Better By You, Better Than Me
| "Better By You, Better Than Me" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Spooky Tooth | ||||||||||
| from the album Spooky Two | ||||||||||
| Released | 1969 | |||||||||
| Genre | Hard rock, progressive rock | |||||||||
| Length | 3:36 | |||||||||
| Label | Island (UK) A&M (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Gary Wright | |||||||||
| Producer | Jimmy Miller | |||||||||
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"Better By You, Better Than Me" is a 1969 song by the band Spooky Tooth which was covered in 1978 by Judas Priest.
The song was the subject of the much-publicized 1990 "subliminal message trial" in which Judas Priest was involved in a civil action that alleged they were responsible for the suicide attempts of two young men in Reno, Nevada. The case was eventually dismissed.
Contents |
[edit] Personnel
- Luther Grosvenor Guitar
- Mike Harrison Keyboards, Vocals
- Mike Kellie Drums
- Greg Ridley Bass, Guitar
- Gary Wright Keyboards, Vocals
[edit] Judas Priest version
| "Better By You, Better Than Me" | ||||||||||
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| Single by Judas Priest | ||||||||||
| from the album Stained Class | ||||||||||
| Released | 1978 | |||||||||
| Format | 45 RPM | |||||||||
| Recorded | October–November 1977 | |||||||||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||||||||
| Length | 3:24 | |||||||||
| Label | CBS, Inc. (UK) Columbia Records (US) |
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| Writer(s) | Gary Wright | |||||||||
| Producer | James Guthrie Judas Priest |
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| Judas Priest singles chronology | ||||||||||
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[edit] 1978 Version
[edit] Personnel
- Rob Halford: Lead vocals
- K.K. Downing: guitars
- Glenn Tipton: guitars, backing vocals
- Ian Hill: Bass Guitar
- Les Binks: drums
[edit] 1990 Trial
In 1990, Judas Priest was involved in a civil action that alleged they were responsible for the suicide attempts in 1985 of 20-year old James Vance and 19-year old Ray Belknap in Reno, Nevada, USA.[1] On December 23, 1985 Vance and Belknap got intoxicated then went to a playground at a Lutheran church in Reno. Belknap shot a 12 gauge shotgun under his chin, dying instantly, and Vance followed, but survived with a severely disfigured face. He died three years later after a suicidal overdose of painkillers.[2]
The young men's parents and their legal team, headed by Nevada attorney Ken McKenna, alleged that a subliminal message of "do it" had been included in the song. They alleged the command in the song triggered the suicide attempt.[1] The suit was eventually dismissed.[1] One of the defense witnesses, Dr Timothy E. Moore, wrote an article for Skeptical Inquirer chronicling the trial.[1]
The trial was covered in the 1991 documentary Dream Deceivers: The Story Behind James Vance Vs. Judas Priest. In the documentary, lead singer Rob Halford commented that if they wanted to insert subliminal commands in their music, killing their fans would be counterproductive and they would prefer to insert the command "Buy more of our records". Regarding the prosecution's assertions that the statement "do it" was a command to commit suicide, Halford pointed out "do it" had no direct message.
Comedian Bill Hicks referred to the case in his stand-up routines, asking "What musician wants his audience dead?" He performed a sketch mimicking Judas Priest being sick of their immense wealth, power, and fame and coming up with the subliminal message as a solution to their problems. Comedian Denis Leary also commented on the trial on his album No Cure For Cancer, saying heavy metal bands should put more subliminal messages in their records: "Kill the band, kill your parents, then kill yourself". Jay Leno also made fun of the trial.
The trial is still referenced by people inside and outside of the music community. The Bloodhound Gang song "Lift Your Head Up High", which explicitly urges listeners to commit suicide, includes a section which, when played "backwards like Judas Priest first did", suggests that listeners eat Chef Boyardee products. As well, the Mr. Show episode "The Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost" has a sketch in which a fictional band "Titannica" is sued by a fan who tries to commit suicide after listening to their hit song "Try Suicide".
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Moore, Timothy (November/December 1996). "Scientific Consensus and Expert Testimony: Lessons from the Judas Priest Trial". Skeptical Inquirer. http://www.csicop.org/si/9611/judas_priest.html. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
- ^ Cooper, Candy (July 1, 2005). "The Judas Priest Trial: 15 Years Later". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=38769. Retrieved 2006-11-18.
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