By Emily Rycroft
The release of NME’s Cool List left most people pretty baffled last week, with a host of musicians nobody had ever heard of. So we thought we’d bring you our very own Cool List, featuring a whole load of familiar faces with a bit of a green twist…
1. Jack JohnsonMr Jack Johnson likes to go on tour the green way – he uses a variety of schemes such as recycling, offsetting carbon emissions and eating organic food from local producers. He’s also recorded albums in a 100% solar powered studio in LA and printed the covers on recycled paper.
2. Maroon 5The handsome band are encouraging fans to be more green through the Green Music Group, which promotes eco-friendly choices. Maroon 5 even once asked fans to support a campaign, or volunteer for any green group in order to win a guitar.
3. Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake is so cool he even makes being green sexy. The handsome singer/actor received a EMA Futures Award for his work in keeping his tours green, and for his eco-friendly golf course in Tennessee. Check out the Trousersnake’s green views here…
4. Jarvis CockerIn addition to keeping the office amused with cool music and movies, Jarvis Cocker has even more entries in our good books for being the Ambassador for Eurostar’s Culture Connect, showing all of us that a Traincation really is the most rock and roll way to get around.
5. Katy PerryKaty Perry turned her most recent tour into a veggie and eco-friendly affair. She requested plant-based snacks, like organically grown fruit and veggies with hummus. Plus, she requested that water dispensers be provided along with reusable SIGG bottles, so that she and her entourage will be drinking water the eco-friendly way. Now that’s a rider we can get on board with!
6. ShakiraShakira really cares about making a difference, and she once donated 10,000 pairs of recycled tennis shoes to poverty stricken children. Her album Grandes Éxitos was released with completely eco-friendly packaging too.
7. Ben HowardBen Howard worked with Barefoot Wine and Surfers Against Sewage this summer to help keep Britain’s beaches ‘barefoot friendly’. He visited 14 beaches around the UK, picking up litter and ensuring the beaches were returned to their natural state.
8. BjorkBjork’s been involved in a campaign to save Iceland’s natural resorces for a while now. In the mid-naughties she founded the organisation Náttúra, which aims to promote Icelandic nature and grassroots industries, and even organised a three-day karaoke event to help fundraise the cause!
9. Green Day
Green Day teamed up with the Natural Resources Defence Council, encouraging fans to demand clean energy and green jobs through action in Congress. Billie Joe Armstrong has also worked with the Broadway Green Alliance to try to make everyone’s days a little more green. Find out what he had to say here…
10. John MayerHe’s previously been dubbed the ‘groovy tree hugger’, and we’re not suprised. John Mayer came up with the idea to use his song Another Kind Of Green as the official brand for his tours, using bio-diesel buses, eco-friendly merchandise for sale, recycling backstage and sourcing sustainable supplies and local food. Very cool!
Who would be in your Cool List? We want to know in the comments box below or on Twitter @global_cool…
Pics: PA Images
