Jagger/Stones.

Anyway, music is about what each of us take from it so we're all entitled to our opinions.

 

[Greenmachine]

I liked the Boomtown Rats as a band, but i've never been able to stomach Bob Geldof either as a singer/frontman or as a person.
They done some really good songs in a great era for pop/rock music and i'm sorry Garry Roberts has died.

RIP Garry.

 

[Davy]

Bob did say in an interview once that his lips were unfashionably big, but when Mick Jagger came along, he was suddenly very popular. Perhaps he played on that a bit. Plenty cracking tunes from first 4 albums. Didn;t really get into 1V deep, and have not really followed their newer stuff but will give it a try

 

[hibbybilly]

Dan McCafferty of Nazareth passed away tae.
RIP both.

 

[Plasticman]

There was a Rats documentary maybe about 2 years ago I think on the bbc - really enjoyable and worth a watch

(I say this not being a big fan, apart from maybe a few 7s and the Tonic for the Troops album - which is maybe about remembering the time as opposed to it being good)

 

[Peevemor]

I liked the Boomtown Rats as a band, but i've never been able to stomach Bob Geldof either as a singer/frontman or as a person.
They done some really good songs in a great era for pop/rock music and i'm sorry Garry Roberts has died.

RIP Garry.

I think Geldof was a brilliant frontman but I've never really taken to him as a person either. In saying that it takes a special type of person to be a good front man/lead singer. I'm not saying being an arrogant tosspot is essential - far from it, but it does seem to help in some cases.