AFTER playing to an estimated worldwide audience of one billion at Live Aid in 1985, Bob Geldof's subsequent gigs were bound to seem small.

But size isn't everything, and Sir Bob has now thrown himself into another bout of touring on the back of his latest album, the philosophically titled Sex, Age and Death.

Before going solo, Geldof was lead singer with the punk/New Wave band Boomtown Rats, who scored hits with Rat Trap, Like Clockwork, Someone's Looking At You, Banana Republic, Diamond Smiles and, most memorable of all, the classic teen angst anthem I Don't Like Mondays.

In 1984, shocked by disturbing television images of the Ethiopia famine, Geldof gathered together rock's crme de la crme to record the ultimate charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?

The following year, Geldof organised and performed at the groundbreaking Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, which became one of the biggest charity events of the twentieth century.

The Rats called it a day soon after their Live Aid performance, enabling Bob to devote more time to his charity work and develop a solo career.

Recent sad events, including the death of his ex-wife Paula Yates from a drug overdose, are reflected in the new album, which is one of his most personal and passionately felt records to date.

Medina Theatre, Newport, November 20 & 21. Tickets: 17.50. Box Office: 01983 527020.