Moby is All Straight Edge with His New Film 'Punk Rock Vegan Movie'

Punk Rock Vegan Movie will make its premiere at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival on January 20 at 7pm at the Treasure Mountain Inn Ballroom in Park City, Utah. The documentary was written and directed by musician, songwriter, producer and animal rights activist Moby. It will be available to stream for free via Slamdance after the premiere and on YouTube on January 30.

From the time of birth, we as a society are taught the norms by which most of us live. How to behave, dress, correct sexual orientation, family dynamics, etc., are all drilled into our brains. Most people grow up and just accept these and blend in with society. Some however have the courage to resist these norms and learn to question everything from politics to economics to the environment and yes, even the things we eat. The ethos of punk rock is to challenge and question everything. This movie explores the intersection of punk rock and veganism.

In this movie Moby takes the viewer through the history of punk and hardcore music and explains how the ethos of punk makes for a perfect union with a vegan lifestyle. The film is filled with testimonials by many of the legends of punk and hardcore, including Ian Mackaye, HR, Dave Navarro, Ray Cappo, Andrew Hurley, Tony Kanal, Tim McIlrath, Water Schreifels, Dave Dictor, Derrick Green, Steve Ignorant, Theo Kogan, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, Amy Lee, and Captain Sensible, who discuss how they were introduced to veganism and why they adhere to the lifestyle.

It can be challenging to keep the viewers interest during an hour and a half documentary, especially in our world of short attention spans. Instead of keeping the tone serious throughout the movie, Moby mixes in a series of comedic skits to get his points across in a lighter way. There are conversations between Moby and his talking dog, a graduate seminar discussion with grade school children, The Animal Liberation Choir, and the Devil depicted by Moby being interviewed by Right Wing media. The latter was extremely effective as the Devil discussed one of his favorite accomplishments, convincing humans to use animals for food.

Make no mistake though, there is plenty of seriousness to the movie. Moby and the rest of the cast show the human traits of animals, while at the same time exposing the inhumane treatment they receive in factory farms. Photos and video footage show the conditions that chickens, livestock, and pigs are forced to endure before they suffer horrible deaths. They express their lack of understanding and confusion as to how society can revere cats and dogs and yet allow the slaughter of other animals to take place.

Straight Edge, a term taken from the song “Straight Edge” by hardcore punk band Minor Threat, was originally a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrained from using alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, in reaction to the excesses of punk subculture. This eventually grew to include abstaining from animal products as well. Many of the musical artists in the film described how the limited food options made it difficult to be a vegan in the early years of the subculture. However, they were willing to live this lifestyle because they believed it to be the right thing to do.

If Moby’s intent was to present a convincing rationale for switching to a vegan lifestyle, then the movie certainly accomplished its goal. While it probably will not have an impact on hardcore carnivores, it may provide enough of a push for those on the edge. Those that have considered this option but have yet to make the transition. Unlike those that lived the straight edge lifestyle in the ’80s and ’90s, it is now incredibly easy to live life as a vegan. There is an abundance of dining options in restaurants and virtually every major grocery chain has a dedicated vegan section and labels food in their aisles that meet vegan requirements.

Not being a vegetarian, let alone a vegan, my initial interest in this movie was based on the two words in the title, “punk rock”. However, I have always been conflicted in that I love animals and been opposed to hunting. Yet this has never prevented me from eating a hamburger or hot dog or steak or nice piece of salmon. Watching this movie has certainly opened my eyes to what was probably already inside me. Questioning whether it is ethical to slaughter and inflict pain on other creatures for the pleasure of a meal, especially in our modern society where hunting and killing animals is no longer required for survival? This is one viewer who is ready to make the leap to a humane lifestyle.

A panel discussion with opening and closing night filmmakers Moby, and OFF! members Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) and Keith Morris (Black Flag & Circle Jerks), covering the history and intersectionality between the LA punk scene, filmmaking, and activism will launch on January 23 on the Slamdance Channel. Virtual passes are available at https://slamdance.com/passes. Moderated by Slamdance Alum and keyboardist/vocalist of LA punk band The Paranoyds Laila Hashemi.

Learn more about the film’s premiere at Slamdance Film Festival by visiting: www.slamdance.com.

Post by Scott Raymer (Website | Instagram | Facebook)

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