There was a mini-Boomtown Rats reunion last night at Blackrock Rugby Club where Bob Geldof, Pete Briquette and Gary Roberts joined forces to pay tribute to ace saxophonist Dave McHale who lost his battle against cancer recently in Frankfurt.
McHale played on both the Mondo Bongo and V Deep albums, and toured extensively with the Rats during their glory years.
Augmented by house band Stepaside, the trio performed ‘Dave’ – a song Bob wrote for McHale in 1983 after his girlfriend died from a heroin overdose.
Also at the gig were friends and musical admirers Johnny Logan, Robbie Brennan, Mike Hanrahan and Mary Coughlan.
“We hope the gig will raise enough money to erect a bench in Monkstown in Dave’s memory,” says organiser and Stepaside mainman Paul Ashford.

Picture: Jon Dardis