HE is a first-time political candidate for a minor party, but when Darren Brollo is campaigning, he sees the look of recognition on people's faces.
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"Sometimes they say, 'Yes, I know you, Darren. I came to this gig...'," Mr Brollo explains.
Two decades ago, Darren Brollo was the drummer in popular band Lo-tel, which had a hit song titled "Teenager of the Year".
Pop stardom may have been left behind, but the Novocastrian still drums.
Darren Brollo runs a drumming school in New Lambton Heights.
What the 46-year-old has also brought with him from his youth is a passion for animal rights and welfare.
He is standing as a candidate for the Animal Justice Party in the federal seat of Newcastle in the May 18 election.
"As a vegetarian and vegan myself, animal welfare was always a big concern for me," Mr Brollo says.
"I've been involved in a lot of actions over a lot of years, and you start to feel that greater change needs to happen... more quickly."
Mr Brollo disputes the party is essentially a one-issue group.
While many of the policies are about animal rights and welfare, he argues they also revolve around people and the environment.
A local issue that brings in all of those elements, he says, is the opposition to offshore seismic testing as part of gas exploration.
Those operations, Mr Brollo says, "would have disastrous effects for the marine ecology".
"Seismic testing is something that just can't go ahead in Newcastle," he says.
Animal rights activists in Australia have recently been in the news for staging protests, including going into agricultural businesses.
Mr Brollo says while he doesn't condone illegal action, "I think what it really comes down to is that members of the community are being pushed to a place where they are prepared to break the law ... to expose the truths of the industry."
To pay for his tilt at politics, Darren Brollo is using his own money, as well as receiving donations through a social media campaign.
He doesn't expect to the next federal MP for Newcastle: "Clearly, Newcastle's a very strong Labor town."
But Mr Brollo hopes to raise awareness of the Animal Justice Party among local voters.
"I guess I have somewhat of a profile through the music industry in Newcastle. Hopefully that will help me reach more people," Mr Brollo says.
"At this point it's just about getting the message out there that animals do matter, they do need a political voice."
