Campaigner and former rock star Bob Geldof still cannot find the words to describe the devastation he felt at the loss of his ex-wife, TV presenter Paula Yates.

"I didn't talk about it, couldn't talk about it, didn't have the words capable of talking about it, still don't," he told the BBC's Hardtalk.

The former Boomtown Rat married Paula Yates in Las Vegas in June 1986, shortly after he had been made a knight of the realm for his work on Live Aid.

It gets to some stages where you think I don't want to wake up feeling like this anymore Bob Geldof

They had three daughters, Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie before their marriage finally failed in February 1995.

Geldof, who as an Irish national does not use the name Sir Bob, was devastated when the former Tube presenter left him for INXS singer Michael Hutchence.

In 1997, Hutchence was found hanged in a Sydney hotel room.

Three years later, Paula was found dead in her London home from a heroin overdose.

"I didn't think life isn't fair because I've thought that for a thousand years," revealed Geldof.

"I just didn't get any of it so I shut up and didn't say anything.

"It gets to some stages where you think I don't want to wake up feeling like this anymore."

Exhausting

Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily, the daughter of Paula and Hutchence, went to live with Sir Bob after a judge gave him custody for the rest of her childhood.

Tiger Lily is living with Geldof and her half-sisters

With four children to look after, the singer dismissed the urge to run away from what he describes as an exhausting and wearying physical pain.

"I didn't get on with it for a number of years," explained Geldof.

"I didn't try and hide it either. I didn't try and put a brave face on it, I couldn't have done that.

"The psychic effort of doing that, on top of everything else, was too much."

During this time music became fundamentally important to Geldof, who used it as a form of expression when words failed him.

Despite the success of Live Aid and several companies, he insists music is the only outlet from which he gets a sense of achievement and is proud of.

Third World debt

Since raising millions for Ethiopian famine victims by masterminding the Live Aid campaign, Geldof's passion to better the lives of those living in some of the poorest countries has not dampened.

On the eve of the July G8 summit, due to be held in Genoa, he will be lobbying key developed countries to take more action on abolishing Third World debt.

But Geldof's agenda does not include organising another event similar to Live Aid.

He feels pop stars of his generation can be more effective through asserting their influence on politicians who are now in the same age bracket.

"Clinton wants Bono's autograph. Tony Blair represented Band Aid in Parliament as a young MP.

"We share those passions and when you have a problem like World Debt which is soluble, then seize the moment," he enthused.

"Use whatever bizarre alchemy that made you a prime minister or a president and put this evil thing to rest and give those wretched people a break."

Hardtalk with Bob Geldof is on BBC World on Friday at 1030GMT and on BBC News 24 at 2230GMT.