Peter Garrett, Environment Minister

[Moozik: Sonic Youth - Purr]

I knew that Peter Garrett had focused on politics since Midnight Oil disbanded, but this totally escaped me until today. He's Australia's new environment minister.

For 25 years Peter Garrett was the frontman of Midnight Oil, an Australian rock band known for its raucously loud music and protest songs about social and environmental issues. Then the bald 6ft 6in singer hung up his microphone, disbanded the group and exchanged his rock star clothes for the sombre suits of a politician.

After a meteoric rise through the ranks of Australia's Labor party, he was yesterday named environment minister in the newly elected government. The 54-year-old said he was "excited and humbled" by the opportunity.