“I Don’t Like Mondays” by The Boomtown Rats
The Boomtown Rats’ “I Don’t Like Mondays” was inspired by the 1979 Cleveland Elementary School shooting incident. On Monday, January 29, Brenda Ann Spencer, a 16-year old girl, went to the premises of the school and opened fire at the children who were waiting to begin their morning school activities. The impression she created after the event was that her hatred for Mondays was one of the reasons behind her act. She said the incident will somehow make the day exciting. It was on this statement that The Boomtown Rats based this classic song. The band apparently aren’t convinced about the excuse and believe that the shooter had no tangible excuse for her actions. The band also uses the song to pay tribute to the victims and recalled how sorrowful that day was.
Facts about “I Don’t Like Mondays”
The song was unveiled in June 1979 and was written by Johnnie Fingers in association with Bob Geldof.
“I Don’t Like Mondays” is a product of the group’s album titled “The Fine Art of Surfacing”.
The family of Spencer tried on several occasions to have the track banned in America, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The song became an instant hit, especially in the UK where it spent one month at the summit of the Singles Chart. The song also won an Ivor Novello Award.
Brenda Ann Spencer’s Atrocities at the Cleveland Elementary School
On January 29, 1979, a 16-year old Brenda, opened fire at students of a public school called Cleveland Elementary School. Brenda, who lived opposite to the school appeared at the premises with a gun and began shooting at the students who were waiting for the doors to be opened so they start with their normal school activities. In the course of the shooting, she hit and killed the principal of the school, Burton Wragg, as well as a custodian whose name was given as Mike Suchar. Both of them were trying to save the school kids. In addition, eight other students suffered different degrees of injury alongside a police officer who had come to the scene to help. In order to prevent further casualties, the police placed a rubbish truck between her and the targets.
After releasing 30 shots, she went into her room and locked herself up. It was this time that she phoned a news reporter and told her what she had done. When asked by the reporter why she did that, Spencer stated that she disliked Mondays and that her action will make the day lively. She later surrendered after the negotiators promised her a meal from Burger Kings. An earlier report has also suggested that she was hostile towards police officers and had previously made a comment that she was going to do something that will receive lots of attention from the media.
She pleaded guilty on two counts, that is, assault by the use of a lethal weapon, and murder. After her 18th birthday, she received a 25-year to life sentence.
It should be noted that Brenda’s evil deeds made her the first teen school shooter in history.
