The Boomtown Rats have announced more details about their upcoming anthology, *The First 50 Years: Songs Of Boomtown Glory*, celebrating 50 years since the band formed in Ireland. This collection features 24 songs on a 2LP set and 27 songs on a CD, set to be released on September 19, 2025. Fans can pre-order it now. The tracklist includes selections made by the band and through fan polling, and the packaging will showcase the band’s impressive career, making this anthology a unique retrospective.
Following the release, the Boomtown Rats will embark on a UK tour called the Happy Birthday Boomtown Tour. It kicks off on October 10 in Nottingham and will visit cities like London, Glasgow, and Liverpool. The band will perform 12 shows throughout October and November.
Formed in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, in 1975, the Boomtown Rats have influenced many artists, including U2 and Sinead O’Connor. They gained fame in the UK and beyond with their hit “I Don’t Like Mondays” in 1979, which topped charts in Ireland, Australia, and the UK. Other hits like “Someone’s Looking At You” and “Banana Republic” followed.
2025 is also significant for the band as it marks 40 years since Bob Geldof co-organized Live Aid, a major benefit concert for famine relief in Ethiopia. The Boomtown Rats performed at this iconic event, which became a defining moment of the 1980s. After a hiatus, the band reunited in 2013 and released new music with *Citizens Of Boomtown* in 2020.
Don’t miss out—order *The First 50 Years: Songs of Boomtown Glory* now!
