ROCK legend and fund-raiser Bob Geldof was in Bewdley yesterday to mourn the loss of his friend, manager and business colleague.

The funeral of Michael "The Mick" Owen, manager of the Boomtown Rats, at All Saints Church in Wribbenhall was also attended by the likes of Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant.

Mr Owen, who lived in Bewdley, passed away on Saturday, March 8, aged 56, after a long battle with cancer.

During the ceremony Geldof gave an address to the packed church.

Geldof's PR manager said the 48-year-old star was "extremely upset."

Last month Geldof received the lifetime achievement award at Meteor Ireland Music Awards and gave it to Mr Owen.

"This shows you how highly he thought of Mick," said spokesman Jonathan Wingate.

Although no official statement has been released from the Live Aid hero, this message was posted on Geldof's official website

Sympathy

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mick "The Mick" Owen, who left us during the early hours of Saturday morning, March 8, 2003," read the statement.

"Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Mick's wife Barbara and family and to Bob and the band and the many people who knew and worked with him.

"Mick will be greatly missed."

Another tribute, reportedly from a Boomtown Rats band member said: "Mick's loyalty and dedication to Bob and the band is legendary.

"There's no doubt in my mind that he would have stopped a bullet for Bob without a second thought."

Musician Ian Gibbons, who played with The Kinks, said he was privileged to have known Mr Owen.

"He was a fine gentleman with a very caring nature," he said.

Mr Owen leaves a wife, Barbara, a son Andrew and a grand-daughter Olivia.