Paws, Pets & Metal is Metal Insider’s ongoing column on bands with pets, discovering who watches them on the road, and more. Get to know more about these metal furbabies. We caught up with artist Rod Rodrigues as he reveals his pet parrot squawks along to AC/DC.
Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?
I have a little parrot named Baby. She’s a 6-year-old green cheek conure.
Have you ever taken your pet on tour?
No, I haven’t. Parrots are very sensitive to things like smoke, perfumes, and cleaning products. Taking her to my gigs would be way too chaotic for her.
Who looks after your pet while on the road?
It’s always a bit tricky. Baby is used to her big cage and needs a lot of attention, so we have to find someone we trust to come to the apartment to take care of her. And, of course, it also has to be someone I trust not to touch my guitars!
What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?
She loves AC/DC! Every time I play their music, she goes wild on top of her cage, dancing and banging her head. It’s hilarious to watch.
How did you introduce your pet to metal?
She didn’t really have a choice, I play guitar for at least five hours every day! Lol
What animal charity means most to you?
I have an old friend in Brazil who runs an animal sanctuary called Santuário Filhos do Salomão (in English, it’s something like Salomon’s Children Sanctuary). He rescues all kinds of animals and takes care of them. The sanctuary is home to hundreds of animals, including dogs, chickens, goats, monkeys, birds, turtles, and cows. Whenever I visit Brazil, I always stop by to see him and his animals.
