Bob Geldof with daughters Pixie and PeachesBob Geldof has spoken out about how hard it was to be separated from his children during his divorce from then-wife Paula Yates.

Recalling the custody fight over daughters Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches and Pixie when Paula left him for Michael Hutchence in 1995, he said recently: “It freaked me out. I could not live without my kids. I missed the sound of them turning in their sleep. I just wanted to go to some dark, grey corner of the world and howl into the void.”

“The key in my pocket still fit in the door, but I was no longer allowed [to put] this key in the door and go into my home. It’s very hard to get your head around that. I went to the door, and I was too humiliated to knock on my own front door.”

“That’s my house, my home, my children. I could hear them laughing in there. I was too scared of [knocking] and one of my kids opening the door and saying ‘Hi Dad’ and not being allowed to let me in.”

“I didn’t want to impose that on them. I didn’t want it to happen to me. I didn’t want her to come to the door and say, ‘What are you doing here? You’re not allowed to come here.’”

“So, I went back out, and I sat in the car and I just cried. I just stayed and watched their bedroom lights go off, and I went home. That shouldn’t happen to anyone.

“If you put impediments in the way of men seeing their children - making them jump through all sorts of humiliating hoops - the kids become a weapon, a sword and a shield simultaneously.

“You’re suffering so much. Eventually, no person can take that and the kids lose a father. It is hurtful.”

Bob was eventually granted custody of the girls after a 1996 drug raid on Paula and Michael’s home - and he adopted their subsequent daughter Tiger Lily following Paula and Michael’s deaths in 2000 and 1997 respectively.

Speaking about Tiger Lily, he said he was glad the 11 year old girl lives with him now: “What’s she got to do with any of the mess? She should be with those she knows and loves. She’s a hoot. She’s gorgeous.”