Former Nirvana bassist is small-town politico
OLYMPIA, Wash. — It’s been a busy year for former Nirvana bassist turned politico Krist Novoselic (noh-voh-SEL’-ich).
He released a new record in May, had a short-lived protest candidacy for clerk of his home county in Washington state, and is now focused on keeping an alternative voting system in place in another county.
“Politics is just organizing people toward common goals, and I feel like I’m doing a lot of good work,” Novoselic said after speaking at a luncheon hosted by Washington state Secretary of State Sam Reed. “It takes a while but you have successes and you have setbacks.”
Novoselic said Thursday that he’s already working to defeat a November ballot measure that would repeal Pierce County’s “ranked choice” voting system, in which a voter ranks each candidate in order of preference.
He said he’s also planning to be involved in an effort to get a similar system in Los Angeles.
Last month, he withdrew from the race for Wahkiakum (wah-KAI’-ah-kum) County clerk, saying he filed for the office only to protest Washington’s system of letting candidates pick their own party affiliation.
Novoselic, who lives in tiny Deep River, is the head of his local chapter of the Grange, a civic organization. He’s also chairman of the county Democrats. His election paperwork declared that he was running under the “Grange Party” banner, even though the Grange isn’t a political party.
“People are looking for new things and they were positive about the idea of the Grange Party,” he said. “Because I’m well known in the county and beyond, I think I got a good response.”
A few weeks later, he withdrew his name from contention. “I’m not crusading anymore,” he said. “I made my point.”
In additional to his local political activism, Novoselic writes a weekly blog and has a radio show on an Astoria, Ore.-based radio station twice a month. A pilot, he regularly flies his Cessna 182 around the state, including to Olympia on Thursday.
He recently had his oral history posted online as part of Washington state’s Secretary of State’s Legacy Project.
Novoselic, 44, say he recently quit his latest band, Flipper, because he didn’t want to tour. His last album with them was released in May. He said he still plays guitar every day, and is looking to organize a new band, but needs to find a drummer first.
On the Net:
Novoselic’s interview at the secretary of state’s Legacy Project: www.secstate.wa.gov/legacyproject/oralhistories/KristNovoselic/
Novoselic’s blog: blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/krist(underscore)novoselic(underscore)contention(underscore)con/
Related News
Jon Bon Jovi disapproves use of Kurt Cobain's image in Guitar Hero video gameSeptember 18th, 2009 WASHINGTON - American singer Jon Bon Jovi has disapproved the use of late Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain's image in a new edition of Guitar Hero video game. Jovi, 47, agrees with former Nirvana rockers Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl's protests of being "dismayed and very disappointed" after learning their bandmate's likeness can be used to play songs by other artists in Guitar Hero 5.
Nirvana Stars 'dismayed' With Cobain Guitar HeroSeptember 10th, 2009 Former NIRVANA stars DAVE GROHL and KRIST NOVOSELIC have hit out at the makers of a Guitar Hero game featuring KURT COBAIN, just days after the late star's wife COURTNEY LOVE threatened legal action against computer bosses. Game giant Activision created a Cobain character for Guitar Hero 5, which hit stores on 1 September (09).
Surviving Nirvana members dismayed by Kurt Cobain character in 'Guitar Hero 5'September 10th, 2009 Nirvana members dismayed by 'Guitar Hero 5'LOS ANGELES — Kurt Cobain's appearance in the latest "Guitar Hero" video game is not hitting the right notes with the surviving members of Nirvana. Krist Novoselic (kris noh-voh-SELL'-ehk) and Dave Grohl said in a joint statement Thursday that they were "dismayed and very disappointed" that an avatar of the late Nirvana frontman could be used to play songs by other artists.
Authorities investigate toppling of 2 towers for radio station in Washington stateSeptember 4th, 2009 2 radio towers in Wash. state toppledEVERETT, Wash.
Cobain Back From The Dead For Guitar HeroAugust 28th, 2009 NIRVANA star KURT COBAIN has been revived for a new Guitar Hero videogame. Bosses at gaming firm Activision have confirmed a Cobain character will be playable in Guitar Hero 5, which hits stores on 1 September (09).
Sheriff: Reality TV contestant sought in ex-model's death escaped through Wash. to CanadaAugust 20th, 2009 Sheriff: Man sought in ex-model's death fled USBELLINGHAM, Wash. — A county sheriff's office in Washington state says a former reality television contestant wanted for questioning in the death of his ex-wife has apparently escaped into Canada.
Active video games can be healthyJuly 17th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Playing active video games can be as beneficial for kids as moderate exercise, says a new study. Research by Oklahoma University (OU) paediatricians shows that active video games offer a great alternative to moderate exercise for sedentary kids who may be at high risk of obesity and diabetes.
3 boys reported missing overnight in Washington state found by TV reporterJuly 16th, 2009 TV reporter finds 3 missing boysMONROE, Wash. — Three young boys reported missing overnight near the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Washington state have been found safe.
Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' voted best song of all timeJuly 13th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' has been voted as the best song of all time in a new poll. The song sung by late Kurt Cobain has topped Triple J's 'Hottest 100 of All Time' list.
'Transformers' director made Megan Fox wash Ferrari for auditionJuly 7th, 2009 NEW YORK - 'Transformers' director Michael Bay reportedly made Megan Fox wash his Ferrari, as part of her audition for her role in the film. Bay had called the sizzling actress to audition for 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' at his house.
Local law firm keen to back Alec Baldwin as Ohio's GovernorJuly 1st, 2009 WASHINGTON - American actor Alec Baldwin has revealed that he was made a proposition by a local law firm in Ohio, who are keen to support him, to run for Governor. Baldwin, 51, had spoken out about his political aspirations, and after he made public his plans to retire from acting in 2012, he was approached by a group of leading Ohio businessmen who want him to consider running for office there.
Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic ends protest run for county clerk in Washington stateJune 16th, 2009 Former Nirvana bassist ends Wash. protest campaignCATHLAMET, Wash.
Nirvana bassist Novoselic runs for office to protest against election rulesJune 6th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic has entered the race to become county clerk in Wahkiakum County, Washington, to protest the way the state elects officials. He is running for office on behalf of the fictional Grange Party, reports Contactmusic.
Smells like civic spirit: Former Nirvana bassist runs for clerk in rural Wash. countyJune 5th, 2009 Rock the vote: Nirvana bassist seeks county officeCATHLAMET, Wash. — Nirvana's former bassist is running for clerk of a rural county to protest Washington state's method of letting candidates name their own party affiliation.
Rob Pattinson dreamt of writing political speechesMay 15th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Before becoming a famous actor, Hollywood heartthrob Rob Pattinson dreamt of writing political speeches for the political bigwigs. Rob revealed that he was very inclined towards politics as a child, and kept a track of the latest happenings.
Loading ...