You recently released your debut album, Movement, and you already have thousands of fans! How does it feel?
Amazing! The music we make means the world to us and to have even one other person enjoy it outside of us would be enough, but to get the opportunity to share it with as many people as we do and get a great response is a blessing that we don't take lightly.

We hear you're vegetarian. What prompted this lifestyle change?
I was always a huge animal lover and was raised to treat all people and animals with respect and love, so when I hit my early teens, I started to look into becoming a vegetarian. Right around this time, I went to a local show, and at one of the merch tables, a PETA video was playing. I ended up watching the video the entire time instead of the show, and from that moment on, I've been a vegetarian. I love animals way too much to contribute to harming them.

Are your bandmates, family, and friends supportive of your decision to be vegetarian?
Absolutely. At home my parents have completely adapted to my lifestyle and cook primarily vegetarian meals or always have a vegetarian option. I'm the only vegetarian in the band, but they always make sure that there's veggie-friendly food at the venue for me or that we stop at a place that I can get something. Everyone close to me fully supports it thankfully!

Do you or anyone else in the band have any animal companions? If so, what are their names, and how did they become part of your families?
We actually all have dogs and cats. Justin (bass) and I are cat people, and I have a little year-old kitty named Penelope who I got right at the end of last year's Warped Tour from a friend in [New York]. I brought her home in a little shoebox, and she's been growing ever since! My mom takes care of her when I'm on tour, and when I'm home, I try to spend as much time with her as possible. Chris (guitar/vocals) and Jimmi (drums) both have dogs—and I have to mention that any studio we've ever recorded at has always had dogs present, so I'd like to think animals are a big part of the creative process....

More than 8 million unwanted animals are turned in to animal shelters every year, and half of them must be euthanized because of a lack of good homes. How do you feel about adopting animals from animal shelters rather than purchasing them from a breeder or a pet store?
I feel that every animal deserves a chance to be loved and have a family. I think that more people with the means to should absolutely adopt from animal shelters. Having a companion animal [who] loves you unconditionally is one of the greatest additions to anyone's life I can think of, and when my own life settles down a bit, I plan to adopt a lot more animals myself!

Thanks to pressure from PETA, the company that coordinates the purchase of chickens for all KFCs in Canada has asked suppliers to phase-in the use of the least cruel method of slaughter available—and most KFCs in Canada have even added a vegetarian chicken sandwich to their menus. But KFCs in the U.S. refuse to follow suit. What would your message to KFC be?
I feel that they need to take a page from our brothers up north and change these inhumane practices. I don't see how they can possibly continue to allow and promote this type of cruelty when it's so absolutely unnecessary and some Canadian chains are providing a perfect and efficient example of how to operate. The way they are running their business is outdated, ignorant, and will not be able to continue for much longer. If they aren't willing and ready to make a change soon, they are going to have to realize that a change will be made for them one way or another.

For our fall campaign, "Meat's Not Green," peta2 is getting the word out that factory farming is the number one cause of climate change. What are your thoughts on the campaign?
Amazing. Many people don't stand up and take notice when it comes to issues of animal rights and cruelty unless they are passionate about it. Linking the issue of factory farming to something as substantial and all-encompassing as global warming will really turn a few heads and peak the interest of ears that normally would be tuned out to this cause.

What's next for Thieves and Villains?
Right now, we're just getting behind the release of our first album, Movement …. We'll be doing a lot of touring and promotion for it in general, so always keep a look out for what we're up to online via our MySpace page. Other than that, who knows what the future will bring! We're just gonna continue living right, make good creative music, and enjoy ourselves and time with our loved ones until we find out!