HOT GALLERY: These Musicians Wowed Us Onstage—and Won Our Votes
First they made music for us, then they made laws for us. More than a few actors have become politicians (including, you know, a former president), but they’re not the only ones: Musicians have a history of turning their passion to the political too. One thing’s for sure: They know how to win over an audience. And isn’t that, ultimately, what politicians do (or at least try to do)? By Nina Hämmerling SmithEven back in the Nirvana days, Novoselic was politically attuned; the band played numerous benefit events. Nowadays, Novoselic certainly still makes music but is more focused on his political passions. He helped form JAMPAC, the Joint Artists and Musicians Political Action Committee, to combat making it illegal to sell “erotic” music to those under age 18. He has also served as a Washington State committeeman and is chairman of the board at FairVote, which promotes voter turnout and representation. His book Of Grunge and Government: Let’s Fix This Broken Democracy! was released in 2004, and he wrote about politics for Seattle Weekly last year. He describes himself as a “musician/hobby farmer/politico/student/aviator.”