Your Sunday Afternoon Awesome Vegetarian post today (last week’s Sunday Morning Awesome Vegetarian post (though not announced as such) was Ted Leo) is a gentleman by the name of Ian MacKaye. Anyone who knows anything about the hardcore scene knows MacKaye as one of the guitarists/singers/songwriters of Fugazi, who can be seen here rocking very hard to “Furniture” (he’s the one singing, hence choosing this song).

MacKaye and the rest of Fugazi do (or did - they’re on “hiatus”) all the right things when it comes to being in a band - they created their own label instead of signing to one. They don’t merchandise with shirts, posters, or anything like that. They only play all-ages shows, and they refuse to charge more than six bucks a ticket and ten bucks a CD. MacKaye and company feel that everyone should be able to enjoy the music.

These days, MacKaye fills his time running Dischord, the label Fugazi started so long ago, and playing in The Evens, a much quieter band than Fugazi, but still brimming with the same anger. Here’s a little taste:

Though he doesn’t often talk about it, and there are some reports out there of him having a beer every now and again, MacKaye is a straight-edge and a vegan, setting a great example for all those hardcore kids out there that otherwise might think you need drugs with your rock and roll. Truly an inspiring, and awe-inspiring, individual.

You can takepart here to get your free “go vegetarian” starter kit, so you too can be like the hero of today’s post, Ian MacKaye.

Oh, and here’s the best Fugazi clip ever, from their documentary Instrument.