Bob Geldof sparks anger after swearing at festival-goers for wearing ‘wall to wall f***ing Primark’
Singer left music-lovers fuming after his foul-mouthed tirade at the Brentwood Music festival
MUSIC-LOVERS stormed out of a festival in protest after singer Bob Geldof went on a foul-mouthed tirade, even criticising them for wearing Primark clothes.
Disgruntled fans left the festival early as the Boomtown Rats' frontman launched into a series of rants, including saying the the family event was tame.
As soon as Geldof reached the stage he started swearing, shouting at the crowd: "We don't do Abba. We don't do Robbie f*****g Williams.
"Brentwood, we are the Boomtown Rats.
"We are mega. And you are Brentwood. How do we know that you are Brentwood and we are mega?
"Because I am wearing a f**k off pretend snakeskin suit and [they] are wearing f**k off cowboy shirts even though they live in London."
Referring to one of his band, the 64-year-old said: "This [guy] who you'll remember as a slim handsome young lad…is wearing a f**k off purple suit with an elasticated waistband so that when he gets even f*****g fatter you won't notice."
Turning to the crowd, the rocker said: "On the other hand Brentwood, you are wearing wall to wall f*****g Primark.
"This is a rock and roll festival. When you come to a rock and roll festival you dress for a rock and roll festival. You can never be too careful."
He then continued on his tirade on clothing and politics, saying: "That song we just did was written at the end of 1975 when Margaret Thatcher became leader of the opposition.
"What are you booing for? We're in F*****g Brexit land here guys. Yeah, we're Irish, we're still in Europe.
"It's just as well we wrote that song because this year is about Theresa May. She's gonna do you in."
The band, which was booked as the festival's headline act, was even forced to carry on playing for more than 90 seconds as their frontman wandered aimlessly around the stage during their hit 'I Don't Like Mondays'.
After going on another foul-mouthed rant, Geldof told the crowd: "I realise this is a family weekend but I have to inform parents that most of your children know the words I'm using."
But fans were left unhappy with the music event, with dozens taking to social media to voice their complaints.
One festival goer Michelle Walsh wrote: "Brilliant weekend apart from Bob Goldof, arrogant horrible man. Left after his rant!!!"
Another woman, Anita Davis, said: "Awful Awful Bob Geldof!!! We had a Fantastic 3 Days for it to be spoilt by the last act!!! We didn't stay till the end because of his Outburst!!!! #BwdFest16 upsetting for a lot of people who came to enjoy the Festival!!"
Joanne Newitt wrote: "Thought Nob Geldof was horrible four mouthed and rude. Boring same old politics crap. He even brought up Thatcher! Really? We left when he was on."
Others urged the event organisers not to invite Boomtown Rats back to the festival while others called for the band's fee to be paid to charity.
A video was also shared on Youtube showing festival-goers leaving the main area after Bob Geldof started his abusive attack against the crowd.
But others stood up for the music legend with Sarah Barry writing: "Went Sunday and had a fantastic time. I'm no fan of Goldof but I thought he was brilliant...sorry people felt insulted; I actually found him funny and I was sober."
Festival co-ordinator Laurie Edmonds apologised for the language, but said it was "part of the act."
She said: "They're a punk band. You expect them to be a bit controversial and he got a reaction from the crowd.
"People know he speaks his mind. That's just what they do but they were a fantastic punk band and we thought it would go down well with our crowds.
"We know he's a bit of a lightning rod and people will have strong reactions to him."
She explained that organisers had made a conscious decision to put the act on post-watershed.
She continued: "We were disappointed that there was so much swearing. We want this to be a family event and it would have been nice if it was toned down.
"Some people who felt it was offensive made the decision to leave.
"We're truly sorry if people were offended. It wasn't our intention in booking them.
"We have had a couple of complaints but we've equally had people saying they were one of the best sets all weekend.
"There were still several thousands of people who stayed to the very end and were asking for encores."
