The drummer for Blink-182, known for bringing explosive energy to his live shows, has turned his attention toward animal welfare. Travis Barker, 50, now appears in a PSA for Humane World For Animals, where he draws on both his long-held meat-free diet and his support for pets adopted from local shelters. He asks viewers to take small steps, which he says will accumulate into something larger.
The campaign, titled Small Steps For Good, asks people to consider everyday choices. Barker says he has been a vegetarian since age 13, and he credits a childhood realization about where meat comes from for the shift.
Barker’s Meat-Free History
“I haven’t eaten meat since I was 13 and I’ve been a vegetarian since then,” Barker tells Billboard. “I didn’t like the taste at the time and then I figured out where hot dogs and ham and steak came from and there’s not a chance … ‘nope, can’t do that!’ I’ve always loved animals and I never liked the taste of meat.”
He claims he reached out to Humane World For Animals because their cause resonated with him personally. The campaign is pushing for people to take in animals from local shelters, stay away from goods made from real fur, and go for cruelty-free choices such as those offered by his vegan wellness company, Barker Wellness.
The PSA’s Punk Turn
The 30-second spot opens with Barker in suburban dad mode, dressed in a cream-colored turtleneck sweater, glasses, and jeans. He laments, “Being good? I always thought that was boring,” before he rips off his shirt to reveal his famously inked torso.
“But f— that. Good is never boring!” he says as the jazzy soundtrack switches to a punk rock beat.
Barker puts on a Cookie Monster-blue jacket and makes the campaign’s central message. “Faux fur is way cooler than real fur. Plant based in plant based!” he says as he digs into a bowl of beans. “I always support people doing good in the world … just do good. That’s the move.”
What Barker Supports
Barker says his daily “uniform” is Dickies pants, all-vegan Vans, and a T-shirt. He notes that all his clothes are vegan-friendly, and he is working on a fully vegan collaboration with VANS for his next project.
His investment in L.A.’s upscale plant-based Crossroads Kitchen came after chef Tal Ronnen pitched him on the idea at a Bad Brains show. He also recalls a recent dinner with his 84-year-old father at Lotus Vegan, a spot he remembered riding his bike to when he lived in North Hollywood.
“I eat at these places because they’re all vegan and they need the support to stay open for business another month,” Barker said of his choice. Rather than eating at a restaurant with vegan options, he prefers to support smaller, struggling establishments.
The Personal Turning Point
Barker became vegan after the horrific 2008 plane crash that took the lives of two of his best friends and the plane’s two pilots. His advocacy has continued ever since, though he admits he doesn’t judge others for their choices.
His good friend podcaster Joe Rogan is a loud and proud meat-eating hunter. But Barker said his daughter Alabama has been a vegetarian her whole life, and his other kids eat vegan when they’re out to dinner with him, including the couple’s two-year-old son, Rocky Thirteen.
The Campaign’s Message
Humane World For Animals president/CEO Kitty Block praised Barker’s role in the campaign. “Creating a better world for animals takes bold systemic change, and it starts with the small choices people make every day,” she said in a statement.
“That’s the idea behind our Small Steps for Good campaign: Showing that everyone has the power to make a difference for animals. Travis has inspired people for years by using his voice and platform to advocate for animals in a way that is authentic to who he is. We hope this campaign encourages others to discover their own small steps and see how those actions can add up to meaningful change.”
Barker summarized the message himself. “Be nice to animals. It’s not that hard and it won’t cause too much of an identity crisis for anyone.”
Comparing Barker’s Brands And Investments
| Brand / Investment | Details |
|---|---|
| Barker Wellness | Vegan wellness company founded by Barker |
| Crossroads Kitchen | Upscale plant-based restaurant invested in by Barker |
| VANS collaboration | Fully vegan shoe planned for Barker’s next project |
| Lotus Vegan | Restaurant Barker dines at with his father |
The Order Of Barker’s Advocacy
- Giving up meat at age 13 after realizing where it came from.
- Becoming a vegetarian and promoting animal welfare.
- Running Barker Wellness.
- Investing in Crossroads Kitchen after meeting chef Tal Ronnen at a Bad Brains show.
- Collaborating with VANS on a fully vegan shoe.
- Encouraging his family, including his daughter Alabama and son Rocky Thirteen, to join him in vegan habits.
A man who has spent his career proving that being good doesn’t have to mean being boring makes the case for animal welfare, and the PSA is available now.
See the video the story is built around at Billboard.
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