Founding Member of Nirvana Eyes Political Career

The Seattle Times ^ | 11-21-03

[steppenwolffe]

SEATTLE - Grunge-rock pioneer Krist Novoselic says he may run for lieutenant governor of Washington state in what would be the next step of a transition from rock star to politician.

Novoselic, a founder and bass player of the seminal band Nirvana and more recently an activist Democrat, is enough of a politician already to be wary about facing off against fellow Democrat Lt. Gov. Brad Owen, a two-term incumbent. But he's thinking seriously about the intra-party challenge, is talking to party leaders and says he does not want to go through 2004 as a spectator.

"I've been really contemplating how I want to get involved next year and make a contribution," Novoselic said this week. "It's going to be a big year and I'm trying to find a way to fit into it."

The office has few required duties. In the past, celebrities have been successful at winning the post.

"I don't go around encouraging primaries against incumbents," said state Democratic Party Chairman Paul Berendt. "But we've had a big-band leader and a University of Washington coach in that job. What's to say that a member of Nirvana wouldn't fit right in?"

Novoselic, 38, formed Nirvana with Kurt Cobain in the late 1980s while both were living in Aberdeen, Wash. The band defined the Seattle sound that became known as grunge and was one of the country's most popular acts until Cobain's suicide in 1994.

After Cobain's death, Novoselic had several music projects, including his band Sweet 75.

But he became more involved in politics after working in Olympia, Wash., to stop a bill that would have restricted minors' access to some music, and led the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee.

[Ed_NYC]

The sad part is that he might win!

[The KG9 Kid]

Q: What has four legs and is unemployed?

A: The rest of Nirvana.

[whattajoke]

Q: What has four legs and is unemployed?

Actually, you're quite wrong. Dave Grohl (and Pat Smear who joined Nirvana at the end) have been in the very, very successful band, "The Foo Fighters." As for Mr. Novaselic, well, you've got me there, but I think he has been doing a lot with charity in his parent homeland in one of the former Yugoslav republics or something.

[LurkedLongEnough]

And I swear that I don't have a gun--No, I don't have a gun

[gingerky]

I like the FooFighters. Grohl is a good musician and doesn't seem to live "under a black cloud" like Cobain did. Some of his songs are very uplifting.

[SelmaLee]

I can't wait to hear what our resident Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters fan is going to say about your joke when she gets home from school today. It should be worth the price of admission...LOL!

[bassmaner]

Grohl also drums for Queens of the Stone Age, in addition to fronting the Foo Fighters.

[Ramius]

This guy thinks that being *LT* Gov is somehow a way to "make a difference"? Is there ANY more meaningless and invisible job in the State of WA than this? I think not...