Sir Bob Geldof was a late addition to the ARIA Awards presenting line-up, but he managed to make his time memorable – even if he may not remember it himself.
The 67-year-old Boomtown Rats frontman caused a few excruciating minutes of television when he was on stage with host Keith Urban to present the last award of the night for Song of the Year.
The Irish singer-songwriter dropped an f-bomb and at one point appeared to call the country music singer “Jim” – but those were not the most awkward moments.
No, that went to an uncomfortable exchange that we think crossed the line from friendly banter into a blatant insult.
When Urban was reminding Geldof that he himself had hosted the awards in 1991, the veteran rocker really didn’t seem to recall.
“Apparently I did, but… It was at a time when you don’t remember these sort of things. They come and go.”
“Like tonight?” Keith asked.
“Judging by your performance, yes,” was Geldof’s harsh response, which caused audience members to gasp.
Urban attempted to keep the tone light, replying: “I haven’t even played yet! It is a tough room, it is a tough room.”
Geldof’s appearance on the red carpet earlier in the evening had been a surprise to many, as he only appeared on the list of celebrities arriving earlier that morning, AAP reports.
His outfit also suggested a last-minute decision: jeans and an ill-fitting jacket – but that’s really just his style.
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Top Comments
I judge them by their music. Bob Geldof has done some of the best post punk music. Listen to Rat Trap if you haven't heard it. Keith Urban identifies as country, but what he does is bad generic pop music, which wouldn't be so bad if he didn't pretend it was country.
Irene, country music has changed, just as pop music today is not like it was in the 50s or 60s. Urban does do country, just because it isn't 1950s or 60s or even 70s country doesn't mean it's not country. It most definitely is country. Of course country music is not going to stay the same over the century/decades. This is common sense. It just so happens that Urban, like Shania Twain, is more palatable to people who could never stand country before, thus he is opening up country to new generations of Australians.
No, Gillian Welch, Tyler Childers, Lucinda Williams, Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris do country. Keith Urban and Shania Twain could generously be called country rock, the same as the Eagles.
But the people who listen to him don't then go on to listen to real country.
Because 'real' country is completely unpalatable to most people. I happen to think his country is far better and more palatable than the ghastly country from decades ago. It is an improvement, and his IS real country music, in my opinion. Far far better.
Couldn't be more scripted if it was in the queue at the chemist.