Motionless in White frontman Chris Motionless recently discussed his vegan lifestyle and approach to catering decisions for his band’s crew. He shared his perspective in an interview with Craig Reynolds.
The conversation addressed Chris’s personal dietary choices and whether he enforces vegan requirements for his touring crew.
When asked about being vegan, Chris explained his journey into the lifestyle. “Yeah. I wasn’t until 2016. Not everyone in the band is that,” he said. “But I don’t know. It’s just like the stuff that spoke to me man like all my favorite singers were vegan straight edge like it just the introduction to that stuff was all so vast so quickly and I was so inspired by that.”
The discussion then turned to catering decisions and whether he mandates vegan options for his crew, similar to how some other bands operate.
“I don’t want to be the guy that like everyone hates because my choices had to be inflicted upon them I just choose my own way and just do whatever it is I want,” Chris responded. “But it’s cool on this tour that we’re on with Bring Me the Horizon, you know, Oli Sykes is vegan. So what’s even more sick is that the catering is like healthy vegan stuff.”
The frontman’s approach demonstrates his preference for leading by example rather than imposing dietary restrictions on his team members.
Chris Motionless’s dietary evolution reflects a broader trend within the metal and hardcore music scene. Plant-based lifestyles have become increasingly common among musicians and their touring operations.
Impericon reported that Chris Motionless was originally vegetarian before transitioning to veganism. He has spoken extensively about the challenges of maintaining plant-based eating while on tour. His journey began with vegetarianism from 2005-2007, but he struggled to maintain it due to financial constraints and limited vegan options available during that period. The singer successfully returned to plant-based eating around 2019-2020. His father’s heart attack due to high cholesterol, personal health concerns, and environmental documentaries motivated this transition.
The touring landscape for vegan musicians has dramatically improved in recent years. Über Rock noted that Chris now relies on modern conveniences like UberEats for custom orders during European tours and praises restaurants like Wagamama for their comprehensive vegan menus. He has also expressed enthusiasm for Impossible Foods burgers and maintains his dietary choices through better restaurant availability and food delivery apps. This allows him to avoid what he calls subpar catering options.
The collaboration between Motionless in White and Bring Me the Horizon on their 2024 world tour represents a significant moment for vegan-friendly touring in the metal scene. Oli Sykes from Bring Me the Horizon has demonstrated his commitment to veganism beyond personal dietary choices by owning Church – Temple of Fun, a 100% vegan restaurant and venue in Sheffield, UK, that also hosts live music events. This shared commitment between both frontmen has created an environment where healthy vegan catering becomes the standard rather than an accommodation.
The connection between veganism and the straight edge movement that Chris referenced has deep roots in hardcore and metal culture. The Dark Room revealed that while Chris has maintained a sober lifestyle throughout his life, he has rejected the more extreme aspects of straight edge culture. He prefers a moderate approach that focuses on personal choice rather than militant adherence to all straight edge principles. The vegan straight edge movement emerged from 1980s hardcore punk and was pioneered by bands like Earth Crisis. It has influenced many modern metal and core musicians to adopt plant-based lifestyles for ethical and health reasons.
