“Music is the universal language of mankind”
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In my heart of hearts, I agree with Mr. Longfellow that music is the #1 universal language which can influence and change the world. Innovative bands, soulful singers and engaging artists have a strong medium to create public awareness about political and social issues, such as those involving human rights, world conflict and world hunger.
If you’ve already read my post entitled Straight Edge Veganism: Syracuse, New York, then you know how much I respect artists such as the straight edge band Earth Crisis who deliver their compassion and concern for the world with their music. Earth Crisis has been dedicated to promoting veganism and other progressive causes with their metalcore music for quite some time.
In honor of Earth Crisis and the others in the music industry who have chosen to abstain from eating animals, and in view of the Grammy Awards Show which airs tonight, I have decided to compile this short list of vegan musicians. I did not mention the vegetarian musicians, and there are many. This list is limited to those who I believe to be vegan. So, here it goes…
Techno-musician Moby has been a dedicated vegan for a very long time and even has a plant-based cafe on New York’s lower east side called Teany…
Bryan Adams has always been one of my faves. I remember seeing him in concert at Madison Square Garden about 25 years ago. My friends and I were amongst the eldest females in the crowd…
Michael Franti is also vegan. I just love the song Say Hey (I Love You) by Michael Franti and Spearhead…
Could vegan get any cooler than Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders?
Or more beautiful than Carrie Underwood?
Possibly, if you consider that Alanis Morisette and Leona Lewis are also vegans…
Let’s not forget the gorgeous Fiona Apple…
Or the extremely talented K.D. Lang who said “We all love animals. Why do we call some ‘pets’ and others ‘dinner’?”
How could we not recognize the dedication to progressive causes of Thom Yorke of Radiohead?
Or the great innovator Prince? Yes, he’s a vegan too!
Although Jared Leto is a well-known movie star, he is also the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and main songwriter for the band 30 Seconds To Mars which he founded with his brother Shannon in 1998. And he’s vegan.
Although he’s not really a musician (or at least I don’t think so), I have to mention one of my favorite and most compassionate vegans, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons…
And although I know there must be a slew of others I have missed, let me finish by mentioning the late Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees who was also a vegan. RIP Robin…
Please feel free to mention any other vegan musicians I missed in the comments’ section below and enjoy watching the Grammy Awards’ Show tonight!
I hope you like this video clip of one of my favorite Bee Gees’ songs…
