5 Vegan Musicians Who Influenced The Music You Love
With the advent of social media, vegan celebrities speak out more and more against animal cruelty. The growing popularity of an animal-free lifestyle has many of our favorite contemporary artists hopping on board, but what about before it was trending? Here we list musicians that have certainly influenced the music you listen to, and were not afraid to break down barriers in their music or their lifestyle, and they were doing it before Twitter.
Sir Paul McCartney
Although not a vegan during his Beatles days, Sir Paul has been very vocal about his vegetarian lifestyle since 1975. As one of the most famous men alive he has used his power to advocate for animal rights and promote a vegan diet.
Geezer Butler
One fourth of the band that invented heavy metal, Geezer Butler’s bass riffs were the spine of Black Sabbath. Geezer states that he was raised vegetarian but switched to vegan during his adolescent years, and has carried the diet with him to this day. Sabbath’s dark aesthetic paved the way for every sub-genre of hard rock and metal.
Chrissie Hynde
Breaking down gender barriers in rock n roll and paving a way for future female musicians isn’t easy, but vegan activist Chrissie Hynde found this role to be natural. As frontwoman of The Pretenders, Chrissie inspired future feminist style and a take no prisoners attitude. She cut out meat in 1969 and has recently given up all animal products.
RZA
1993’s Enter The Wu-Tang is recognized as one of the most influential rap albums of all time, and the entire project was produced by Wu-Tang Clans unofficial leader and vegan, RZA. RZA is well known as a spiritual leader and political activist fighting against animal cruelty as early as the mid 90s. He is quoted as asking the thought-provoking question, “Why put dead flesh into a live body?”
Thom Yorke
As the principal songwriter and frontman for Radiohead, Thom Yorke’s music has influenced many people since the early ‘90s. Radiohead’s genre bending style has earned them one of the biggest cult followings in music history. Thom has been very vocal about animal rights, stating in 2005:
“Society deems it necessary to create this level of suffering in order for [people] to eat food that they don’t need… You should at least be aware of what you’re doing rather than assuming that that’s your right as a human being to do it.”
These artists changed the world in more ways than one, but let’s not forget that every person who upholds a vegan and cruelty free lifestyle helps change the world for the better. Be vocal about your choices – even if you don’t have millions of fans, your vegan lifestyle makes you a rock star in the face of adversity!
