It's been a few months since NASA found an ancient oasis on Mars.
But soon there’ll be a Blur as well, if drummer Dave Rowntree has anything to do with it.
The now Labour councillor was a driving force behind the band’s attempts to beam back a song from Mars in 2003.
And he is setting his sights on one day finally being the first band to play live on the red planet – even if it means a one-way trip.
Musing about being the first to play live in space, Dave says: “We would love to. It would definitely have to be Mars though. If they would have 55-year-old slightly overweight, rather unfit men do it, then I’m in. NASA if you’re listening, I’m there.
“I would go even if there was no return.”
With Trump aiming for NASA to put its first person on Mars in 2033, Dave’s dreams might not be completely pie in the sky.
But first, Damon Albarn and co are still waiting for the European Space Agency’s “Beagle 2” Lander to begin communicating with earth, by playing their song of the same name.
The 2003 probe was lost for 12 years, but found by NASA in 2015, having landed safely – it was just unable to call home, as one of its solar panels had not fully unfurled.
Scientists believe the probe would have been playing Blur’s Beagle 2 out loud until it failed – making them the first band heard on Mars… if there were any little green men there to listen.
Now Dave is preparing for a rather more grounded weekend.
He’s joining BBC Radio 6 Music Festival in London’s Camden, which runs from today until Sunday and can be found on bbc.co.uk/6music, BBCiPlayer, BBC Four and BBC Red Button.
The Norfolk councillor is in a 90s quiz, which he says is “terrifying” as he as “no general musical knowledge, especially the 90s”. All a bit of a Blur, was it?
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