Heavy Metal Vegetarians

In our society it's hard to be taken seriously as a vegetarian. Or a metalhead for that matter. Now imagine being both! We really need to stick together, so I decided to create a sort of "celebrity" list. All musicians listed here are confirmed vegetarians or vegans who are or once were a member of a heavy metal band.

Each musician is listed alphabetically by last name. If you're looking for information on a particular band, use the find feature on your internet browser. Biographical info and links have been provided whenever possible.

Bowman, Fallon: Former guitarist/backing vocalist for the popular Canadian metal band Kittie. She's a vegan.

Favorite food: peanut butter

Favorite drinks: Coke, V8

Link: Kittie

Hammett, Kirk: Guitarist with Metallica. He is a lacto-ovo vegetarian.
"I am a vegetarian but not because I love animals, I am one because I think eating animals is not good for your health. [James' hunting] doesn't affect me at all as I have a lot of taxidermy in my house too." (from interview with KNAC.COM)
Funny that that hasn't stopped him from smoking cigars!

Favorite foods: Sushi, Mexican food, pasta, Indian and Thai food

Favorite drinks: Martini's, Sky vodka and green tea

Link: Metallica

Howell, Keir: Hey, that's me! OK, so I've never been in a band, but there are so few vegetarian metalheads I figured why not? I have been a vegetarian since 1997 and though I'm not vegan I rarely eat dairy or eggs.

Favorite food: Indian

Favorite drinks: ginger beer, spritzer

Link: Keir's Pages

Jackson, Eddie: Bassist for Queensryche.

Source: Rip, April '92 issue (If anyone has a copy or transcription of this interview, I would love to read it for myself.)

Link: Queensryche

Kristine, Liv: One of the two vocalists for the Norwegian band, Theatre of Tragedy.

Favorite foods: fruit (strawberry, kiwi and peaches), Turkish borek with spinach, milkrice and vegetarian "Maultaschen" (a Swabian specialty)

Links: Liv Kristine, Theatre of Tragedy

Marbais, Noel: Vocalist for a Belgian extreme metal-core band called Falling Elbow. He is vegetarian and his lyrics are about God and animal rights.

Source: himself

Link: Falling Elbow

Owen, Ken: Drummer for the grindcore/death metal band Carcass, until they disbanded in 1996. Now drums for Blackstar Rising.

Source: Metal Maniacs

Link: Carcass

Ridley, Kevin: Vocalist and guitarist for Skyclad.

Favorite foods: Indian/Chinese/Italian (Vegetarian or Savoury as his daughter Molly says)

Link: Skyclad

Rocket, Rikki: Drummer for Poison, and a vegan. Find out more about Rikki's animal rights activities at the following web sites/interviews:

Acid Logic	Rikki answers the same old questions meat-eaters always ask vegetarians.
Animal Liberation NSW	Interview with Rikki by an Australian animal rights group.

Links: Glitter for Your Soul (glam tribute), Poison, Rikki Rockett (personal)

Scilipoti, Antonietta: Vocals & synth for the new doomy Gathering-like band, Evenvast. Vegetarian.

Favorite foods: cheese, fruit, and chocolate

Link: Evenvast

Steer, Bill: Original guitarist for the grindcore/death metal band Napalm Death, left to form similar band, Carcass. When Carcass disbanded in 1996, he started the stoner band Firebird which he now sings and plays guitar for. Was vegan for 7 years, now vegetarian. His original motivation was animal rights, but says that over time it just became a habit.

Sources: Metal Maniacs, Metalmania (Brazilian Fanzine)

Links: Carcass, Firebird, Napalm Death

Tate, Geoff: Vocalist for Queensryche. Geoff is vegan for moral, health, and environmental reasons. His wife Susan is also vegan, partly because she is lactose intolerant. They suggest reading the book "Diet for a New America".

Link: Queensryche

Walker, Jeff: Bass and vocals for the grindcore/death metal band Carcass, until they disbanded in 1996. Now plays for Blackstar Rising.

Source: Metal Maniacs

Link: Carcass

Walkyier, Martin: Former singer and lyricist for the English folk metal band Skyclad. Originally the vocalist for Sabbat, he is now in a sort of reunion called Return to the Sabbat. He says that when he's not working, he enjoys cooking vegetarian food.

Favorite foods: Indian, Chinese, Italian, Greek and Lebanese

Links: Martin Walkyier, Skyclad

• Butler, Terry "Geezer" (Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbourne)
• Ward, Bill (Black Sabbath)
• Various members of Napalm Death and Paradise Lost.

• Famous Vegetarians: This is the list on the old Vegetarian pages. New site to be up soon.
• Veggies Unite!: Whether you're a vegetarian or not, there are lots of yummy recipes here.

Comments? Please e-mail me at metalkeir@yahoo.com.

Many thanks to Shrenik Shah for his help.