As the band enters the stage, smog snakes between the amps and microphone stands. Fire erupts in the background, and the masses pressing against the stage are enveloped in smoke.

Further back, the lawn dwellers slip and slide over beer-drenched turf and empty plastic containers.

Still further back, where the music is but an echo, a driver dozes off in the band’s tour bus as its engine hums in the night.

Multiplied by about 15 performances annually for every popular band, this night illustrates how special effects, voluminous trash and fuel-hungry buses contribute to music’s ecological footprint. And some musicians are beginning to take notice.

Carbon-Neutral Pop Culture

When bands and their fans drive and fly to concerts, carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change, is released. Some bands are trying to counter that part of their ecological footprint by using alternative transportation and protecting the rainforests that absorb CO2.

Recently, the band 30 Seconds to Mars announced that their upcoming Welcome to the Universe tour would be a “green” tour, an environmental tour. They plan to travel the country in buses fueled by vegetable oil, which will cut the carbon dioxide emissions.

A Philadelphia-based band, Mewithoutyou, also travels in a van fueled by vegetable oil.

The Dixie Chicks use a different tactic to decrease their carbon footprint. For every ton of CO2 they put into the environment by their trucks, buses, airline flights, hotel rooms and concert venues — even the fans driving to and from the shows — they will donate $10 to Conservation International to protect enough rainforest to neutralize the damage done to the environment.

The Dixie Chicks’ effort protected 832,000 acres of tropical rainforest in Madagascar, according to Conservation International.

“With the burning and clearing of tropical forests and other ecosystems making up 20 to 25 percent of human-caused CO2 and other harmful emissions annually, preventing forest loss is an important and effective method of reducing the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gasses,” Conservation International said in a news release. “The Dixie Chicks’ contribution will not only help prevent the burning of the rain forests and protect our global climate, but it will help improve the livelihoods of real communities, and prevent the loss of endangered lemurs and other rare plant and animal species in Madagascar.”

Using a similar formula for its current world tour, Pearl Jam recently contributed $50,000 to restore and protect degraded tropical forest in Ecuador.

Bonnie Raitt, REM, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band and other bands have undertaken similar efforts. NativeEnergy, Clean Air-Cool Planet and Bonneville Environmental Foundation offer carbon offsetting ventures similar to those of Conservation International.

Past, Present and Future

These actions are recent, yet they are not the beginning of musicians being environmentally aware. Other bands have already taken steps to improve their impact on the environment.

In 1989, performers U2 and Sting — both known for using their celebrity to impact societal issues — joined 28 other artists to create the compact disc “Rainbow Warrior.” Profits were used to open Greenpeace offices in Japan, Latin America and Eastern Europe, as well as in efforts to save whales, stop toxic waste and secure a nuclear-free future.

Green Day, another rock band, also worked with Greenpeace. These punk rockers turned grown-ups allowed Greenpeace to travel with them when they were on their American Idiot tour in 2005. Greenpeace used the opportunity to recruit new supporters and spread word of their mission.

Green Day has also donated signed memorabilia to Greenpeace for fundraising efforts.
Rapper Jay-Z has teamed up with the United Nations and MTV to record a documentary about the lack of clean water in many parts of the world.

Cameras following Jay-Z on his international tour recorded his days and nights to illustrate just how the lack of clean water affects billions around the world. This documentary, “Diary of Jay-Z: Life for Water,” aired on MTV on Nov. 24.

This special report complements the network’s yearlong “Break the Addiction” program. The campaign features 12 steps that will reduce daily pollution.

less co2 = more awareness

“We want to set an example for our fans and for other bands,” the Dixie Chicks said in a statement. “Reducing your carbon footprint is something everyone can do. Together, we can make a difference and help restore and preserve one of the world’s unique ecosystems.”

Setting an example is something all the bands see as an added benefit to their efforts.

“We felt that we should take responsibility for the greenhouse gases that we release into the atmosphere as a result of our tour,” the members of Dave Matthews Band said in a statement. “More importantly, we hope our small step toward combating global warming will encourage others to join in protecting our planet and ourselves against climate change.”

Michigan State University senior Zachary Ryan said their efforts are not in vain. “When it comes to the environment, people are not really aware of what they can do to help. It seems like such an insurmountable problem,” he said. “Dave Matthews Band is not only making a difference, but they are proving something can be done.”

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China Reevers is a sophomore studying journalism at MSU. This is her first appearance in EJ. Reach China at reevers1@msu.edu.