From Black Sabbath to Gojira, we have focused on the activism and veganism of metal artists:
Geezer Butler / Black Sabbath: “Don’t shop, adopt from shelters!”
Geezer Butler: The legendary bassist of Black Sabbath, Geezer Butler, has been vegan since the age of eight. One day, he was shocked by the blood flowing from a piece of meat his mother placed on his plate and asked what meat was. Upon learning that it came from cows and calves that were slaughtered, he vowed never to eat meat again. Always an animal lover, Butler has had pets such as cats, dogs, and turtles throughout his life. In 2009, he collaborated with the animal rights organization PETA to create a public service announcement to raise awareness about veganism. His message: “If you want a pet, the best thing you can do is adopt instead of buying one because shelters are full of animals in need of your love and care.”
(Geezer with his dog)
Joe Duplantier / Gojira: “I became vegan for the animals.”
Joe Duplantier: The French metal band Gojira frequently addresses environmental themes and animal rights in their albums and lyrics. They support the struggles of the indigenous people of the Amazon and collaborate with PETA as animal rights advocates. Joe says, “I became vegan for the animals. It’s about the disregarded lives of animals and the hardships they endure.” He adds, “Another benefit of veganism is about improving your health. Since going vegan, I have more energy on stage. I believe people have a responsibility to challenge societal prejudices, traditions, and habits to gracefully build a future. I think every day about the carbon footprint I leave on the planet. Veganism is not just an ethical matter anymore; it’s a question of our species’ survival. You have to go vegan.”
(Joe Duplantier for PETA campaign)
Rob Zombie: “Being vegan is metal because it is against the system.”
Rob Zombie: “Being vegan is a metal stance because it defies the system and the norms dictated to us,” says metal musician Rob Zombie. He became a vegetarian as a teenager and later became a vegan. He believes that the meat and dairy industries are dirty, deceitful and exploitative, and that people are made to believe they cannot live normal lives without consuming animal products. He explains, “From the moment we’re born, we’re led to believe that cows, chickens, and pigs live happy lives. Like in the nursery rhyme Old McDonald’s farm, right? Then I saw a film about how animals are raised to be consumed or exploited, and how brutal and disgusting the system is. That’s when I decided to give up all animal products. Besides, today, there are plenty of delicious alternatives for vegans. It’s nothing like it used to be before.”
(Rob Zombie and duck – cr: Revolver Mag)
Cattle Decapitation metal band stands against animal exploitation and slaughter.
Cattle Decapitation: Despite their striking name, which might wrongfully evoke themes of brutality or satanism, Cattle Decapitation’s message is quite the opposite. Their main mission is to stand against animal exploitation and the human consumption of animals while raising awareness about environmental problems. Through their music and lyrics, they draw attention to animal testing and slaughter, advocating for animal rights. Their 2023 album Terrasite was a particularly intriguing work, describing humans as parasites infecting and harming the Earth. Band members identify as vegetarians and believe that veganism should be a holistic commitment encompassing everything from the fossil fuels in your car to the clothes you wear.
(Cattle Decapitation album cover loaded with satirical elements)
Alissa White-Gluz / Arch Enemy:”Activism comes before my musicianship; it’s the purpose of my life,”
Alissa White-Gluz, known for her brutal vocals, says she was vegan even before she started her music career and has never eaten meat. Growing up in a vegetarian family, veganism came naturally to her. When she began her music career, she had a clear goal: to be an advocate for animal rights and a voice for the voiceless. “Activism comes before my musicianship; it’s the purpose of my life,” she says. “When I scream on stage, I raise my voice for the animals. This heavy and passionate music aligns perfectly with the message I want to convey. To me, metal is rebellion, and veganism is the ultimate rebellion because it defies the normalization of exploiting other beings for survival.” Alissa is also a producer of the documentary I Could Never Go Vegan (2024), which aims to raise awareness about veganism.
(Alissa White-Gluz is a leading female figure in metal music)
Derrick Green / Sepultura: “A society’s treatment of animals reflects its level of civilization.”
Derrick Green, who became the vocalist of Sepultura after Max Cavalera left, has been a vegetarian since the age of 15. After learning about the cruelty and horror in slaughterhouses, which he describes as death factories, he removed meat from his plate. Books like Diet for a New America by John Robbins and other vegan metal bands inspired his transition to veganism. Derrick believes animal rights are critical and that a society’s treatment of animals reflects its level of civilization. Sepultura’s Convicted in Life music video also addresses animal exploitation.
(Derrick Green of Sepultura is an animal rights activist.)
Oli Sykes / Bring Me The Horizon: “Veganism, like metal, is an extreme ideology.”
Oli Skyes: “I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 16,” says Oli. “At a pub we performed at, a girl distributing PETA flyers struck a chord with me about the wrongness of eating animals, and I became vegetarian.” Transitioning from vegetarianism to veganism was challenging, especially on tour where food options were limited, but over time, it got easier. “Humans are the only species that consume the milk of another species as adults, and they do it for pleasure. When you think about it, you realize how strange and wrong it is. Veganism, like metal, is an extreme ideology. It highlights the harsh truths of the world and emphasizes the need for self-improvement. The way Napalm Death and Carcass bring these issues to the political arena is admirable.”
(Oli with his dog)
Earth Crisis: Their lyrics address solutions to the ecological damage caused by industrial animal farming, genetic engineering, and animal testing.
The American hardcore punk/metalcore band Earth Crisis, as their name suggests, focuses on our planet’s miserable condition. Their lyrics address solutions to ecological damage caused by industrial animal farming, genetic engineering, and animal testing. They are activists of animal rights and support veganism, collaborating with organizations like Earth First!, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and The Animal Liberation Front. Vocalist and bassist Karl Buechner says, “When our band started, lyrically, we put a focus on documenting the history that corporate news and media chose to ignore. When the Animal Liberation Front, Earth First or the Sea Shepherds save lives, we let people know through our music. Animals enduring violent, useless tests in laboratories, whales being killed with explosive harpoons, elephants, rhinos, and tigers slaughtered to near extinction are all sickening wastes of life.”
(Earth Crisis supports veganism to save and to protect the animals)
Tanya O’Callaghan / Bruce Dickinson & The House Band of Hell:
Irish bass guitarist Tanya O’Callaghan, who performed in Turkey in 2024 with Bruce Dickinson & The House Band of Hell, became shocked at age four upon learning that the meat on her plate came from animals she adored. Working as a volunteer at a local shelter, she witnessed animal exploitation, which then turned her into an activist. “I’ve participated in anti-fur protests and animal rights actions since I was very young. If you trace where your money goes—for instance, in technological products—you’ll be shocked: we all have blood on our hands.”
(Tanya O’Callaghan is a star-bassist with the House Band of Hell and an animal rights activist.)
“What angers me most are labels like free-range or humanely-slaughtered because I believe people are inherently good, and this cruel industry exploits their conscience.” Tanya, who has also worked with Whitesnake, Dee Snider, and Puscifer, shares healthy living routines and delicious vegan recipes on her Instagram page, The Plant-Based Bassist.
Conclusion
While I was a student of engineering in the field of Environmental Technology, I remember that environmental issues and climate change were issues to make fun of . Today, however, people have realized that environmental disasters, pollution and climate change are real.
I strongly believe in a future where animal consumption and exploitation will be a thing of the past, much like slavery, once considered normal and a right, is now a disgrace of humanity. Let’s end this article with the following meaningful lyrics of Gojira when they say:
“Time to open your eyes to this genocide,
When you change yourself, you change the world.” (Silvera)
It’s never too late to go vegan folks!
Güzin Paksoylu
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