Rock musician and philanthropist, born in Dublin. He studied at Black Rock College, worked in Canada as a pop journalist, then returned home in 1975 to form the successful rock group, the Boomtown Rats (1975--86). Moved by television pictures of widespread suffering in famine-stricken Ethiopia, he established the pop charity "Band Aid' trust in 1984, which raised £8 million for Africa famine relief through the release of the record "Do they know it's Christmas?'. In 1985, simultaneous "Live Aid' charity concerts were held in London and Philadelphia which, transmitted by satellite throughout the world, raised a further £48 million. He was awarded an honorary knighthood in 1986.