Pitchfork

Rock'n'roll and politics just keep getting cozier and cozier, eh? What with all the music-makers coming out in support of the U.S. presidential candidates and, you know, Bono's continued existence.

According to NME.com, the Cities of London and Westminster Constituency Labour Party have selected (former?) Blur drummer Dave Rowntree to run as the Labour candidate for a seat in Parliament, presently held by Conservative party member Mark Field. The seat is a Conservative party stronghold, but if anyone can beat Field, it must be the guy who played drums on "End of a Century", right? Makes sense to me.

The London Times reports that Rowntree "accused Mr Field of failing to speak up for the poor in the constituency. He added that encouraging the greater involvement of young people in politics would be high on his list of priorities if he were elected."

The Times quotes Rowntree as saying, "We are about to have a whole generation of non-voters."

Rowntree has been pining for a gig like this for a while now, perhaps due to the fact that his other job isn't exactly keeping him real busy. As you'll recall, Rowntree ran for a local council election last year in London, though he was defeated by another Conservative rival. NME also reports that Rowntree is studying to become a barrister. Hey, just like these folks! Oh, right.

In other Blur news, well, lunch was nice, but it doesn't look like dinner's in their future. Damon Albarn will perform with Africa Exprez at the Olympia Theatre in Liverpool on March 6, and there's all kinds of Gorillaz stuff going on. Alex James is blogging up a storm over at The Independent, and Graham Coxon is playing a benefit for Crisis Consequences, a charity that helps the homeless, at London's Roundhouse, this Sunday, March 2.