Paint It Black's Dan Yemin

If you're anything like us, you feel like two years of Kid Dynamite simply wasn't enough. Luckily, Dan Yemin isn't letting fans down. He's formed a new band with drummer Dave Wagenschutz called Paint It Black, and they've been keeping KD fans busy while bringing in hordes of new Paint It Black devotees. And when we say "busy," we aren’t kidding—an integral part of the Paint It Black mentality is being active. So with the support of Jade Tree and their many fans, they are keeping themselves busy by touring and creating new music. But despite Paint It Black’s rigorous schedule, Dan decided to take the time to share his well-thought-out views on politics, animals, humans, and food.

How did Paint It Black get started?

After Kid Dynamite broke up, I felt discouraged and threw myself into 60-hour work weeks. After about a year and a half of that, I had a stroke and ended up in Intensive Care in the hospital. Dealing with mortality up close forced me to reevaluate my life and my priorities, and I started Paint It Black soon after getting out of the hospital.

On your site, you link to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Why do you think your fans should look at animal rights?

I think that anyone who is concerned about politics/human rights issues should also be aware of the following:

1. Animals are capable of suffering, and animals suffer as they are killed to produce food for human consumption. If we are concerned with reducing the amount of violence in the world, we should consider (and respond to) the role that meat consumption plays in perpetrating and perpetuating violence. Meat production is related to other cycles of conquest, domination, and objectification, in my opinion.
2. Human beings do not need animal protein in order to be healthy and happy.
3. Even if one does not believe that it is immoral to consume animals for food, it is important to be aware that the process of raising and preparing animals to be slaughtered for meat involves significant and unnecessary cruelty. Animals are warehoused in concentration-camp conditions and fed steroids to increase their amount of muscle mass. The steroids make them vulnerable to infection, so they are fed antibiotics as well. They are terrified and under constant physical and emotional stress, so the chemicals that are released by their own nervous and glandular systems are also coursing through their bodies. If the cruelty in this picture isn’t sufficient cause for concern, one should at least be concerned about the health consequences of eating meat that is infused with steroids, antibiotics, and stress hormones.

Why did you originally go vegetarian/vegan?

At the same time that I was being exposed to animal rights issues through punk and hardcore (MDC, Youth of Today, Insted, etc.), I was reading Peter Singer’s important work Animal Liberation (Singer is a professor of ethics and philosophy at Rutgers University). I then had the opportunity to live with animals for the first time in my life (two dogs). Developing relationships with these animals while being exposed to new ideas through music and books turned the tide for me, and I stopped eating meat in May of 1990. A year later, I had realized that the dairy and egg industries were inextricably related to the cruelty and violence of the meat industry, so I went vegan.

Who are some vegans or vegetarians who have had a big influence on your life or the way that you think about animals?

Peter Singer, and various friends in and out of the hardcore/punk scene throughout the years.

What are some of your favorite vegetarian and vegan foods?

I usually keep it simple: Spicy black bean burritos with brown rice, avocado, and spinach; pan-seared tofu with a little soy sauce and sautéed Swiss chard with garlic; Tofu and broccoli in coconut-curry sauce; Red lentils with garlic, ginger, margarine, and curry; If you freeze tofu first and thaw it and squeeze out the water (gently), the consistency of the tofu is much better for cooking and absorbing sauces. I always keep a couple of pounds of tofu in the freezer.

What do you think of big corporations like KFC that profit off the abuse of animals and refuse to adopt even the most basic animal welfare standards?

Absolutely disgusting. If it weren’t illegal, I would burn their offices and production facilities to the ground. I AM NOT IN ANY WAY ADVOCATING THIS BEHAVIOR. I am simply expressing my disgust.

Do you have any advice for someone who is looking for alternatives to leather, fur, and wool? Why?

It’s become so much easier to avoid leather. I don’t wear any at all. Doc Marten England has a line of vegan shoes that I wear to work. A company called Vegetarian Shoes makes beautiful shoes and belts. I wear Ben Sherman canvas sneakers and Vegan Vans Old Schools. Check out 99X in New York City and Time Zone in Philadelphia.

What’s up next for the band?

Lots of shows and touring. Come out and see us. Talk to us about these issues or any of the other issues that we sing about. Or talk to us about your own lives and struggles. We are very accessible.

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