Words and images from Dod Morrison Photography: http://www.dodmorrison.com/
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The lights dim, and the screen at the back of the stage flickers to life. A giant birthday cake appears, iced with the words “Happy Birthday Boomtown Rats”. A cartoon rat nibbles away, before the whole thing explodes — releasing a swarm of hundreds of rats scurrying across the screen. The crowd erupts, and right on cue, the band storms the stage.
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“And we’re off!” shouts Bob Geldof, grinning as he leans into the mic.
“Hello, Aberdeen!”
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Without missing a beat, they tear straight into Rat Trap, quickly followed by Like Clockwork. The energy is electric — tight, fast, and unmistakably Boomtown Rats.
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By the time they reach Someone’s Looking at You, the audience is in full voice. When Geldof sings the line “On a night like this I deserve to get kissed,” someone in the crowd cheekily yells “pissed!” — prompting a knowing smile from Bob, who clearly loves the banter.
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Between songs, he reflects on the band’s early days. “The Scottish people,” he says, “took us into their tartan bosoms when we first started out — and we’ve never forgotten that.” It’s a warm, genuine moment that draws a big cheer from the crowd.
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Then come those unmistakable piano notes — soft, haunting, and instantly recognisable. The room falls quiet. I Don’t Like Mondays. Every word is sung back to the band by the audience. When Bob reaches the line “And the lesson today is how to die,” the music stops dead. The band stands motionless in complete silence — an entire minute of stillness in a packed venue.
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Breaking the pause, Bob’s voice takes on a reflective tone:
“In fifty years, we’ve probably sung this song thousands of times. And every time, it doesn’t mean quite what it did before. It’s not the same story — it defines something happening now. So, standing here in Aberdeen tonight, we think of those still starving children in Gaza, or those brave boys on the bloody fields of Ukraine trying to stop another thug. That’s what we’re singing about tonight. Tell me why…”
The crowd roars as the song finishes — a powerful, emotional moment that lingers long after the last note fades.
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To close the night, they launch into The Boomtown Rats — their anthem, their declaration of pride. The audience sings along celebrating not just the music, but the legacy of a band that refuses to fade quietly into nostalgia.
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The Rats are very much alive — and Aberdeen wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Further information: https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/the-boomtown-rats-50th-anniversary-uk-tour/
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