Bob Geldof discusses upcoming New Zealand tour, calls for boycott of Elon Musk's products

Bob Geldof, musician and activist, discussed his anger, activism, and upcoming New Zealand shows in a recent interview. He reflected on his past work with Live Aid, criticized American billionaire and world's richest man Elon Musk, and detailed what audiences can expect from his new solo show, “An Evening with Bob Geldof”. Geldof will perform in Auckland on March 28 and Wellington on March 29.

Geldof described anger as his “default emotional condition,” which he uses as fuel. He recalled his first protest as a 13-year-old against apartheid.

“Anger is the animus for me, it's my default emotional condition. I get angry about things. With age, I suppose you learn to use it as a fuel.”


Geldof targeted Elon Musk, stating he would organize a boycott against him if he were 15. He urged people to stop using Twitter, Starlink, and Tesla products. “If I was 15 I would definitely organise a boycott of everything Musk. Demand that your parents get off X or Twitter, not use (the satellite service) Starlink, get rid of the Tesla - change it for a BYD Auto or some other thing.”

Geldof discussed The Boomtown Rats, the punk band he formed in 1975. He said their anti-establishment message resonated with Ireland at the time. He noted that by 1984, the band’s hits were no longer flowing.

A news story about the Ethiopian famine crisis put his problems into perspective, prompting him to work with other musicians to raise money. With Midge Ure, he co-wrote “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” for the supergroup Band Aid.

In July 1985, Geldof produced Live Aid, two simultaneous concerts in Philadelphia and London. He recounted a moment with David Bowie, who cried after watching a video of malnourished children in Ethiopia. Bowie later showed the video to the Live Aid audience.