Is That It? - I don`t think so!

Is That It? was the title of Bob Geldof`s autobography which I remember reading some time ago, and given what has happened since in his private life and what continues to be happening to him in respect of world events, it has got to be the most ironic title for a book ever written.

Having been a fan of the Boomtown Rats since the early days and seen them live, it is no surprise to see Bob still rattling cages.

You could not fail to be impressed by the man when he first did what he did for Africa in the 80`s and again now, 20 years later he is still changing the world with his energy, intelligence, words and actions.

At the time of the first live aid gig in 1985 my wife was pregnant with our first child and we watched the whole thing moved to tears on regular occasions by the sight of those poor people sharing the same planet as us and yet they might as well have been a million light years away.

At one of my markets this week an elderly woman, who informed me that she had been married for 60 years, nearly broke down in tears telling me how she felt about the problem, and said she curiously found herself standing in Marks and Spencer considering the issue as to how unfair it was that we have so much and others have so little.

I wondered whether she would be considering this at all if it wasn`t for the likes of Geldof.

I saw him on Jonathon Ross on Friday and his lucidity over the third world debt issue was enough to bring a lump to your throat. - So why does it take people like him to make these things happen when we democratically elect people to do this as their jobs?

And if the news that the politicians are finally considering the matter seiously wasn`t good enough the Live8 gigs have shaken "The Floyd" to their senses and brought about the reunion of one of the best bands the world has ever seen, great stuff Bob!

Listening to the news of this reunion on my way home on Sunday I promptly phoned Mr.D who has been a lifelong fan, to tell him the good news. Expecting a "hurrah" from bruv I was greeted with "sh*t!" - he was gutted that he wouldn`t get to see the gig. It was enough to put him off assembling wardrobes for the afternoon!

It is still one of my greatest memories that at the tender age of 16, Mr.D and Mrs.D took me to see Floyd live at Knebworth.

Sat in this huge field with thousands of other people, the light beginning to fail as dusk approached,the keyboard of Rick Wright gently built announcing the first few bars of "Shine on you crazy diamond" - the hairs still stand up on the back of my neck whenever I hear it! - electric moment.

Governments crack and systems fall `cause unity is powerful. (Weller.)

Rock n Roll!!