Dave flies solo until Blur tour

PILOT STUDY

BLUR drummer Dave Rowntree reckons becoming a flying instructor is better than being a Britpop legend.

The sticksman has tried several alternative careers since Blur went on hiatus, including involvement in the Beagle 2 Mars mission and failing to be elected as a Labour MP.

Now Dave said: “I’m a pilot instructor these days. It’s fun, it’s the only time I get to give PowerPoint presentations, so I know I’m an adult.

“Next time I see the guys (In Blur), I’m going to suggest we get in some PowerPoint. Drumming is the only other thing in my life that got to me like flying, it just felt joyous and freeing. I do both as much as possible.”

Perhaps Dave can fly Blur to their reunion shows in France and at Wembley Stadium next July.

He reckons continued interest in the band is down to their music and guitarist Graham Coxon.

“That the foundation of everything we did was the songs, that’s number one,” he said. “Number two is that people still haven’t figured out how Graham gets that guitar sound, and as long as they don’t we’re at the leading edge of things.

“Ultimately, chemistry is the vital element. Damon [Albarn], Graham and I were in various bands pre-Blur, but we got much better when Alex [James] joined – even at the first rehearsal – and we were signed six months later.

“You can’t manufacture chemistry. Fundamentally, music is a people business, not a music business.”

Dave is also releasing his debut solo album in January and he can’t wait to hear his songs on the airwaves: “I grew up in a slightly unusual household in that, rather than go to football, my dad and I built radios together.

“My album, Radio Songs, is inspired by my relationship with radio and a lot of the stuff on it comes from recordings I made of the noises between stations. I always have a moment when my music gets played.” ●Tickets for Blur’s Wembley Stadium show go on sale tomorrow.