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His birth certificate says “Richard Melville Hall,” but the world knows him as Moby. Although he was vaulted to superstardom when 1999’s Play was rediscovered by the world in 2000, he’s been on the scene for much longer than that. Moby has been active in music since the early 1990s, and has remixed tracks for a diverse crop of artists ranging from Prodigy to The B-52s. He’s been steadily recording and releasing music, most recently with his 2011 album “Destroyed.” When he’s not moving the dance floor, Moby is a strong supporter of causes related to animal rights and the strict animal product-free lifestyle of veganism. The vegan lifestyle isn’t just related to diet. It also stresses the importance of finding alternatives to products known to use animal testing to ascertain their level of safety in relation to human use. Vegans make efforts to find non-animal substitutes for items such as clothing that traditionally use leather, fur, or fabrics (wool, cashmere) that are animal-derived.
In the past, Moby has worked with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). PETA’s mission statement is simple and to the point. Their slogan is “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on or use for entertainment.” PETA supports ending things such as factory-run farms that raise livestock, animal testing for household items such as soaps and cosmetics, and the use of animal fur in clothes. PETA has also protested the use of animals for sport and entertainment in venues such as circuses and bullfighting. Although Moby has not been the most vocal supporter of PETA, he has designed merchandise for sale on their website and devoted time to various PETA fundraisers, contributed time for PETA-related interviews, and has even recorded a special Thanksgiving message urging consumers to enjoy a turkey-free Thanksgiving.
As an animal-rights activist, Moby has published various writings on the benefits of the vegan lifestyle. “Gristle: From Factory Farms to Food Saftey- Thinking Twice About the Meat We Eat” was edited in part by Moby, and features many facts and studies about the environmental impact of large-scale factory farming, and the consumption of meat and how it relates to health. This book took a wide sampling of various experts from the food industry, health experts, and workers rights activists to explore just what it is that the ‘typical’ diet does to our planet. Moby has also written essays for the liner notes of his albums. At a glance, it wouldn’t make sense to write a treatise on veganism to be included with an album full of techno pop. Considering that albums of his such as “Play” have sold over ten million copies, there’s a good chance that many people have read his insightful commentary on living a cruelty-free lifestyle.
Moby has aligned himself with many charitable causes over the years. Not only has he worked with PETA for the sake of animal rights, but he has also donated time and support to other causes. He supports The Humane Society, another organization devoted to awareness of issues concerning animal abuse. He has even gone so far as to develop his own website that allows artists and filmmakers free use of his music so long as royalty profits go to The Humane Society. He has also supported various causes such as MoveOn.org and Amend.org. Politically, Moby considers himself to be nonpartisan, as wants to emphasize the causes he supports, not the political parties supporting said causes.
Here’s are some efforts Moby supports:
