The Roots’ ?uestlove: “Philly Is In Dire Need of a Healing”

Photo: Bedder/Getty
Roots drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson isn’t new to presidential politics. In 2004, he joined MTV and Rock the Vote in promoting voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts, but this year he’s transformed himself into an active “surrogate” for the Obama campaign, making speeches and spinning records at block parties, posting flyers on both coasts and driving vanloads of volunteers.
His activism fits with the mood of the Roots’ new album, the anguished Rising Down, with grooves fueled by global conflict and American cities in crisis. On the Roots’ current tour with Gym Class Heroes, he and rapper Travis McCoy are turning their joint after-parties into Obama “pow wows,” pushing registration in states where the deadline hasn’t yet passed. ?uestlove won’t rest until the morning after Election Day, November 4.
What is this tour like with Gym Class Heroes?
We know they’re going to bring a whole new audience to the table, mainly young females we’re not able to reach. [Laughs] Our show is spontaneous, so we’re going to do what we’ve been doing for the last 17 years.
The new record has a lot of timely content. How does that affect the live show?
It’s not as heavy and political as our album, but you will know the seriousness of the times that we live in.
Are you doing more this election than in the past?
Initially, I was shy about it. My involvement with campaigning for Obama was really reduced to layman work. I’d get up at 3:30 in the morning, get a big-ass van and a whole bunch of flyers. All those signs you seen on your front door with Obama’s face on it? All of California? I’ve done that. I’ve called Democrats — you know, real volunteer work, not that whole “Hey, I’m a celebrity! Do exactly what I do, kid.”
You’ve been doing […]

Read more this post here