Blur drummer rolls back the years for The Hub at St Mary’s show

Renowned rock drummer Dave Rowntree is to star in his own show at Lichfield’s Hub at St Mary’s – plugging his new photography book reliving the early days of Blur.

The Blur drummer will join host Daniel Rachel to talk about his new photography book, No One You Know, which contains exclusive, intimate, never-seen-before photos of Blur at the start of their career.

With hundreds of previously unseen photographs, a personal foreword and detailed quotes of memories attached to the images, No One You Know is a unique visual insight into the first few years of one of Britain’s most successful and well-loved bands, from one of the only four people who knows what it was really like.

The book captures the excitement of a young band in their infancy, later becoming a global concern with four men having the time of their lives as the road opens out before them, all seen behind the eyes of their drummer and the lens of his Olympus OM10.

Dave Rowntree (pictured) says: "The pictures I took are of a band, right at the start of their career. They’re of what we did between the gigs, interviews and photo sessions. They’re of us hanging out, relaxing, travelling, eating and, especially in the early days, drinking.

"They’re snapshots of what life in Blur was really like in the first few years when the TV cameras and tape recorders were turned off."

Dave is also a political activist for the Labour Party, a solicitor, an animator and also writes music for film and TV. He played in various bands with childhood friend Graham Coxon, before hooking up with Damon Albarn and later Alex James, forming the band Seymour which later became Blur.

Until recently Dave was a DJ on XFM where he debuted tracks on the radio by artists such as Rat Boy, Pretty Vicious, The Big Moon and Aurora. He is also the cofounder of The Featured Artists Coalition, as well as the charitable project, Star Boot Sale.

The Hub creative director, Anthony Evans said: "Dave Rowntree really lives life to the full. No One You Know  is a fantastic record of behind the scenes, personal moments, documenting the early days of superstardom – don’t miss out, book your tickets now!"

Tickets for the show, at 8pm on Thursday 26 February, cost £16/£18 and are available online at or direct from The Hub.