Vegetarian Star

“I became a vegetarian at the end of the Pyromania tour [in 1984]. I wanted to do it for ethical reasons…I didn’t like the idea of eating slaughtered, tortured animals. The vegan thing was more of a health thing, getting clogged-up dairy stuff. Most cows who are still alive, and some of them have an okay life and are [milked] properly, they’re tortured as well—just slammed into these pens in these pretty nasty things.”

–Def Leppard’s Phil Collen on what motivated him to go vegetarian.

Photo: PR Photos

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Phil Collen has been rocking with Def Leppard since the 80s. At 53 years old, he can still drive the band’s female fans into “hysteria” when he’s seen photographed with his shirt off. This weekend, you catch Phil giving a presentation on exercising and healthy eating at the Los Angeles Fitness Expo. Last week, we gave you a preview of our exclusive Q & A with Phil. Here’s the rest of his story.

On Reasons For Going Veg
I am a vegetarian for ethical reasons. The idea of eating dead bodies made me feel ill. With a simple progression towards being healthier and healthier now I’m currently ‘almost’ total vegan (no eggs or milk) although I do dip into the chocolates on occasion.

Green Living  At Home With Wife Helen
Well, we don’t drive a Prius, but we don’t go around spraying aerosols into the atmosphere and throwing cans and bottles down the gutter. It’s really a common sense issue. Recycling is a given—doing it and using recycled products. We use hemp products too.

Tofu, Tempeh Or Seitan
We [he and Helen] do them all.

Favorite Exercises
Muay Thai Kickboxing training and weight workouts. I also have a spin bike that I’m on all the time.

Eating Healthy On Tour
I eat pretty basic on tour. You can find great vegetarian dishes in different cities. I have a Panini grill which is great for grilling tofu and veggie burgers. I drink lots of water and eat lots of fruit and nuts too.

(more…)

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Def Leppard’s Phil Collen will give a presentation at the Los Angeles Fitness Expo on January 29 and January 30. He’ll be joined by his fitness trainer, international Muay Thai Kick Boxing champion and world coach Jean Carrillo. The pair will cover weight training, cardiovascular health and health and nutrition for all ages.

One particular subject Collen will touch on is the issue of childhood obesity. We got a chance to do a Q & A with Collen recently and asked this current vegan and vegetarian for over three decades how convincing parents that a plant-based diet is key to fighting this epidemic.

“When it comes to telling parents how to feed their children it can be a touchy subject if bad eating habits were ingrained in those parents when they were children and so on. To them, there may be no other way. There are walls of excuses to get around.”

(more…)

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A big slice of vegan birthday cake goes out to to the following vegetarian or vegan celebrities today.

• Phil Collen (53)

Photo: PR Photos

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• Slice Of Celebrity Vegan Birthday Cake To (Drum Roll)

Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen recently married Helen L. Simmons and the two tied the knot in a vegetarian, eco-friendly event.

Since Collen has been a vegetarian for 27 years, the alcohol-free reception featured an organic vegetarian and vegan menu. Instead of sending paper invitations, invites to the big day were given via Paperless Post brand emails.

(more…)

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If you rocked out with Def Leppard in the 80s (and still rock out on the karaoke machine during the weekends), regardless of how much much your children make fun of you, don’t feel bad!

Guitarist Phil Collen is 51, still rockin’ hard, and the picture of perfect health. Just tell the kids they better hope they look this good at half a century.

When Collen was asked jokingly asked during an interview if there was a law against being a hard rock guitar player and vegetarian, Collen answered:

“I’ve felt weird about eating meat since I was a kid. I’m a picture of health at 51. I hardly eat any kind of food. I’m a vegan. You don’t need meat to survive. It’s a pleasure thing.”

Not to mention there are more faux pleasure meats than groupies lined up in the refrigerator or freezer section of the grocery store.

Rock on, Phil. Rock on man!

via independent.ie

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