On August 24, 1990, a Reno judge ruled that JUDAS PRIEST were not responsible for the deaths of two young fans — ending one of the most consequential trials in metal history. In December 1985, James Vance, 20, and Raymond Belknap, 18, had shot themselves after a day of drinking and smoking in Sparks, Nevada; Belknap died instantly, Vance survived disfigured and died three years later. Their families sued, claiming the band had hidden the subliminal command "do it" in their cover of SPOOKY TOOTH's "Better by You, Better than Me" on Stained Class. The trial ran from July 16 to August 24, 1990, with Rob Halford singing in court to demonstrate how backmasking artefacts occur naturally. The judge found the alleged message was a coincidental convergence of a guitar chord and an exhalation. The verdict effectively closed the door on subliminal-message litigation against musicians.
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