Bob Geldof Mocked From Margate to Melbourne, as New York Roasts Peaches

The Geldof family appear to be shifting into self-immolating transcontinental hyper-drive.

After causing civic offence by describing Margate as “inexcusably ugly” in the Kent County Council newspaper, Bob Geldof promised to make good by turning on the town’s Christmas lights on November 29, before lamely backing out because he had to attend “a political arrangement in Doha,” as his spokesman put it.

Those curious as to the kind of “political arrangement” Geldof sometimes gets tied up with should look no further than Australia’s Melbourne Herald Sun newspaper, who reported last week that Geldof charged a coalition of city enterprise bodies an estimated AUS $100,000 (approx. £42,000) to give a talk on “the tragedy of world poverty.”

“That’s $100,000 that could have made a difference to poverty right there,” an insider told the newspaper, “The audience would have walked away in awe. If only they knew the full story.”

Naturally, Geldof’s fee didn’t include first class airfares, luxury accommodation, and even a minder, all of which were provided gratis. This contrasts with Reverend Tim Costello, the CEO of Christian charity World Vision, who spoke for free. (Geldof’s personal wealth is estimated to be in excess of £30 million). 

Such obliviousness to the utter compromise of his own ideals comes as little surprise to regular Geldof watchers: although his commitment to the economic challenges facing developing world nations is undoubtedly well intentioned, this is the man, let us not forget, who told the world that they could “make poverty history” at Live 8 in advance of the 2005 G8 summit Gleneagles, and then declared that critics of the G8 member nations’ entirely unimpressive debt relief efforts were “a disgrace” – effectively selling out his own movement.  

Meanwhile, Geldof’s daughter Peaches has hauled her train-wreck carcass over to New York, where she is rapidly becoming something of a cult figure thanks to her heavily hyped, atrociously written columns for style rag Nylon. Following hot on the heels of a less than credible Las Vegas marriage to 23 year old Max Drummey that was announced in a press release plugging the American drummer’s band, and reports of a serious gak habit, Peaches’ status as the newest ‘It Girl’ in town has been the source of much mirth at Manhattan media blog Gawker ever since a sub-sixth form essay about the wonder of New York was posted on the Nylon website. Her latest column, which is essentially a list of stuff she thinks is cool, was posted yesterday. A short sample:  

For me, fashion is about pushing boundaries.  Vivienne Westwood once told me that people who aren’t creative or have no love for art don’t dress up, I asked her why people should and she replied simply, “Because it’s fun.”  Sage advice. Here are some trends I’m looking forward to in the coming year.

Doc Martens
People seem to be moving toward the more practical side of fashion and you can’t get more reliable and all-purpose than Doc Marten boots.  Check out the DMs with heels—yes, that’s right, with a three-inch heel!  Special!

Muted Tones
Instead of stark monochrome or new rave fluoro, I think 2009 will see people dressing in shades of gray and green, more toned down and less outlandish.

Crazy Patterns
As opposed to the more sedate spots and stripes.  I like to imagine an entire high street overflowing with clothes made out of curtain fabric.

The article has already been dissected with glee in New York, but the verdict of one Nylon reader speaks volumes:

AMBERDEXTROSE – I wish I could find it within me to like this girl: she’s young and interested in ’stuff’, but every time I see her oh-so-posed pictures and read her slightly cringey prose (full of name drops and studied cool) I feel like I’ve interupted a private masturbatory moment. She’s so not what it’s about to be British. Where’s the self-deprecation? Where’s the fun and humour? Instead she’s all sneers and arrogance and posey-posey. *shudder* Take her away, please.

In summary: not a vintage month for brand Geldof.  

Posted by Jack Roberts in Creative Economy | November 21, 2008 3:05PM |