Bob Geldof at Hull City Hall - Thursday 1st December 05 (1/4) By Steve Rudd

(1/4), (2/4), (3/4), (4/4).

December 1st 2005, in my mind, has gone down in history as an unforgettable day. It was the day I met my biggest hero. And whoever said that to meet your hero is usually a disappointing affair was wrong in this instance, and since meeting Bob Geldof (twice in one night!), I'm filled with even more respect for the man ... the god. I never ever thought I'd get the chance to meet him, but there he was, lonesomely standing round the side of the City Hall, in that limbo-time between sound check and the big gig itself. He'd gone outside to get some fresh air, and while Christmas shoppers scooted past oblivious to his presence a few yards away, there Bob stood ... stamping his feet, and with his hands plunged deep in his coat pockets to keep warm.

Although he had on a face-shielding hat and he was staring down at the pavement to further deflect the possibility of being noticed, it really couldn't have been anyone other than Bob. Still, it wasn't entirely obvious that he was playing at the venue that night; there were no huge tour buses or trucks carting huge quantities of gear for the gig. Only a couple of subtle posters at the front of the venue foretold the flavour of the evening's entertainment.

Thus, Bob Geldof stood on the pavement, attempting to get back into the side entrance of the venue in anticipation of show-time. Until I humbly bumbled into the fray, and hesitantly tried to catch his attention, not quite 100% convinced that it was in fact Bob standing there before me. Bob?, I said with a whisper, so as not to attract attention from anybody else who has walking by at the time ... both in case it wasn't him and I was embarrassed for having thought it could be, and in case it was Bob afterall ... because as soon as his identity was unveiled he might rush back into the venue to get away from Joe Public's petty harassment.

I had no idea how he was going to react. But it was him. I still couldn't see his face all that clearly because of his trademark hat, but he discreetly acknowledged that yes, he was Bob. The Bob. At this point I was pathetically lost for words. Typical. Your biggest hero is standing before you, with no other distraction to come between you, and you don't know what to say to him.

OK, it's not that I didn't have anything to say to him; it's that I had too much to say to him and needed to be quick and concise with what I said for maximum impact. Given more time I would have loved to wax lyrical about how Live Aid was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen on TV, and how it inspired both myself and the world at large to be charitable; to think less of oneself and more about everyone else. I would have loved to chat about his ongoing work in Africa, his musical career, his many friends in high places, and the impact this Irish legend has had both on music and in political realms. But there wasn't time.

There barely seemed to be time to ask if he would kindly sign something for me, for proof if proof be needed that I really had met Bob Geldof outside Hull City Hall on a cold, wet and windy December night. It was surreal to say the least. Thankfully, Bob reacted in great spirits, despite being afflicted with a killer cold. Please would you mind signing this? I asked, as I literally dropped to my knees in front of him: as though in prayer.

Continued....next page (2/4)

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