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Volume 26, Issue 35, april 29, 2004 Music |
Hardcore VegetariansAnimal-friendly ideals run rampant in the punk and hardcore sceneby Sarah ConwayUsing their art as an outlet for their not-so-mainstream views, bands like Good Riddance, Propaghandi, Fugazi, Midtown, Earth Crisis and Minor Threat are often synonymous with animal activism. Good Eats for Veggies and Vegans The animal rights movement and the growing number of vegetarians in the punk and hardcore scene share one thing in common, compassion for animals. Musicians, fans, label owners, record store owners and concert promoters make up what has become a close-knit community of animal-free scenesters. "I think the simple straight forward messages some of these bands have presented in song have made the issue pretty unavoidable for kids who listened to the band and went to their shows," said Trevor Morris, guitarist/vocalist of the all-vegetarian local band Bailer. "You couldn't listen to the records too carefully without thinking of your own stance on (animal rights), and in the heat of being inspired by the bands and the raw power of hardcore/punk rock music, it was very easy to be swayed." Being opinionated and political through music is a big part of the hardcore scene. Issues like racism, tolerance of same-sex couples, and animal rights are not left uncovered, encouraging fans to educate themselves before deciding what's right or what's wrong. According to Morris, being open about controversial beliefs often leads fans to a more scholarly approach to the ethics behind such issues. Most bands that share the same view on the treatment of animals will gladly answer questions about vegetarian and vegan diets and make pamphlets and brochures readily available at their shows. "That is what punk rock was based upon and it's sad more bands aren't more active in stating their opinions to create change," said Rob Hitt, drummer of the all-vegetarian band Midtown. "We don't shove our beliefs down peoples' throats and we don't put it in our lyrics, but we make the information available to those who are curious." Ian MacKaye, lead singer of Minor Threat and the unspoken pioneer of the straight edge movement sparked a small flame back in the early 80s that has evolved into a bonfire today. "Minor Threat introduced the idea of straight edge, which was probably the most powerful declaration of personal choices a person can make," Morris said. "Vegetarianism has become an inherent part of many hardcore and punk rock scenes, not because the current bands immediately associated with that scene are singing about it, but because it already has so much momentum from the past." Certainly things didn't change overnight, but MacKaye's bold expression of his beliefs back in the 80s opened the doors for other people involved in the scene to express their ideas and beliefs regarding the importance of vegetarianism. It gave those who were not in the spotlight more of a sense of power to push for change. "If you look at the history of the vegetarian movement, it would be hard to pin down anyone as the start of it all," said vegan Paul Kane, owner of local record store Double Entendre. Whether kids became involved for the same reasons or agreed on who started it all, the hardcore scene was an alternative to what society was failing to provide: music with a motive. "What happened within punk in the 80s wasn't necessarily a catalyst for what is happening today in the mainstream; I just think punks were/are just looking to embrace non-mainstream ideas. People actively involved in the D.I.Y. punk/hardcore scene realize there is more to life than rocking out," said Kane. According to David Blackwelder, vegan and vocalist of local band Yuriko, the scene has always served as a window of free thought that encourages kids to educate themselves and be inspired to take part in some type of positive movement. "The scene gives (animal rights) a place to have a voice," said Blackwelder.
For most vegetarians and vegans, the switch to this sort of lifestyle is less of a trend and more a matter of making a moral decision. "There are always bandwagon jumpers who get filtered out over time but there will also always be sincere people who make the choice not because it's in style, but because it is logical and seems ethically responsible," Morris said. "(For me) it was mostly reaction to the idea of one species dominating another to the point of animals being seen as a simple dietary convenience to people while having no respect for their lives." This lifestyle is not only an animal rights issue, but an environmental one as well. "The idea of treading lightly on this planet has always appealed to me," Kane said. "I am vegan because I want to exploit the earth as little as possible while I am on it." Even those attending something as popular as The Vans Warped Tour are exposed to animal rights information provided by PETA. Often this consists of videos being shown of chickens stuffed by the dozens into cages about twice the dimensions of a phone book. "If you give someone a blade and order them to slaughter a cow, cut it's throat, skin it, remove its' intestines, etc., most people who eat beef couldn't bare to do this," said Morris. "This makes them unqualified to justify their position as a meat eater. I think that if you want to eat meat free of hypocrisy you should be able to do these things." Having compassion for animals is part of the evolutionary process of our planet according to Hitt. "I'm hoping the world will continue to evolve and become a more open minded place with people having more compassion for all living things. If you look at slavery, equal rights of blacks and women, voting rights etc., as time progressed people became more understanding and compassionate and hopefully the same thing will happen with the treatment of animals," said Hitt. The Denver vegetarian community is flourishing and has not disappointed in keeping up with the demand for animal-free foods. Many restaurants carry vegetarian menus, and several of them offer vegetarian dishes and healthy substitutes for meat products. Vegetarian friendly markets are not in short supply either, with several chains in many locations around the Denver area. "Denver is on par or slightly better than other cities," Kane
said. "Larger cities like Boston, Seattle, San Francisco have at
least 2/3 all vegetarian restaurants, and NYC is off the hook. You know
you're in veggie heaven when you can go to a 24-hour all vegan diner." According to McFadden, the guys from Bailer helped ignite her interest in animal rights. "It's because of them that I am vegan now. They opened my eyes to the wrongs of factory farming and the health risks involved with a carnivorous diet." The D.I.Y. scene is often credited with fostering the education of ideas that may not always be the most popular by society's standards. "The glory of a do-it-yourself scene is that it's an alternative to a more mechanized, force fed, apathetic pop culture which encourages little except consumerism," said Morris. Ultimately, being a part of the scene involves more than being a spectator;
the music progresses, the politics move, and the ideas grow as much or
as far or as high as they are pushed. Even those attending something as popular as The Vans Warped Tour are exposed to animal rights information provided by PETA. Often this consists of videos being shown of chickens stuffed by the dozens into cages about twice the size of a phone book. "If you give someone a blade and order them to slaughter a cow, cut its throat, skin it, remove its intestines, etc., most people who eat beef couldn't bear to do this," said Morris. "This makes them unqualified to justify their position as a meat eater. I think that if you want to eat meat free of hypocrisy, you should be able to do these things." Having compassion for animals is part of the evolutionary process of our planet. "I'm hoping the world will continue to evolve and become a more open minded place with people having more compassion for all living things," Hitt said. "If you look at slavery, equal rights of blacks and women, voting rights, etc.; as time progressed people became more understanding and compassionate and hopefully the same thing will happen with the treatment of animals." The Denver vegetarian community is flourishing and has not disappointed in keeping up with the demand for animal-free foods. Many restaurants carry vegetarian menus and vegetarian-friendly markets are not in short supply, either. Local hairdresser Taylor McFadden, who works at a salon with all non-meat-eating stylists, is a testament to the power of the local vegetarian/music scene. "It's because of (Bailer) that I am vegan now. They opened my eyes to the wrongs of factory farming and the health risks involved with a carnivorous diet," she said. The D.I.Y. scene is often credited with fostering the education of ideas that may not always be the most popular by society's standards. "The glory of a do-it-yourself scene," Morris said, "is that it's an alternative to a more mechanized, force-fed, apathetic pop culture which encourages little except consumerism." |
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