Backwards mask

Suicide isn't particularly funny, but CelebNewsWire made me chuckle when they suggested that Owen Wilson had been listening to Judas Priest's Stained Class album backwards, before attempting to kill himself.

Of course, they immediately apologised for making such an abhorrently crass joke, and rightly so. Heh.

The writer was of course referring to the infamous lawsuit brought against the band in 1990, in which you may remember it was alleged that there was "back-masking" in the song Better By You Better Than Me -- and that the effect of which was to subconsciously urge two young American men to kill themselves. Naturally such a stupid and hysterical suit was tossed out, and aside from stupid and hysterical Christians, these days the threat of Satan-inspired "back-masking" is consigned to the same embarrassing period of stupidity and hysteria as Satanic mass-child-abuse allegations.

Click little viddy at left to (not) see (but hear) Judas Priest (not) performing Better By You Better Than Me. Singer Rob Halford in court, during the trial, explaining his vocal performance:

Original composers Spooky Tooth performing the song here.

UPDATE More about the case here.

...

In tribute to not only Owen Wilson, whom I trust feels better soon -- but anyone feeling a bit under the weather -- I'd like to play the first three songs off The Polyphonic Spree's (kinda-icky Flash-based official site; wikipedia) first album The Beginning Stages Of..., as a sorta little medley of hope and cheer.

The Polyphonic Spree - Intro.. Have a Day.. Celebratory (3.13 MB mp3: right-click and Save As to download; play using player below)

The Polyphonic Spree - It's the Sun (3.13 MB mp3)

The Polyphonic Spree - Days Like This Keep Me Warm (2.79 MB mp3)

Keep warm, chicken.