Famous Vegans - Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr

Born Johnny Martin Mayer on October 31, 1963. He is an English musician and songwriter. He was the lead guitarist of the band The Smiths, regarded by some as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. He was also a part of the bands Electronic, The The, Modest Mouse, The Cribs and Johnny Marr + the Healers. In 2010, he was voted fourth best guitarist of the last 30 years in a poll by the BBC in the U.K. You can find his website at this link.

In 1985, he co-wrote the song Meat is Murder together with Morrissey. About this song, Johnny Marr has said:

"'I am very proud of the fact that 20 years on people tell me they became a vegetarian as a result of Meat is Murder. I think that is quite literally rock music changing someone's life. It's certainly changing the life of animals. It is one of the things I am most proud of."

2011 Cover Magazine
Vegan Society

Heifer whines could be human cries
Closer comes the screaming knife
This beautiful creature must die
This beautiful creature must die
A death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the flesh you so fancifully fry
Is not succulent, tasty or kind
It's death for no reason
And death for no reason is MURDER

And the calf that you carve with a smile
It is MURDER
And the turkey you festively slice
It is MURDER
Do you know how animals die?

Kitchen aromas aren't very homely
It's not "comforting", cheery or kind
It's sizzling blood and the unholy stench
Of MURDER

It's not "natural", "normal" or kind
The flesh you so fancifully fry
The meat in your mouth
As you savour the flavour
Of MURDER

NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
NO, NO, NO, IT'S MURDER
Oh ... and who cares about an animals life?

Other quotes by Johnny Marr:

When asked what prompted him to become vegetarian, he answered:

"Making a record called Meat is Murder, that was nearly twenty five years ago. It wouldn’t have been right for me to play that song and not be vegetarian. The funny thing is that up until then my only interaction with animals had been "I hope this dog doesn’t bite me", but when I stopped eating animals I actually started feeling more empathy towards them, this was something I noticed."

Asked when and why he became vegan, he answered:

"I became Vegan in 2005 when I moved to Portland Oregon. I’d been getting more and more health conscious and at that time I wanted to take things as far as I could. I like the idea of progress, and being progressive."

He also doesn't drink alcohol anymore. About that he has said:

"The reason I don't drink is that the drinking lifestyle robs me of my musical intensity and sharpness. I live a super-healthy lifestyle not because it's sensible or that I'm contrite, but because I need to keep my focus on the music I'm making. To do that, I need to be wide awake."

"Giving up things doesn’t mean sacrifice or misery to me, I see it as the opposite, it’s interesting."