80s rock icon Bob Geldof (that’s Sir Bob, to you and I) looks unrecognisable on the set of a new film – donning a colourful shell suit to appear in a zombie plane movie.
The Boomtown Rats frontman, 73, is best known for providing vocals to the band’s hit song I Don’t Like Mondays – and for co-founding Live Aid, of course.
However, the singer couldn’t look any more different than he did as he filmed scenes at a Gold Coast airport in Australia, sporting a white beard and long hair with aviator sunglasses and matching tracksuits.
Sir Bob will appear in the upcoming comedy-horror film Zombie Plane, which sees passengers on a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles beset by a sudden outbreak of the living dead.
The musician and activist is just one of a host of celebrities sending themselves up for the movie – including action hero Chuck Norris, rapper Vanilla Ice and Aussie model and TV personality Sophie Monk.
This motley group of celebrities must band together to contain the outbreak – racing against time against the US Air Force, who are set on blowing the zombies out of the sky… celebs and all.
Directed by Lav Bodnaruk and Michael Mier, Zombie Plane is expected for release in 2025.
With Sir Bob filming the movie on location in Australia, he also took the time to swing by Brisbane International Film Festival and, with it, the premiere of another zombie film – this one starring an undead kangaroo named Rippy.
Titled Rippy, the zombie horror film sees a small-town sheriff attempt to fend off the killer kangaroo terrorising her town.
Sharing a picture with the men of the moment, Aussie journalist Michelle Tapper wrote on Instagram: ‘A pleasure to interview Sir Bob Geldof at the Brisbane International Film Festival, with Rippy, the zombie kangaroo!’
Directed by Ryan Coonan, Rippy stars Terminator’s Michael Biehn alongside Tess Haubrich, Aaron Pederson and a bloodthirsty zombie ‘roo.
During his appearance, Sir Bob told festival reporters: ‘I am actually starring in Zombie Plane. Obviously, I’m very nervous because this is a big acting role.’
The star has experience playing himself, starring as Pink in the 1982 film, Pink Floyd – The Wall. He later appeared as himself in 1997’s Spice Girls movie Spiceworld, and again in an episode of Paul Whitehouse’s short-lived sitcom Happiness.
Prior to this, his acting credits include playing Bob Geldof in the 1991 TV movie Bernard and the Genie, and as himself again in A Spinal Tap Reunion: The 25th Anniversary London Sell-Out.
In 2012, he escaped typecasting to appear in the French drama Bad Girl (Mauvaise Fille), where he played a rock star named George.
Outside of his acting work, Sir Bob’s achievements include his work with The Boomtown Rats – earning number one hits with I Don’t Like Mondays and Rat Trap.
Together with Midge Ure, Sir Bob was responsible for co-founding Band Aid and the concerts Live Aid and Live 8 – co-writing the smash hit charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?
With all that under his belt, we’d say Sir Bob (who was awarded a charity knighthood in 1986) has earned his nutty little zombie movie.