The Defining Ten...with Dave Rowntree (BLUR)

Name: The Defining Ten...with Dave Rowntree (BLUR)
Start: 2025-11-20T19:30:00+00:00
Location: Cellar Arts Club CIC

Schedule

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Cellar Arts Club CIC | Worthing, EN

THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT
DAVE'S BOOK "NO ONE YOU KNOW" IS STILL AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE FROM WWW.MUSICSAVES.CO.UK IF YOU'D LIKE A SIGNED/ PERSONALISED COPY WITH FREE DELIVERY IN WORTHING
STANDALONE BOOK PURCHASE DOES NOT GIVE ACCESS TO THE EVENT.
The Defining Ten is where an artist/creative is invited to take us on a musical dot-to-dot journey of the tracks that led them to who they are today. These could be the first song they have a memory of, first purchase, first song they learnt to play, the track that opened doors, the track that closed doors, a track that inspired and led to a new musical direction – so expect a variety of tracks from themselves and other artists. These tracks will be played in turn – either from vinyl, CD or streamed – and discussed with the artist.
On Thursday 20th November we welcome Dave Rowntree of Blur to Worthing to discuss his Defining Ten.
Dave Rowntree was a member of Blur before they were Blur, joining up as drummer with singer Damon Albarn and guitarist Graham Coxon when they were in various bands in Colchester in the late 1980s. After Alex James stepped in as bassist, Blur went on to become one of the most innovative and successful UK bands of all time: both creating Britpop and then moving up and on from it in a way that no other band has achieved. The band’s exceptional creative musical talent, their unique ability to create art-rock anthems as well as solid pop bangers, has won them devoted fans across the world, and in 2023, after a hiatus, they sold out Wembley Stadium twice over. Blur have released nine studio albums, won five Brits, sold 70 million across the world.
Aside from his career with Blur, Dave has also been hugely successful in other fields. His computer animation company Nanomation created influential work for MTV and Channel 4. In the mid-2000s, he trained to be a solicitor, and worked for Kingsley Napley. He has been a Labour candidate and county councillor and is active in the Labour Party. His life-long interest in space led to him being heavily involved in the Beagle 2 Mars mission. He writes soundtracks for film and TV, including music for the BBC’s The Capture and Netflix’s The One, and he released his solo album Radio Songs on Cooking Vinyl in 2023.
“No One You Know” is his first photography book and is a behind-the-scenes look like no other—seen through the eyes (and lens) of someone who lived it. Packed with hundreds of previously unseen photographs, offering a fresh and intimate look at the band’s early years, documenting Blur’s rise to fame, from gritty studio sessions to chaotic tour buses and their first international adventures in America and Japan. The book includes a heartfelt foreword and memory-filled captions from Rowntree himself—offering emotional context and first-hand reflections. This is a one-of-a-kind visual memoir from one of the only four people who truly knows what it was like to be inside one of Britain’s most beloved bands.
We’re extremely excited to be hosting Dave as our guest – after we’ve discussed his Defining Ten we will be discussing the “No One You Know” book and there’ll be an opportunity to buy a copy to get signed.
Discounted ticket bundles – with £5 saved from the RRP of the book – are available. If you miss out on a ticket to the event, you can still get a book signed and personalised with free delivery in the Worthing area – an ideal Christmas gift for the indie music lover in your life!