Vegan Heroes – Moby – Kindness is Manly

Little Pine Restaurant is a wonderful vegan restaurant that has won several awards and it is owned by Moby. It recently re-invented itself by hiring star chef Roberto Marin who has been a private chef to many celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elizabeth Taylor, and others.

This article is not just about Little Pine restaurant, but also about all the amazing work Moby has done for animal rights. When you reach the end of this article you will see why I consider him a vegan hero 🙂 And it’s not only me. Animal rights organizations such as Peta have also hailed him as a hero for the animals.

First, Back to the Beginning – Who is Moby?

Born Richard Melville Hall in 1965. He took up music at the age of nine. He got his nickname, Moby, as a child because interestingly enough, his great-great grand uncle Herman Melville was the author of Moby Dick.

He was raised in Darien, Connecticut. As a teenager he played in a hardcore punk band called The Vatican Commandos and for a brief time he also sang with another band called The Flippers when their lead singer was in jail.

After college he moved to New York City, beginning his career as a DJ in night clubs. In the 80s and 90s he released a few singles, but his career really took off in 1991 when he remixed “Go”, a B-track from his single Mobility. “Go” became an instant hit in the British Top Ten.

Achievements in the Music Industry

After this breakthrough, several artists invited him to remix mainstream and underground acts, including Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys, the B-52s, Erasure, Orbital, and Brian Eno.

Moby established himself as the most important electronic dance music figure of the 90s, influencing future superstar DJs, fusing rapid disco beats with the sounds of distorted guitars, punk rhythms, and productions that derives from pop, dance, and movie soundtracks, Moby finally placed a public face on the thus far anonymous electronic music genre.

Personally, I love his music, and I listen to it often. He – and the Chemical Brothers and the Prodigy – are the only electronic music creators that I really love. I like other electronic music too, but let’s just say that Moby, the Prodigy, and the Chemical Brothers are the only ones whose music I would buy or download.

Moby has sold over 20 million records worldwide.

When and Why did Moby Become Vegan?

His cat Tucker inspired Moby to become vegan. Tucker was a stray that he and his mother rescued. Tucker lived with them for many years, and he became quite an old cat. One day, Moby sat on the front steps of his house, petting Tucker, when he suddenly realized that cats – just like humans – tried to avoid pain, and that other animals did just the same. No one wants to get hurt by others.

“I loved Tucker, and all of our rescued animals, unconditionally,” says Moby. “I embodied that strange human paradox: to love animals and also eat them. Then one day, when I was 19 and Tucker was 10, he and I were playing and I had an epiphany. In an instant I realized: Tucker has 2 eyes, and a central nervous system, and an amazingly rich emotional life and a deep desire to avoid pain. And I realized that every animal with 2 eyes and a central nervous system has a rich emotional life and a deep desire to avoid pain.”

Moby has now been vegan since 1987.

Vegan Activism

Moby has made a considerable amount of donations to different animal causes, and he supports animal rights charities such as Peta and Mercy for Animals.

In 2013, he listed his home at $1.3 million dollars to support animal rights groups, other charities, fund scholarships, and support political candidates.

In 2018 Moby sold off his records and musical equipment (200 analog drum machines from his personal collection, 80s synthesizers, an Ibanez guitar that Moby used in live concerts between 1984 and 1999 and also on his album “Play”, and more priceless items …) and he donated all profits to the Physicians Committee for responsible Medicine. I mentioned this group in a previous post about James Cameron, another vegan hero; PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) is a nonprofit organization of scientists and doctors who advocate the health benefits of a plant-based diet.

With fellow musician and vegan Tony Kanal from the band No Doubt, Moby organized the Circle V festival, a music and vegan food festival which includes vegan talks and products. All proceeds were donated to animal rights group Mercy for Animals.

Moby’s thoughts on veganism?

“I’m a vegan to reduce climate change, improve human health, end antibiotic resistance and rainforest deforestation, but ultimately I’m a vegan for the animals,” says Moby. “It’s my most deeply held belief; that every animal, human or not, is simply/basically/ineluctably entitled to their own life.”

Check out his Ted talk why he became a vegan. He´ll have your full attention.

Like I mentioned in the introduction, besides being a singer, songwriter, and producer, Moby also owns Little Pine Restaurant, a renowned vegan restaurant that has won several awards. It is one of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants and it also donates 100% of its proceeds to animal charities.

As if all that wasn’t enough, he has also worked with Jane Goodall, Leonardo di Caprio – who is also vegan and a vociferous spokesman against climate change – Jaden Smith, and Tony Kanal. He even released a music album called Animal Rights! He helps people reconnect with animals.

He doesn’t only support animal charities but also organizations like the Rainforest Action Network, the Good Food Institute, the American Civil Liberties Union, Farm Sanctuary, Children with AIDS, War Child, Jane Goodall Institute, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Children’s Cancer Association, David Lynch Foundation, Artists for Peace and Justice, Animal Defenders International. Human Rights Campaign, and I am going to stop here, but in total Moby supports 24 charities and 24 causes.

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He has written 104 articles, produced 3 videos for causes, uses social media and speaks to the media about veganism. I could go on and on. Moby is a tireless warrior for the animals. He opposes trophy hunting, he has called on fans to walk for animal rights, he urges consumers to enjoy Thanksgiving without eating turkey, and he defends the plight of Pit Bulls.

Having rescued several Pit Bulls myself, I am beyond happy and relieved that this very much misunderstood and vilified breed has a spokesperson in Moby. I ended up adopting one of my rescued Pit Bulls because he suffered anxiety and would therefore make a more difficult adoption. After a few years his anxiety healed, and he is such a lovely boy, he makes friends with everyone he meets, people, dogs, and cats.

Final Thoughts

To me, Moby is a true animal hero. Not only does he use his stardom to shed light on animal suffering, but he also donates large amounts of money to animal (and other) causes). On top of that, profits of his restaurant go to animal charities, and he even organizes events to help spread veganism and support animal causes. Even his music is used to help animals. He doesn’t seem to stop, and I admire that about him.

I urge you to watch his video which I shared above (scroll up a few paragraphs) . His speech is mesmerizing, funny, and thoughtful at the same time. Watch it until the end if you have time, you won’t regret it 🙂

Thank you for reading. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Do you know any animal heroes yourself? Famous or not famous? Let us know about them 🙂