Dave Rowntree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Rowntree
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Rowntree with Blur at Wembley Stadium in 2023
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David Alexander De Horne Rowntree
8 May 1964 Colchester, Essex, England
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| Occupation |
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| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) |
Paola Marra
(m. 1994, divorced) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | Cooking Vinyl |
David Alexander De Horne Rowntree (born 8 May 1964) is an English musician, politician, lawyer, composer, and animator. He is most famous as the drummer for the rock band Blur.
In his political life, Rowntree was a member of the Norfolk County Council from 2017 to 2021. He represented the Labour Party. He also ran for Parliament as a Labour candidate in the 2010 and 2024 general elections.
Contents
Early Life and Education
David Alexander De Horne Rowntree was born in Colchester, Essex, on 8 May 1964. His parents were both musical. His mother, Susan, played the viola. His father, John, was a sound engineer at the BBC. David has an older sister named Sara.
He went to The Gilberd School in Colchester during the week. On weekends, he studied percussion at the Landermere Music School. He played percussion with his father in the Colchester Silver Band. After school, he studied Computer Science at Thames Polytechnic. He started his career as a computer programmer for Colchester Borough Council.
Music Career Highlights
Joining the Band Blur
Rowntree played in bands with Graham Coxon when they were growing up. In 1989, Coxon introduced Rowntree to Damon Albarn. Albarn was forming a new band. Rowntree was asked to join and moved to London. With Alex James joining, the band became Blur. They signed with Food Records.
Supporting the Beagle 2 Mars Mission
Rowntree has always been interested in space. In 1998, he became involved with the Beagle 2 Mars mission. This project aimed to send a lander to Mars to look for signs of life. Rowntree and Alex James joined the Beagle 2 team to help promote the project. Their support helped get more people interested. It also attracted famous artist Damien Hirst and financial supporters.
The Mars Express mission, carrying Beagle 2, launched in June 2003. It had a special song written by Blur. This song was meant to be sent back from Mars. Beagle 2 lost contact with Earth. However, it was found on Mars' surface ten years later. Rowntree said, "We got the first music on Mars."
Radio and Solo Music
In 2014, Rowntree started as a presenter for XFM radio. This station is now called Radio X. He had a regular show on Sunday nights. He played music and discussed interesting topics.
In November 2021, Rowntree signed a deal for his first solo album. His first solo song, "London Bridge," was released on 5 July 2022. His first solo album, Radio Songs, was released on 20 January 2023.
Film and Animation Work
Computer Animation
Rowntree is a computer animator. He owned an animation company called Nanomation for eleven years. His company worked for advertising agencies. He also directed two series of the animated show Empire Square. This show first appeared on Channel 4 in 2005.
Music for Film and TV
Rowntree also creates music for films and TV shows. He and Ian Arber composed the music for the 2018 documentary Bros: After the Screaming Stops. He also worked on the BBC series The Capture (2019). He also contributed to Netflix's science fiction series The One (March 2021).
Legal and Political Career
Becoming a Lawyer
Rowntree trained to become a lawyer when Blur took a break in 2006. He worked in the criminal department of a law firm in London. In July 2017, he received an honorary doctorate in law from Greenwich University. This means he was recognized for his achievements in law.
Political Involvement
Rowntree has been a strong supporter of the Labour Party since 2002. He has run for political office several times. In 2008, he was chosen to run for Parliament in the 2010 general election. He was not elected at that time.
In 2017, Rowntree was elected as a county councillor for the University ward in Norwich. He served on the Norfolk County Council until 2021. In March 2024, Rowntree was selected to run for Parliament again. This time, he ran for the Mid Sussex area in the 2024 general election. His campaign focused on housing and improving town centers.
Political Views and Campaigns
Rowntree is against the death penalty. He supports Amicus, an organization that helps people facing the death penalty in the United States. In 2014, he was one of 200 public figures who signed a letter against Scottish independence.
He has also campaigned against prosecuting people who share music files online. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Open Rights Group. This group works for digital rights in the United Kingdom. Rowntree is also a founding director of the Featured Artists Coalition. In 2016, he organized a charity sale to raise money for Syrian refugees.
Other Interests and Hobbies
Rowntree has a full pilot's licence, which he got in 1995. He also has a licence for amateur radio in the UK. He received his first radio licence in 2012 and a full licence in 2016. His radio callsign is M0IEG.
Personal Life
In 1994, Rowntree married Paola Marra. They later divorced in the early 2000s.
See also
In Spanish: Dave Rowntree para niños
