The floodlights blaze, the speakers threaten to explode off their stands, and the crowd--black-leathered arms waving as they sing along in chorus--clamors for more of Def Leppard's sound-barrier-defying, heavy-metal music. Racing around the stage, lead guitarist Phil Collen seems more than up to the job, with and energy that those who know him might attribute to...tofu?
Well, not entirely. Adrenaline plays a big part in pumping up Collen for any concert, along with encouragement from an eager crowd. But Collen does credit his nine years as a vegan (eating no meat, eggs, or dairy products) with giving him the endurance needed for the rigors of worldwide touring. In direct contrast to the stereotype of the heavy-metal performer as a head-banging mysogynist, Collen is a clean-living, happily married man. (His wife, Jackie, also is vegan, and their 3-year-old son, Rory, has been vegan from birth.) It's a role Collen is happy to play, and one that is becoming increasingly accepted on the international rock circuit.
"We were playing Indonesia, and in every interview, the first thing everyone said was, 'Tell us about your vegetarianism,'" Collen says. A vegan for ethical reasons, Collen also gave up drinking after one of his best friends died of alcoholism; he says his lifestyle change has had a positive effect on his performing and well-being.
He hasn't had to coax his band members to accept his choice. In fact, drummer Rick Allen and guitarist Vivian Campbell have become vegetarian on the strength of Collen's example, and even the not-yet-veg band members are becoming more aware of what they eat and the world around them. Eating on the road has been easier since the band added a macrobiotic chef to the Def Leppard touring entourage, after being served pasta with what Collen calls a "hideous blue sauce" by well-intentioned local caterers in Australia.
Now, Collen says, "I feel so much better--I sing better and I play better." Def Leppard fans seem to agree; the band's recent world tour was sold out.
(Amy Rosenbaum, an associate editor of Vegetarian Times, loves rock'n'roll, but mixes up the lyrics of every song.)
The Vegetarian Times Magazine Website
The Vegetarian Society (UK)
The Vegetarian Resource Group
The Vegan Action Homepage
Veggies Unite!
The ANU Hare Krishna Vegetarian Society
Cuisine of India
Veganworld!
International Vegetarian Union (A Multi-Lingual site!)
