Bob Geldof - Early Life

Early Life

Geldof was born and raised in DĂșn Laoghaire, Ireland, the son of Evelyn and Robert (known as Rob) Geldof, and attended Blackrock College. His paternal grandfather was a Belgian immigrant, Zenon (sometimes mistakenly spelt Lenon) Geldof (1882-1939), who was a hotel chef, and his paternal grandmother, Amelia "Minnie" Falk, was a Jewish English woman (born 1873 in London). Zenon Geldof and Amelia Falk were married in 1906 in Westminster and had four children: Herbert (Sonny), Robert, Cleo Zenobie Geldof (born 1906 in Grantham), and May Geldof (born 1909 in Dublin).

At the age of 41, Geldof's mother complained of a headache and died shortly thereafter, having suffered a haemorrhage. Geldof attended Blackrock College in Dublin, whose Catholic ethos he disliked. He was bullied for his lack of rugby prowess and over his third forename, Zenon. After work as a slaughter man, road navvy and pea canner in Wisbech, he started as a music journalist in Vancouver, Canada, for the weekly publication Georgia Straight.

Read more about this topic:  Bob Geldof

Famous quotes containing the words early and/or life:

    Women who marry early are often overly enamored of the kind of man who looks great in wedding pictures and passes the maid of honor his telephone number.
    Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)

    I have no scheme about it,—no designs on men at all; and, if I had, my mode would be to tempt them with the fruit, and not with the manure. To what end do I lead a simple life at all, pray? That I may teach others to simplify their lives?—and so all our lives be simplified merely, like an algebraic formula? Or not, rather, that I may make use of the ground I have cleared, to live more worthily and profitably?
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)