Win an iPod with petaDishoom’s Month of Rock

December is a big month for petaDishoom – the youth division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India – and thanks to a big iPod giveaway, it will also be a big month for a lucky visitor who simply has to register to win at petaDishoom.com. But everyone who visits the site will be a winner because during December — petaDishoom’s second annual Month of Rock — the site will feature exclusive interviews with members of some of India’s top rock bands who have teamed up with petaDishoom to fight cruelty to animals. Joining last year’s line-up of animal-friendly bands Pentagram, Indian Ocean, Euphoria, Parikrama, Vayu, Demonic Resurrection, Sceptre, Pin Drop Violence and others are new petaDishoom pals Metakix, Thermal And A Quarter, and Them Clones.

Both Vayu and Them Clones recently unfurled petaDishoom banners right in the middle of their concerts. And no one can mistake whose side the members of Parikrama are on when they perform on stage decked out in PETA T-shirts. Keyboardist Subir Malik recently told petaDishoom, “I have about 22 street dogs in my office that I take care of. I wish everybody in this world would be kind to animals and love them. They are all part of us, and we are all in it together”. Adds lead singer Nitin Malik, “I am not only against animals being used in circuses but also against the concept of having zoos. It is wrong to have someone caged in a zoo”.

Pentagram, the only band from India that has been invited to perform at the UK’s prestigious Glastonbury rock festival, is probably India’s biggest rock act. The group might have fun “knocking audiences dead”, but when it comes to killing animals, long-time vegetarian vocalist Vishal Dadlani is all business. “If [young people] like animals, they should share their ideas and support the fact that animals should not be killed”, he says. “There should be awareness about the slaughter of animals.”

The hardness factor of Metakix is clear off the scale — just ask anyone who watched the band open for Brazilian thrash-metal sensation Sepultura in Delhi this year. Even their soft spot for animals is tempered with a touch of toughness. “It’s high time we, the young generation, take some action, because these animals need our help if they are to survive,” says bassist Nicky. “And always remember not to buy any product that is made of any animal. If the buying stops, the killing will stop too.”

Formed a decade ago and more popular now than ever, Vayu is a leading voice for animal rights, which is why they won a Proggy award (Proggy is short for “progress”) from PETA for taking a tough stand in defense of animals. Vayu frontman and guitarist Ravi Iyer reflected when asked why it is important to speak out for animals. “For the simple reason that animals have a life”, says Ravi, “And they are very expressive — they have feelings, too, but they just can’t speak. But I think animals get hurt, too.”

Them Clones has been making fabulous music since 2000, and the band seems to be getting better with time. Among Them Clones‘ many musical accomplishments was winning at Youth Nexus. The band has been caught up in a whirlwind tour performing in cities all over India, but drummer Surojit Dev jumped at the chance to slow down just long enough to share his views on sticking up for animals. Asked for thoughts on animals abused in circuses, he was brief and to the point. “I think people who mistreat animals should be jailed,” he says, “If there would be any concert, we would actually play for free. That’s how we can contribute from our end.”

For more information, to register to win the iPod and to read the full interviews with the bands, visit petaDishoom.com.