JJ Peters:
DEEZ NUTS
Founding member of "I Killed the Prom Queen" and now "DEEZ NUTS", JJ Peters chats with ALY interviewer Andrew Clark about life and rights
ut from behind the drummer's chair of "I Killed the Prom Queen" JJ's solo debut "DEEZ NUTS" is already bringing in the punters.
If you haven't heard it yet, the freshly released "Rep Your Hood" EP fuses hardcore party anthems with a give a f*ck rap aesthetic that'll sew itself into your cerebellum for days.
JJ caught up with Animal Liberation Youth at the Deez Nuts/ALY Launch in Melbourne recently to chat about all things vegan.
Getting Veganism
Well I’ve been vegetarian my whole life, my mother brought me up that way till I was old enough to make my own desicion and I chose to continue being vegetarian. I decided to go vegan about four years ago.
"I was always aware of what goes
on in the dairy industry and
I couldn’t turn a blind eye
any longer and made
the decision to
go vegan"
Being Vegan in a Carnivorous Country
Well family’s never been a problem, friends’ haven’t been a problem since primary school and being on tour isn’t the easiest thing for a vegan I guess, but I’ve only ever been on tour with at least a couple other vegan's so we always look out for each other and make sure we eat well, haha.
Activism
I've been involved in rescues in the past and I would do again.
I think everybody should do what they can and what they’re comfortable with. I think activism is a great thing when it’s for the right reasons and it’s a great way to draw attention to the injustice that would never be seen or spoken of in every day media.
Personally I’m comfortable with just doing what I can in the way I live my life and in trying to encourage those around me to live a vegan/vegetarian/cruelty free lifestyle.
Animal Rights Stalls at Gigs
I'd like to have them at every show. When I first started going to shows there was a much larger emphasis on animal rights and every show had a stall, most even had vegan food stands. At this time there was a much larger vegan/vegetarian community at shows.
Last year we toured with Silverstein in the states and they had a PETA stall at every show, and the response from kids was awesome, a lot of them had no idea about this kind of thing so it was a huge eye opener for them. I would like to bring this back to shows over here again.
Getting the Word Out About Animal Rights
Conversation, if you talk to people about why you live the way you do with out ramming it down their throats they take the information on board and actually think about it.
"If everyone who’s vegan/vegetarian can change a few people’s views or lifestyles then it’s a good start"
Handling Ignorance
I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family, most of who share a similar lifestyle and outlook on these things, so I dont usually have to explain myself to anyone. If it does come up and people question my views I’m happy to tell them how fucked their’s are.
Critics of Vegans and Animal Rights
I’d say they are either stupid or heartless. It’s one thing to not know about these issues, and I guess the ignorance is bliss factor comes in to play, but it’s another thing entirely to know what animal rights and veganism is all about and actively fight against it.
Favourite Eats
I would have to say my favourite food is vegan buffalo wings from a restaraunt in NewYork called Red Bamboo, amaaaazing. I have a lot of places I like to eat on tour, but in Melbourne right now I’d say Trippy Taco, Veg Out Time and Lord Of The Fries.
Final Thoughts
You need information to make an educated decision about what you think is the right thing to do, rather then blindly following what’s considered the norm.
"I’d say if you’re reading this
do yourself a favour and
read everything else
this site has
to offer"
