Paws, Pets & Metal is Metal Insider’s newest column on bands with pets, who watches them on the road, and more. Get to know more about these metal furbabies. We caught up with Thirteen Goats’ Graham Miles to discuss his pets.
Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?
I have a cat named Bucket. He is the color of dishwater, and today is his birthday. Rob has a cat named Q, like the James Bond character. I also have a snake named Monty (although he’s a kingsnake, not a python), who currently lives with my parents and is blind because he has cataracts in both eyes.
Have you ever taken your pet on tour?
Absolutely not. Bucket isn’t neutered so he has to stay home because he’s always trying to fuck everything. This is also why the band gets worried about taking me on tour. Fortunately, I have (slightly) more self-control than a one-year-old cat.
Who looks after your pet while on the road?
Rob’s wife takes care of Q, and I usually leave Bucket with my downstairs neighbors whenever I’m out of town. They have a big rescue dog named May who likes to bark at strangers but lets Bucket chase her around and bop her on the nose even though he’s a quarter of her size. I think what they have is beautiful and I hope for that kind of love one day.
What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?
I think Bucket’s favorite metal record is ours, because I played it over and over again for him while we were getting the mix right.
How did you introduce your pet to metal?
By playing our record over and over again for him while we were getting the mix right.
What animal charity means most to you?
Neuterhead: Ace of Spays in Vancouver, BC is pretty im-paw-tant to us. They’re a registered nonprofit that uses rock ‘n’ roll to raise funds to assist responsible pet rescue groups with the costs of spaying and neutering.
