CHRIS LAPOINTE

“We have access to so much information and science that if you make the choice of branding yourself as “straight edge” abstaining from alcohol, drugs, smoking, it seems to be a natural choice to be vegan as well. If you’re into not harming yourself with drugs and alcohol, then you should maybe take it a step further.”

Before moving to Seattle, WA in the mid 1990s, Chris spent time growing up in Florida and Arizona. In Florida he learned to appreciate nature by living in a rural town on a spring fed lake surrounded by woods. Camping trips all over the state and a lot of time spent at the beach, the appreciation grew and he started studying and reading about the natural world. He was drawn to the idea of becoming a Marine Biologist when he grew up. Family life and the Florida country life changed abruptly when the family uprooted and moved across the country to Arizona right when Chris was in the middle of high school. In Arizona, Chris found punk and the natural and brutal beauty of the Sonoran Desert. When he wasn't at punk shows, he was exploring the trails in Phoenix area parks and natural areas. At the time he started his first band and began playing local shows.He loved the reactionary, shock value, fuck you aspectsof punk but soon was exposed to bands with more positive messages such as 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, and Youth of Today. At the same time he was into a lot of political punk/peace punk stuff like Conflict, Discharge, Crass and Crucifix as well as DC area post hardcore bands.A lot of ideals these bands espoused had a major impact on his ethics. He made the decision to go vegetarian in the late 80s and in 1995 he finally went vegan. Closing in on 31 years vegan. Early 90s brought on college as well as more bands, booking shows, exploring nature and becoming fully immersed in radical politics. In 1994 he left Arizona with a degree in Environmental Science/Biology and all his possessions, a computer and a cat for Seattle WA. He immediately got on with the locals and started going to every local show featuring bands likeTrial and Botch, to name a few. As fast as all that started, Chris found himself back in Arizona for graduate school. He got a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management and then promptly returned to Seattle where he had a job as an environmental restoration project manager waiting for him. He's built a career of over 25 years as a restoration ecologist.

Upon his return to Seattle, he dove back into the music scene the minute he got back "home." Starting some music projects with friends, hanging out, skateboarding, camping and going to punk and hardcore shows was the routine when not working. In 2005 Chris decided he no longer wanted or needed drugs and alcohol in his life. He knew the positive influence of friends and the commitment of claiming edge would keep him committed! 21 years later he's more straight edge now than ever. Singing for Wake of Humanity for the past 11 years he has no intention whatsoever to hang up the mic. Touring, writing lyrics and expanding the band's catalogue and artistic direction are some of his currenthis passions. Speaking out for the animals,environment and oppressed humans is what drives him. When he's not touring or working 50 hours a week he can be found at the gym or in one or another natural wonder that Washington state has to offer. Most recent trip was to Mt. Rainier National Park.

What was the moment or experience that first pushed you toward veganism?
It was one line in one song of the Washington DC based band called Soul Side. The lyric just clicked in my brain, and it made me realize I did not need to eat the flesh of animals. The song is “Name in Mind” and the lyric goes “…you see food and I see murder; I see blood on your plate…” I was getting into a lot of political punk bands and was already aware of the concept, but it was that one definitive moment that changed everything for me sometime around 1988. I was already aware of the concept due to the Smiths with their song “Meat is Murder” but for some reason the Soul Side lyric just hit and facilitated the change in not only my diet but had a strong I pact on the political ideologies I’d soon adapt.

Did your path into veganism come before or after getting into hardcore / straight edge?
During. I was not straight edge at the time, but I was into a lot of punk stuff and I was singing in a punk band. For me, it was also another point of rebellion. Not going with the flow in the mainstream. I was all about disrupting the status quo and being “not normal.” There were no vegan straightedge bands yet, if I recall correctly.

Was there a specific band, record, or scene influence that opened that door for you?
See above. But for reference: Soul Side, the record Trigger and the above lyrics.

How did your friends, family, or local scene react when you made that shift?
Most of my friends were cool with it as they were into similar music, etc. and I think a lot of them were already vegetarian. My family was always accepting of everything I did so they were ok with it. I never had those struggles like some people do.

Was it an immediate commitment, or something you grew into over time?
For me it was gradual. In 1988 I turned vegetarian, but it wasn’t until 1993 or so that I started considering veganism. In 1995 I decided I could do more and committed to not only a vegan diet but a lifestyle that was kinder in general, and less impactful on the earth.

For you, how connected are veganism and straight edge—are they inseparable or distinct choices?
I’ve thought about this a lot. The accepting voice in me wants to say they are distinct choices. But for our subculture, it seems like they should be inherently linked. Especially in 2026. We have access to so much information and science that if you make the choice of branding yourself as “straight edge” abstaining from alcohol, drugs, smoking, it seems to be a natural choice to be vegan as well. If you’re into not harming yourself with drugs and alcohol, then you should maybe take it a step further.

Do you see veganism as an extension of straight edge ethics, or its own independent stance?
Like I said, I have issues with that. If you look at bands like Youth of Today, they were all about vegetarianism back in the day. That was cool back then and it was new and fresh conceptually. I love it and it likely had an impact on me early on because I loved that band as a kid. The less objective/accepting voice in me wants to say “if you’re straight edge you should be vegan and if you’re straight edge and just vegetarian, then you’re doing it wrong…”
How do you respond to people in the scene who embrace one but not the other?
I don’t really at this point. I’m old and set in my way and I do what I do. At shows we play I might talk about veganism and try to be outspoken about it but I kind of just leave it up to people to make their own choices. I would, however, always be open to the opportunity to talk to someone about why I do what I do and why I’m vegan straight edge…

What role did the hardcore/metal scene play in shaping your beliefs?
A huge role, as I’ve noted above. Literally, changed my life as a young kid and helped shape who I am today…all these years later.
Do you feel like the scene today is more or less aligned with vegan values than when you started?
Yes, but no, if that makes sense. There’s more awareness but today’s scene seems to be much less political, at least in the States.

What kind of impact do you hope your band has on listeners?
I want us to be as impactful as possible. Wake of Humanity really does stand by our lyrics, especially songs like “It’s Still Not Enough” where I sing “we just want to make the world a better place…” We want our audience to be influenced that same way too. I also don’t always want to be preaching to the choir at hardcore shows…I like playing scenes adjacent to the hardcore scene where folks might not be so familiar with the concepts of veganism and straight edge. We play a lot of metal, punk and grind shows and this is where I feel we have the most impact. I’ve always said, “if we change one mind/lifestyle then this band and our lyrics/beliefs are worthwhile.” I can say that several people have told me we’ve changed their lives.

Have you ever heard from someone who changed because of your music?
Yes, someone here in Seattle said our song “Alone and Broken” helped them go straight edge. Several people have told me our words about animal rights and veganism have made them go vegan.

Do you think music can genuinely shift people’s behavior, or just reinforce existing beliefs?
Absolutely. Especially of the music and concepts are brought to audiences out side the immediate hardcore scene.

Do you see veganism as inherently political?
Absolutely. It’s a choice, a statement, an action that says “fuck the system.”

How do you balance music with direct action or activism, if at all?
Direct action, including my career beyond music, is just part of my life. I’m an environmental scientist and I work for a non-profit organization that restores fish and wildlife habitat. I volunteer for many other organizations, and I’m always involved in one protest or another.
What issues within the broader movement do you think aren’t being talked about enough?
Love this question. For a long time, intersectionality was not really talked about. I think in the last decade or so these concepts have further developed and are better understood at a grassroots level in our music and activist scene. I think these concepts have not entirely impacted the “normal” folks out there. So more positive examples should be made. More connections should be drawn, etc.

Looking back, would you approach your message differently?
Not really.

What keeps you committed when it gets difficult or isolating?
I think of the positive impact I have on the earth, animals and my health. That keeps me going. Also, once I make a commitment, I usually do a good job of keeping it.

Where do you see the vegan / straight edge movement going in the next decade?
Hopefully people start paying more attention to politics and less attention to crowd killing and TikTok (God, I sound old). But I seriously think politics/activism/action needs to be reinfused into hardcore

What would you say to someone on the fence about embracing these ideas?
I’d talk about the positive advantages of making such a profound choice as going vegan. Again, I’d reiterate how important it is for the environment and non-human animals as well as for the person on the fence.

Final Thoughts:

First band that made you think differently:
Probably The Smiths (fuck Morrissey though), if we’re talking about not eating animals.
A lyric you’ve written (or heard) that still hits hardest:
The Souls Side lyrics I referenced above.
One misconception about vegan straight edge:
That it’s a radical or extreme choice.
One non-negotiable value:
Only thing that comes to mind is that I won’t eat honey. Some folks are on the fence about this and there’s been lot of discourse about it but for me this is non-negotiable.

One thing the scene needs to do better:
It needs to become more politically based again and realize, once again, that punk is politics and we need to kick all the conservative bootlickers out of the scene.