Blur drummer Dave Rowntree wants to stand in the UK local council elections as a Labour candidate. He intends to become a councillor for the ward of Marylebone in the City of Westminster, London.\"I\'m a Westminster resident and in my experience of living here, it all looks lovely - there are hanging baskets everywhere - but you only need to scratch beneath the surface and see that there\'s a lot of deprivation and a lot of inequality around. I think someone needs to do something about it.\"
The forthcoming council by-election in Marylebone take place this month. The drummer may face difficulties in getting elected, as the Marylebone ward has been a firmly held Conservative seat for years.
Blur about to enter the studio for a new album
Dave Rowntree\'s political adventures do not endanger his band\'s career. Blur are planning to return to the studio in August. Even guitarist Graham Coxon, who left the group in 2002, has made peace with his former band-mates and will be involved in the project.
According to bassist Alex James it\'s not sure if the band will actually release a new album:
\"We\'re all heading into the studio together this summer. Graham\'s coming too. We\'re gonna see if we\'ve still got it. If not, I think we\'ll just call it a day.\"
