Bob Geldof offers poetic tribute to W.B. Yeats
It’s poetic beauty that selfdescribed disruptor Bob Geldof, who rose to fame during the punk rock movement, has done a documentary, “A Fanatic Heart: Geldof on Yeats,” about W.B. Yeats, one of the most important and radical figures of 20th century literature.
Since his stint as lead singer of the rock band Boomtown Rats, Geldof has made a social justice mark with his Band Aid charity group and other antipoverty efforts in Africa. The Ireland native also has continued to entertain audiences worldwide with his singing, songwriting and acting, having appeared in “Pink Floyd: The Wall.”
The Yeats film will screen at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Vogue. The program will include an onstage interview with Geldof. Q: What is your impression of San Francisco? A: My memories of San Francisco go back to the 1970s. Going with Allen Ginsberg to the beach. City Lights, of course. The Rats playing at the Kabuki Theater. Q: What attracted you to Yeats? A: I always loved Yeats’ stuff. He’s all over rock ’n’ roll. His poems were lyrics — basically pop songs. All kinds of his words have entered the vernacular. He’s a great poet who had a fantastic ear for rhythm. He gives a voice to many things that are otherwise inexpressible. Q: What was the genesis of your documentary? A: Edna O’Brien, Dominic West and I were invited to do a poetry reading in London. I thought, ‘Who’s gonna show up to watch some geezers read?’ But the theater was packed. Everyone got lost in Yeats’ genius. I wanted to make an essay about the true history of Ireland. Yeats saw the real Ireland that would emerge 50 years later. Q: And what is that new Ireland? A: It’s a modern 21st century state — exactly as Yeats said it would be. Ireland has become the place I wanted it to be