Sunday, 24 October 2010 00:00 Written by Cameron Gabriel

Terence "Geezer" Butler - Bassist - Black Sabbath - Proud Vegan

Whether or not you consider yourself a fan of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, I am sure you will agree that there is scarcely a person walking the planet who has not heard of the band Black Sabbath, or heard one of their songs on the radio. Considered to be the godfathers of heavy metal music, they not only defined and shaped the genre, but gave birth to thousands of bands who would claim them as a major inspiration. 40 years after the release of their first album, their songs remain a relevant force in music, and continue to spark the imaginations of each new generation of musician.

While not the front man for the band, Geezer Butler was responsible for writing most of the lyrics, which were heavily influenced by his fascination with religion, the occult and horror movies, and his disdain for the corporate war machine and its role in an impending global apocalypse. With a style of bass playing that is often emulated but rarely reproduced, he has no doubt been a vital part of Black Sabbath's meteoric rise to cult status.

Geezer Butler is also a vegan.

In an interview with PETA, he is quoted as saying:

"I went vegetarian when I was about - I think I was about 8 years old. One day I cut this piece of meat open and blood came out and I asked my mother, 'Where did this come from?' And she said 'animals,' and that was it. And now these days, you can get everything vegan -- vegan marshmallows...so now I'm eating all these things that you couldn't even get before."

My freakin hero. The power of his voice in what can often be the over-machismo world of metal music is unrivaled. I love this guy. If you are unfamiliar with his music, I strongly suggest checking out their first album Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath. It is a sweeping epic of songs that twist and turn crossing many genres in the process but remaining true to the sound of the band. Do yourself a favor and listen to the album all of the way through. The musicianship is astounding. I have studied it many times throughout the years and learn something new every time. And then log his name into your mental database, because the time will come when you need to name drop in a conversation with someone, and you can say:

"Geezer Butler is Vegan".