The Boomtown Rats

The Boomtown Rats (aka Boomtown Rats) are an Irish rock band originally formed in Dublin in 1975. Generally associated wit the post-punk scene of the late 70s in the UK, they were one of the first groups to break into the mainstream and achieve hit singles and extensive television coverage and radio play.

The group's debut single, Lookin' After No. 1, released in August 1977 reached no. 11 in the UK, while their debut eponymous album, released the following month made the top 20 and spawned another hit single, Mary of the 4th Form, no. 15 in December. The Rats had two consecutive no.1 hits with Rat Trap (1978) and I Don't Like Mondays (1979) and scored their last top 10 hit with Banana Republic in 1980, while three further albums released between 1978 and 1981, all made the top 10.

The Rats' latest album Citizens of Boomtown was released in March 2020.

Band members

 * Bob Geldof - lead vocals
 * Pete Briquette - bass guitar
 * Simon Crowe - drums, backing vocals
 * Johnnie Fingers - piano, keyboards (until 1986)
 * Gerry Cott - guitars (until 1982)

TV

 * Top of the Pops
 * 15 June 1978 ‎ - Like Clockwork (54)
 * 13 July 1978 ‎- Like Clockwork  (6)
 * 29 June 1978 ‎ - Like Clockwork (13) rpt.
 * 05 October 1978 ‎- Rat Trap (new)
 * 19 October 1978 ‎ - Rat Trap  (intro, over charts)
 * 26 October 1978 ‎ Rat Trap (7, rpt.)
 * 16 November 1978 ‎- Rat Trap (first week at no.1)
 * 23 November 1978 ‎ - Rat Trap (1, rpt.)
 * 26 July 1979 ‎ - I Don’t Like Mondays (Video) (1)
 * 07 February 1980 ‎ - Someone’s Looking At You (8, rpt.)
 * 04 December 1980 ‎- Banana Republic (3)
 * 18 December 1980 ‎ - Banana Republic (Top 10 video countdown)
 * 25 March 1982 - ‎ House On Fire (42)
 * 08 April 1982 -‎ House On Fire (24, rpt.)
 * 30 June 1994 ‎- I Don't Like Mondays (video)
 * 22 September 1978 ‎ Rock Goes To College (BBC Two)
 * 31 December 1979 ‎ The 'Will Kenny Everett Make It to 1980?' Show (ITV)
 * 10 February 1984 - Whistle Test (BBC Two)

Radio

 * 11 December 1980 ‎25 Years of Rock 25: 1979

Other

 * 31 March 1978 ‎ - She's So Modern released (see ad)
 * 07 November 1978 - ‎ Charts: Rat Trap (N3, up from 7)
 * 25 November 1978 ‎ - Record Mirror ad - N 'thanks' and tour dates
 * 31 July 1979 ‎ - Charts: I Don't Like Mondays (N1)
 * 06 October 1978 ‎ - Rat Trap released (see ad)
 * 14 January 1978 ‎ - Look-In centrespread
 * 07 June 1984 -‎ Smash Hits: The Boomtown Rats, 'What Went Wrong?'
 * 17 January 2020 ‎ - Trash Glam Baby released


 * July No.1s - ‎ I Don't Like Mondays (1979)
 * Summer Nights ‎ (← links | edit)