Magic Dirt:
Tough Love
With their signature brand of explosive, harmony drenched punk rock, Magic Dirt enjoy a reputation as a high-profile Australian band,writes Raph Brous
ith their most recent albums earning rave reviews and sell-out crowds, they’re certainly in a position to relax between shows.
Yet Magic Dirt share another passion outside music - animal rights. Magic Dirt are long-time supporter of ALV and the band have even featured ALV founder Patty Mark in one of their video clips.
Animal Liberation Youth’s Raph Brous spoke to guitarist/singer Adalita about how to make the world a better place for our unfortunate friends in factory farms and laboratories…
I’ve always loved animals, since I can remember
There has always been an amazing fondness there. I loved animals so much that when I started to really develop a moral conscience about the treatment of animals, around the age of 17, I stopped eating meat. I remember seeing a trailer load of lambs whizz by me, as I was waiting for my school bus. It just hit me like a lightning bolt. And I went home and told my mum, “I’m not eating meat” and I never did again.
We all respect animals and their right to quality life
We decided to get more involved with animal activism by working with organisations such as Animal Liberation by setting up information stalls at our gigs. People responded really well to the information available. We all think it’s vital to create awareness and give people the opportunity to make a difference. We’re also planning to start this up again for forthcoming tours.
"Around 17 I stopped eating meat.
I remember seeing a trailer load of lambs whizz by.. It just hit me
like a lightning bolt"
Sometimes food just takes a little organisation
For instance, the little country towns that we pass through when it’s dinner time don’t really cater to vegans. Sometimes the only thing to eat that is entirely vegan is a packet of plain salted chips. And that gets boring and unhealthy. But sometimes I’ll pre-pack fruit or nuts or bring something from home that I can snack on. But in the bigger towns and capitals it’s not a problem.
Bands like Frenzal Rhomb are huge animal activists
I even think they’re all vegetarians. Even musicians like yourself Raph, who plays in a band and is right in amongst Animal Liberation and organising interviews like this to discuss animal rights. I think there are a lot of compassionate musicians out there and many of them who take an active role in animal rights. It’s very heartening.
There's heaps of ways to use music to talk about animal rights
Some of the more obvious ways are to maybe mention your own thoughts about a certain animal rights issue or issues in general over the microphone. This perks up the ears of the punters. Another way is to organise info stalls at your own shows. Also you can write songs that are directly about animal rights issues. And probably one of the most simplest ways is to speak up about it in everyday conversation. Backstage at shows, hanging with people that come to the shows, sharing information and shedding light on the subject. Word of mouth is so effective, I think. And free too!
"My two main worries at the
moment are factory farming and experimentation on animals
in the military"
I’ve been on the anti-vivisection trail a long time
That seems to be making some headway. A lot of cosmetic companies have now stopped testing their products on animals and a lot of the bigger companies are phasing the tests out. My two main worries at the moment are factory farming and experimentation on animals in the military.
Read, read, read. Do your research
Even read stuff about the “enemy”. For example if you’re reading about a cosmetic company that tests on animals, go to their site or write to them and have a read of their policies too. Get as much information as you can about everything to do with a particular issue so that you have an informed opinion. Stay passionate and always remember that you can make a difference. Don’t listen to people when they say that one person can’t make a difference. The tiniest ripple can cause the biggest wave, so keep believing in your cause and in yourself. Then you will already be making a difference.