OSLO, NORWAY – AUGUST 10: Dave Rowntree from Blur performs on stage at day 2 of Oyafestivalen 2023 on August 10, 2023 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Per Ole Hagen/Redferns)

According to Damon Albarn, the upcoming Coachella performance could mark the final chapter of Blur’s reunion saga. However, this potential farewell might be timely, considering the new path that the band’s founding drummer, Dave Rowntree, is embarking on.

Rowntree recently disclosed that he has been chosen as a parliamentary candidate for the Labour Party in the forthcoming UK general election, representing the Mid Sussex district.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity, Rowntree stated, “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to become Labour’s first Mid Sussex MP. Residents have their best chance in a generation to make their vote count and return a Labour MP to parliament. The [conservative] Tories have run out of ideas, and the Lib Dems have run out of steam.”

Currently, the centre-left Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, serves as the official opposition to Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Before stepping into the realm of politics, Rowntree served as a ward councillor in Norwich from 2017 to 2021, showcasing his commitment to public service and community engagement.