British Prime Minister Tony Blair – Stand-Up Comedian and Wannabe Rock Star
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair could have two spots on this list as he was not only a stand-up comedian, but he was also a member of the rock band “Ugly Rumours.” Both stints were during his time at Oxford, and he recalls them both with a bit of embarrassment. He tried his hand at being a stand-up comedian as a way to make money, but found that he was very “dire” at it. He said his stand-up persona was a bit like that of Captain Kirk and that it never quite took off, but it did give him the ability to be “ruthless.”
It is unclear whether he laments his stand-up career more than his rock career, however. He ended up as the singer for the rock band Ugly Rumours. According to Blair, he got the job solely because he was the only one that showed up to the audition knowing all the words to the song they wanted him to sing. He sang “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” like Mick Jagger, and it was a style that he would continue to imitate as the band’s singer.
But as a career, it was never meant to be, as the band only played half a dozen gigs together. One person who saw the band remembered Blair as having “no cool” and being a “nerd,” a “puppy with his hair flapping like ears.” With reviews like that, it’s probably for the good of everyone that there is no video proof.
From there, Blair tried his hand at being a band manager before reluctantly going down the path of last resort and entering politics. He was much more successful in his political career, despite being one of the most controversial prime ministers in modern British history.