New Jersey hardcore quintet The Dillinger Escape Plan have joined forces with PETA, the largest animal rights organisation in the world.
Bassist player Liam Wilson became a vegan after discovering the reality behind the manufacture of meat products as detailed in John Robbins' Diet For A New America.
"I was like, 'This is fucked'," says Wilson. "I was vegetarian for about two weeks. Then I read Robbins' book and thought, 'I'm just gonna be vegan'."
And despite the band's tough exterior, Wilson's bandmates have a gooey centre. They're all self- confessed animal lovers: frontman Greg Puciato's dog Flash was rescued from the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), while drummer Gil Sharone has two wolf hybrids that he calls his "angels". The band's pets have become like children to them and believe any harm done to animals should be treated with the same seriousness as if a human had been mistreated.
"I really think it should be treated like child abuse", says guitarist Ben Weinman, whose wrinkly pug Blix was the unlikely star of the band's cover feature last November.
When asked about Atlanta Falcons NFL star Michael Vick - who was convicted for his involvement in the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting ring last year - the band were only too happy to give their opinion.
"Training a dog to fight is disgusting," adds Puciato. "Then to punish it for not performing well is ridiculous."
"You can see it in their eyes, you don't have to be a genius to see that these dogs are scared shitless," spits Sharone. "They don't want to be touched, they don't want to be fucked with and they don't want to fight! These guys are just pathetic."
To see an exclusive Dillinger Escape Plan interview, visit www.peta2.com.
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