It’s a well known fact that Propagandhi is the ace up the sleeve for any vegan kid into hardcore, punk or politics. It doesn’t matter how many times you will be shouted down by omni punx all you need to do is start quoting Apparently I’m A P.C. Fascist. Only a few bands over the course of their lifespan will ever tackle the issue of animal rights, almost no other band on the planet has done it as consistently and/or effectively as Propagandhi. I hope the next album is out sooner than later and also hope that the Leafs finally pull Chris and I out of this constant state of misery.

Finish the sentence: Glen Lambert is ………….

a lawsuit waiting to happen.

What made you embrace veganism and what has kept you there?

A very long list of events in rural Manitoba, starting with my first hunting trip at 6 years of age, led to me think about animals in a way I wasn’t supposed to: with compassion. It wasn’t until years later, when I moved out of rural manitoba and into a the city, that I discovered that there was a simple way to act on that compassion and withdraw one’s support from industries that profit from animal cruelty. That was of course, vegetarianism. It carried on from there and my compassion for either animals or humans hasn’t dissipated one iota since then.

Sandor Katz’s response to “Human(e) Meat: The Flensing of Sandor Katz” was a pretty on point avoidance of rejecting the content of the song and instead personalizing it. I am wondering if you have any thoughts about veganism and identity, as in most omnivores when confronted with the message instead of thinking of the issue or the animals who’s lives are involved, reduce it back to their own individual identities (i.e. I’m not a bad person, I “love” the taste of meat, etc.)

Yeah, I dunno. People are resistant to change, generally. This is true in every aspect of life. I’m rarely comfortable with change myself. Couple this innate resistance with the necessary lack of credulity about the cruelty of the animal-exploitation industries we actively support when we consume animal-products, and you have a recipe for people taking veganism personally. I eventually got over it when I was 18. So can anyone else.

I sometimes use vs. questions as litmus test to see what background different vegans are coming from. A popular one for me is always Propagandhi vs. Oi Polloi. The crustier kids out themselves immediately, choosing Oi Polloi, newbies and Canadians choose Propagandhi and the real rockers feel so conflicted they want to barf. What was it like a playing a show with Deek and Oi Polloi last year in the Uk?

I think it was ok? I didn’t see them play actually. Jord said they were pretty good though.

In doing some e-stalking for this interview I found a nice 9/11 truth site which chronicled the writer contacting you and pressing for you to write a song specifically about 9/11 “Official Conspiracy Theory.” Do you get a lot of these types of messages? And are you surprised at the length that nutters will go to in order to push a conspiracy theory when very blatant and overt wrongs are normalized everyday? (ALSO I AM DEMANDING A SONG ON THE g20 SUMMIT! Ha)

Well, I’m not sure why I even get attacked by elements of the 9/11 “Truth” movement; I’ve never stated anywhere that I thought the official version of events is a closed-case. I think there’s plenty of precedent for concentrations of power to foster/invent/execute/allow/*make inevitable* events like 9/11 to serve as pretext for consolidating more power. From the Reichstag fire to the Gulf of Tonkin incident, there’s no reason to assume everything is as authority claims. On the other hand, there are specific claims about specific events of 9/11 made by the “truth” movement that don’t meet any scientific standards, yet some of its membership INSIST that others accept these claims as incontrovertible truth. That is not a movement i’m interested in.

From your blogroll links to animal rights organizations, and your work with Peta2, I get the feeling you and the band see the animal rights movement as a whole. (Direct action organizations, pacifist abolitionists, welfarist/rightists perspectives, etc).

This is correct. I think there is more than one way to skin a cat. Whoops! I mean a vivisector.

Propagandhi has always been a band at the forefront of leveraging your music to fund projects that you endorse and support. What are you guys doing currently?

As far as fundraising? I think the only current fundraising we have going on as I type is for Partners in Health, an organization working in the poorest parts of Haiti to provide medical treatment to those who can’t afford it without any strings attached.

Recovered Ep. Propagandhi covers Lowest of the Low. I get stoked. How much material do you still have left over like this?

Hopefully none! Haha. No, I think that is almost everything left that would be worth working on. There might be an out-take or two hidden on a tape somewhere, but nothing that could be fleshed-out and released.

I have read that the band is hoping to have another record out within two years of Supporting Caste. If that is true, what were the motivations to go back and record when throughout Propagandhi’s history, 4 years is usually the accepted span of time between records? What can we expect from the next
album?

We were hoping to do that. Things are coming together, but very slowly as usual. I am now a father of a very young and hilarious boy, and the past 10 months have been characterized by a complete lack of sleep and spare time. We’ll pull it together though and knock it out of the park. I guarantee.

Fat Mike, Fat Wreck, John K. Samson, The Weakerthans, Canada’s 2nd worst Canadian. (And any other now cliched controversial Chris Hannah questions)

The first 4 I have no connection to. The 5th I am!

Like you, I grew up in small town Canada. I can point to Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” as a text that shattered my view of the world outside my very xenophobic rural town. What books did that for you?

My shattered worldview was courtesy of records rather than books. MDC’s “millions of dead cops” was the 6-mile wide meteor that came crashing through the window when I was a over-the-top right-wing 14 year old.

What are you currently listening to? What are some of the go-to albums that you all listen to on tour?

Voivod is probably the band that is unanimously revered by the entire entourage. I am currently listening to Sacrifice’s “The Ones I Condemn”. It makes me want someone to break into my house in the middle of the night just so I can beat them to death with a hammer. It is that ferocious.

I would be doing a disservice to a fellow Leaf’s fan if I didn’t include a hockey question. How would you grade Brian Burke’s tenure as the Leafs GM?

I think he’s done some amazing things. he’s cleared house as promised for starters. I’m one of the few people who actually likes the Kessel deal. He’s not a franchise player in the way some 1st rounders are franchise players, but given the choice between the proverbial Alexander Daigle and Kessel’s one-dimensional and totally inconsistent scoring touch, I pick Phil Kessel.

I was also really impressed how he handled his late son’s coming-out as gay so publicly and unapologetically.

Now if he just picks up Georges Laraque to play on a line with Colton Orr and Colby Armstrong, we can erect a statue to him on my lawn.

Best vegan eats in Winnipeg can be found where?

Mondragon. 91 Albert Street. No contest.

Tempeh vs. Seitan vs. Tofu

I have a childish palette, so i’ll pick tofu.

Almond vs. Soy vs. Hemp vs. Rice Milk

Hemp is probably the best ecologically, but almond milk tastes the best.

MDC vs. DRI

Not really a fair fight. MDC wins against almost anyone for the first LP. DRI’s “dealing with it” is classic though that’s for sure. We played with MDC last year. They still fuckin’ got it, man.