Bob Geldof kicks off the 43rd HOT TICKET season on Oct. 12 at Brock's Centre for the Arts.

The Centre for the Arts is gearing up for its 43rd HOT TICKET season, which kicks off an exciting new lineup with Bob Geldof.

The Irish singer, songwriter, author, actor and legendary outspoken political activist takes the stage on Friday, Oct. 12.

During the punk rock movement of the late ’70s and early ’80s, Geldof started gaining attention as the lead singer and songwriter of The Boomtown Rats. The band had hits with his compositions, Rat Trap, and the No. 1 single, I Don’t Like Mondays.

The latter was written in the aftermath of Brenda Ann Spencer’s 1979 attempted massacre at an elementary school across the street from her house in San Diego, California. Without remorse, Spencer’s full explanation for her actions was “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.”

In 1984, Geldof went on to co-write with Midge Ure, one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? stemmed from Geldof’s frustration and fury with the famine in Ethiopia. Geldof and Ure assembled the charity supergroup Band Aid to raise money for famine relief in the east African nation.

The pair went on to organize the unforgettable and impactful Live Aid super-concert – the world’s first global live broadcast – and the subsequent Live 8 concerts in 2005.

Geldof has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II and was named Man of Peace for making an outstanding contribution to international social justice and peace.

Although Band Aid and Live Aid have had their share of controversy and debate, there is little doubt that Geldof and his peers raised global awareness about the issue of African poverty. With millions of dollars raised and lives saved, some say they changed the world.

Geldof currently serves as an adviser to the ONE Campaign with fellow humanitarian Bono.

It’s difficult for media to discuss Geldof without focusing on his aid work, his controversies or his Shakespearean private life, but one can’t ignore his near 40-year musical career.

“Music is actually the only thing I enjoy doing, and I do it quite a lot, though you might not be aware of it,” Geldof said in an interview with the Guardian in 2011.

His solo hits include This Is the World Calling and The Great Song of Indifference. He starred in Pink Floyd’s cinematic version of The Wall and performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert with Queen, singing a song he co-wrote with Mercury called Too Late God.

His latest release is cleverly entitled How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell, which Geldof jokes is currently “selling in the tens.”

All tickets are on sale now at the box office in Thistle Corridor, by phoning 905-688-5550 x3257 or online at Arts.BrockU.ca.

HOT TICKET members enjoy perks such as discounts up to 20 per cent off ticket prices, free parking, complimentary hors d’ouevres, wine tastings, opportunities to bring friends for free and more.