Israeli University To Honor Bob Geldof

Bob Geldof is being awarded an honorary doctorate from an Israeli university for his work to end hunger in Africa and raise awareness about poverty.

Ben-Gurion University said Monday that it will award the degree to the Irish singer and social activist in a ceremony at the end of May.

Geldof staged the Live Aid fundraising concerts in London and Philadelphia in 1985, which featured 60 top musicians and bands. Proceeds were used to help hunger victims in Africa.

Geldof has said that he was inspired to organize the event after watching a news broadcast about the Ethiopian famine. Geldof has organized other aid shows since.

Photo: AP Photo

Reggio Calagria Film Festival, Reggio Calabria, Italy

He first shot to fame in the late 1970’s as lead singer of the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats.