AIDAN AMPHLETT

“Straight Edge is often more viewed as a personal choice when compared with veganism which causes direct harm, abuse and cruelty to animals but in reality, they both cause serious harm to society and the environment.”

Hey, I’m Aidan. I do vocals for XcrucibleX and bass for Without Blood. I’ve been Vegan for almost 9 years, sXe for coming up to 3 years now and I’ve been active in the UKHC scene since 2018. I love many styles of music, but I have a real passion for youth crew and 90’s metallic hc. I’m also a passionate advocate for total human and animal liberation as well as a vocal denouncer of intoxication culture and it’s pervasive harm on society.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
I had grown up with multiple members of my family being vegetarian (my Dad and 2 of my older brothers) and when my Dad and two of my brothers went vegan it made me re-assess my consumption of dairy and eggs, eventually culminating in me going fully vegan after watching Earthling Ed’s documentary “Land of Hope and Glory”. After watching that when I was 16, I never went back.
Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
Unlike many, I was already involved with animal rights and veganism when I got into hardcore and so when I discovered how many animal rights conscious people there were in the scene it just made me love hardcore even more.
Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
Not particularly but I know that all of the SxE HC I was listening to before I claimed were planting those seeds in my mind and I can remember listening to Judge’s “Bringin’ It Down” and wishing in the back of mind that I had the strength to give up drugs and claim edge.
How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
In terms of claiming edge, I had nothing but positive responses, especially from my family. When it came to veganism, most of my family were on the same page (at the time at least) so it made the transition so much easier than your average person giving up animal products and being surrounded by jeering family shoving bits of meat in your face at family dinner.

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
Veganism was. I jumped straight into the deep-end with that one, but with claiming edge, I got sober first. I was sober for about 7 months and read books, watched documentaries, learned more deeply about SXE and XVX history before deciding to make this life-long vow. Even if SXE didn’t exist I think that I would’ve set the exact same absolutist parameters for myself.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
The deeper I’ve got into SXE philosophy, the more intrinsically linked they have become for me. Straight Edge is often more viewed as a personal choice when compared with veganism which causes direct harm, abuse and cruelty to animals but in reality, they both cause serious harm to society and the environment. The alcohol lobby and the tobacco industry are some of the most powerful, evil and corrupt organisations on this Earth and when it comes to the black market drug-trade - if you buy a packet of coke on a Friday night, you’re not just funding a drug dealer. That money goes into a wider network of organised crime, to groups like cartels that don’t just sell drugs. They traffic humans, sell people into sex slavery, torture and murder innocent people as collateral damage related to someone who might owe them money or have beef with them. I often see people who break edge say “I’ve proved to myself that I can do moderation, I’m just gonna have the odd drink/spliff/whatever and I’ll be fine” completely forgetting that there is NO ethical consumption of substances from dealers or companies and they’re giving their money to seriously evil bastards.
Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Definitely an extension. I think the reason so many sXers go vegan and vice versa is because it’s a community of people who don’t just say they support a cause, they actually put their money where their mouth is and apply genuine change in their lives in order to align their actions with their values. But as I explained above, the threefold justification for veganism (environmental, ethical and physical health) are directly applicable to sXe.

How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
If they’re interested in having a genuine conversation about it then I try to have a genuine conversation, examine our beliefs, justifications and actions around these subjects and then try to educate them about the horrific practices in the animal agriculture industry or the intoxication industries, plant positive seeds in people’s minds and hope that they decide to align their actions with their pre-existing values. The interesting thing I’ve found is that, almost always, when I get to the heart of what people believe to be morally correct, it already aligns with vegan straight edge ethics before they’ve even gone vegan or claimed edge.

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
The hardcore scene really solidified and galvanized my beliefs, gave me a stronger sense of kinship and validation by providing me with friends who feel and live the same way I do. As well as this, XVX music, the lyrics and the ethos give me so much motivation. Whether it’s Youth of Today, Judge, Earth Crisis or my personal favourite current sXe band Life Force - the truth, sincerity and the passion in their words give fuel to the flame that still burns in my soul today, just like it did when I went vegan/claimed.

Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
In the UKHC scene there are tonnes of vegan/edge kids but nowhere near enough sXe/XVX bands. Start a fuckin’ XVX band!!

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I hope it helps someone make a positive change in their life and claim edge or help solidify and envigour someone who already lives a sXe lifestyle. We’re not a fully XVX band (yet lol), but if we are in the future then I’d like to help people to realize that they already agree with animal rights and it’s in their power to help!
Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Not quite yet but there is one friend of the band who has told me what I’ve said on stage/my lyrics have made an impact and has been sober for the whole year so far and has been seriously considering claiming edge for a while now.
Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Both, but I think that it can be a seriously important part of someone’s journey. It might not be the whole reason for most people but it’s a really powerful way to get a message across. It’s more difficult to ignore an idea if someone is literally screaming it at you.
Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Yes, but many people don’t see it that way. It’s intrinsically linked to human rights and suffering. We grow enough food to feed around 90 BILLION land animals for slaughter each year but we can’t grow enough food for 8 billion humans?
How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
I’m currently viewing my music as activism. I stopped doing street activism due to frustration of having the same mind-numbing conversations and dealing with cretins & trolls but I think I’m in a calm enough head-space these days to return to that stuff soon.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
The fact that claiming edge isn’t just about making a positive change in your own life, it’s about taking an active stance against intoxication culture and educating yourself about why these industries are so evil.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
Perhaps. The lyrics in our demo have come across to some as “spiteful” and I really dislike that interpretation, although I can definitely see it. I’m planning to try and write more actively posi lyrics from now on, although our second EP has been written since before we even started recording our demo, so our next release won’t be posi but it’ll sound more like a passionate/ rallying war cry rather than spiteful, hopefully.

What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
Listening to vegan/sXe music, watching certain documentaries/books. But generally I rarely find myself feeling those things because even my friends outside of the XVX scene don’t really drink or do drugs anymore, my partner is mostly sober and even without my vegan family/friends, I’m too comfortable in my beliefs to care about being surrounded by non-vegans/drinkers. If I found myself in a shit situation, I’d be more annoyed than isolated by being surrounded by drunk or high people. If you feel alone or isolated then turning to online forums like reddit and on social media in general can help you stay-sane while you seek out XVX friends.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
I’m genuinely not sure, but what I do know is that we need more new XVX bands.
What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
If you’re considering veganism then watch:
- Dominion or Land Hope and Glory( if you’re in the UK) (ethical arguments)
- Cowspiracy/Seaspiracy (environmental arguments)
- What The Health (health arguments)
If you’re considering straight edge then look into cartel violence, the history of big tobacco and what they’ve done in south america and the alcohol lobby. There are lots of YouTube docs on the all of thes things.
If you’re into reading then check out Ross Haenfler’s study of straight edge for an in depth analysis and description of the straight edge movement, its different parts, why people join, why people leave and how it functions. This book is basically a speed-run of seeing the different paths in straight edge life and it will brace you so that you’re not surprised when people break and it tells you how to incorporate sXe ideals into your life as you get older and identify less and less with a usually very youth-centred movement.
Gabriel Kuhn’s ‘Straight Edge and Radical Sobriety’ is a compilation of interviews, zine excerpts, essays and manifestos on sXe politics and intoxication culture (the essays and manifesto’s on intoxication culture are the best bits) and check out Tony Rettman’s ‘Straight Edge - A Clear Headed Hardcore Punk History’ for an oral history, told by the people who created this whole movement.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
Judge
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
“A BEER, A JOINT LIKE A GUN AT YOUR HEAD
THE PRICE THAT YOU PAY IS THE BLOOD THAT YOU BLED
THE NEEDLE, THE TRACK MARK, YOU'RE SCARRED FOR LIFE
YOU'RE WEAK AND YOU'RE HURT,
AND YOU'RE GONNA LOSE THIS FIGHT
BECAUSE YOU DRINK IT AND YOU SMOKE IT
AND YOU SAY YOU FEEL FINE
AND YOU SNORT IT AND YOU SHOOT IT
AND NOW IT'S MELTED YOUR MIND”
- “Bringin’ It Down” by Judge

One misconception about vegan / vegan straight edge:
“We’re all just white-knuckling life and being sober is grey and miserable/vegan food is bland”
Straight Edge has provided me with a sense of joy that I had previously thought was gone from my life and has acted as a gateway to new ways of thinking, better physical/mental health and spirituality. Also literally every herb and spice is vegan. Make of that what you will!

One non-negotiable value:
Meet people where they’re at. Plant positive seeds and have thoughtful discussions and debates rather than trying to shame people because negative re-enforcement just doesn’t really work in humans.
One thing the scene needs to do better:
Be more actively pro-feminist/pro queer and make statements on stage, in zines and in conversations actively declaring that women and queer people are valued, welcome and needed in this scene.