Backmasking

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Backmasking

Backmasking

Hidden messages prominent rock musicians, leading to record-
burning protests and proposed anti-back-
Subliminal messages masking legislation by state and federal gov-
Audio ernments. Whether backmasked messages
exist is in debate, as is whether backmasking
• Backmasking
can be used subliminally to affect listeners.
• Reverse speech
• Spectrogram

Numeric History
• Numerology
• Theomatics Development
• Bible code In 1877 Thomas Edison invented the phono-
• Cryptography graph, a device that allowed sound to be re-
Visual corded and reproduced on a rotating cylinder
with a stylus (or "needle") attached to a dia-
• Fnord
phragm mounted at the narrow end of a
• Paranoiac-critical method
• Pareidolia horn. Emile Berliner invented the familiar
• Psychorama lateral-cut disc phonograph record in 1888.
• Sacred geometry His design overtook the Edison phonograph
• Steganography in the 1920s, since Berliner’s patent expired
See also: in 1918, and others were then free to utilize
his invention.
• Anagram
In addition to recreating recorded sounds
• Apophenia
• Easter egg (media) by placing the stylus on the cylinder or disc
• Clustering illusion and rotating it in the same direction as dur-
• Observer-expectancy effect ing the recording, one could hear different
• Pattern recognition (psychology) sounds by rotating the cylinder or disc back-
• Paradox
wards.[3] In 1878 Edison noted that, when
• Palindrome
• Unconscious mind played backwards, "the song is still melodi-
ous in many cases, and some of the strains
are sweet and novel, but altogether different
Backmasking (also known as backward from the song reproduced in the right
masking)[1] is a recording technique in which way".[4] The backwards playing of records
a sound or message is recorded backward was advised as training for magicians by oc-
onto a track that is meant to be played for- cultist Aleister Crowley, who suggested in his
ward. Backmasking is a deliberate process, 1913 book Magick (Book 4) that an adept
whereas a message found through phonetic "train himself to think backwards by external
reversal may be unintentional. means", one of which was to "listen to phono-
Backmasking was popularized by The graph records, reversed."[5]
Beatles, who used backward vocals and in- The 1950s saw the development of mu-
strumentation on their 1966 album Re- sique concrète, an avant-garde form of elec-
volver.[2] Artists have since used backmask- tronic music which involves editing together
ing for artistic, comedic, and satiric effect, on fragments of natural and industrial sounds,
both analog and digital recordings. The tech- and the concurrent spread of the use of tape
nique has also been used to censor words or recorders in recording studios.[6] These two
phrases for "clean" releases of songs. trends led to tape music compositions, com-
Backmasking has been a controversial top- posed on tape using techniques including re-
ic in the United States since the 1980s, when verse tape effects.[7]
allegations from Christian groups of its use The Beatles, who incorporated the tech-
for Satanic purposes were made against niques of concrète into their recordings,

1


call from a student at Eastern Michigan
University who identified himself as "Tom".
The caller asked Gibb about a rumor that
Beatle Paul McCartney had died, and claimed
that the Beatles song "Revolution 9" con-
tained a backward message confirming the
rumor. Gibb played the song backwards on
his turntable, and heard "Turn me on, dead
man … turn me on, dead man … turn me on,
dead man…" (listen ).[14] Gibb began telling
his listeners about what he called "The Great
Cover-up",[15] and to the original clue were
added various others, including the alleged
backmasked message "Paul is a dead man,
miss him, miss him, miss him", in "I’m So
Tired".[14] The "Paul is dead" rumor popular-
ized the idea of backmasking in popular mu-
sic.[2]
Tape recorders allowed backward recording Following Gibb’s show, many more songs
in recording studios. were found to contain audible phrases when
reversed. Initially, the search was done
were responsible for popularizing the mostly by fans of rock music, but in the late
concept of backmasking.[2] Singer John Len- 1970s,[16] during the rise of the Christian
non and producer George Martin both claim right in the United States,[17] fundamentalist
they discovered the backward recording Christian groups began to claim that back-
technique during the recording of 1966’s Re- masked messages could bypass the conscious
volver; specifically the album tracks "Tomor- mind and reach the subconscious, where they
row Never Knows" and "I’m Only Sleeping," would be unknowingly accepted by the listen-
and the single "Rain".[8] Lennon stated that, er.[18] In 1981, Christian DJ Michael Mills
while under the influence of marijuana, he began stating on Christian radio programs
accidentally played the tapes for "Rain" in re- that Led Zeppelin’s "Stairway to Heaven"
verse, and enjoyed the sound. The following contained hidden messages that were heard
day he shared the results with the other by the subconscious.[19] In early 1982, the
Beatles, and the effect was used first in the Praise the Lord Network’s Paul Crouch hos-
guitar solo for "Tomorrow Never Knows", and ted a show with self-described neuroscientist
later in the coda of "Rain".[9][10] According to William Yarroll, who argued that rock stars
Martin, the band had been experimenting were cooperating with the Church of Satan to
with changing the speeds of and reversing place hidden subliminal messages on re-
the "Tomorrow Never Knows" tapes, and cords.[20] Also in 1982, fundamentalist Chris-
Martin got the idea of reversing Lennon’s vo- tian pastor Gary Greenwald held public lec-
cals and guitar, which he did with a clip from tures on dangers of backmasking, along with
"Rain". Lennon then liked the effect and kept at least one mass record-smashing.[21] Dur-
it.[11][12] Regardless, "Rain" was the first ing the same year, thirty North Carolina
song to feature a backmasked message: teenagers, led by their pastor, claimed that
"Sunshine … Rain … When the rain comes, singers had been possessed by Satan, who
they run and hide their heads" (listen ; the used their voices to create backward mes-
last line is the reversed first verse of the sages, and held a record-burning at their
song).[13] church.[22]
Allegations of demonic backmasking were
Rumors also made by social psychologists, parents,
and critics of rock music,[23] as well as the
The Beatles were involved in the spread of
Parents Music Resource Center (formed in
backmasking both as a recording technique
1985),[24] which accused Led Zeppelin of us-
and as the center of a controversy. The latter
ing backmasking to promote Satanism.[25] On
has its roots in an event in 1969, when
the April 28, 1982 edition of the CBS Evening
WKNR-FM DJ Russ Gibb received a phone
News, Dan Rather discussed the finding of

2


possible backmasked messages, and played
reversed sections of songs by Led Zeppelin,
Electric Light Orchestra and Styx.[26]

Legislation
One result of the furor was the firing of five
radio DJs who had encouraged listeners to
search for backward messages in their re-
cord collections.[16] A more serious con-
sequence was legislation by the state govern-
ments of Arkansas and California. The 1983
California bill was introduced to prevent
backmasking that "can manipulate our beha-
vior without our knowledge or consent and
turn us into disciples of the Antichrist".[27]
Involved in the discussion on the bill was a
California State Assembly Consumer Protec-
tion and Toxic Materials Committee hearing,
during which "Stairway to Heaven" was The compact disc made finding backward
played backwards, and William Yaroll testi- messages difficult, causing interest in back-
fied.[28] The successful bill made the distribu- masking to decline.
tion of records with undeclared backmasking
an invasion of privacy for which the distribut-
or could be sued.[21] The Arkansas law
passed unanimously in 1983, referenced al-
bums by The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Electric
Light Orchestra, Queen and Styx,[17] and
mandated that records with backmasking in-
clude a warning sticker: "Warning: This re-
cord contains backward masking which may
be perceptible at a subliminal level when the
record is played forward." However, the bill
was returned to the state senate by Governor
Bill Clinton and defeated.[21] House Resolu-
The switch to digital audio made recording
tion 6363, introduced in 1982 by Represent-
backmasked messages quicker and easier.
ative Bob Dornan (R-California), proposed
mandating a similar label;[29] the bill was re-
ferred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, required that the source reel-to-reel tape ac-
Transportation and Tourism and was never tually be played backwards, which was
passed.[30] Government action was also achieved by first being wound onto the ori-
called for in the legislatures of Texas and ginal takeup reel, then reversing the reels so
Canada.[21] as to use that reel as the source (this would
With the advent of compact discs in the reverse the stereo channels as well). Digital
1980s, but prior to the advent of sound edit- audio recording has greatly simplified the
ing technology for personal computers in the process.[31]
1990s, it became more difficult to listen to re- Backmasked words are unintelligible noise
cordings backwards, and the controversy when played forward, but when played back-
died down.[23] wards are clear speech.[22] Listening to back-
masked audio with most turntables requires
disengaging the drive and rotating the album
Use by hand in reverse[32] (though some can play
See also: List of backmasked messages records backwards[18]). With magnetic tape,
Backmasking has been used as a recording the tape must be reversed and spliced back
technique since the 1960s. In the era of mag- in to the cassette.[32] Compact discs were dif-
netic tape sound recording, backmasking ficult to reverse when first introduced, but di-
gital audio editors, which were first

3


introduced in the late 1980s and became track "Love Bites", from the 1984 album De-
popular during the next decade,[33] allow fenders of the Faith. Asked why he recorded
easy reversal of audio from digital the message, Halford stated that "When
sources.[23] you’re composing songs, you’re always look-
ing for new ideas, new sounds."[41]
Satanic backmasking A well-known example of a hidden mes-
Although the Satanic backmasking contro- sage is recorded backwards into Pink Floyd’s
versy involved mainly classic rock songs 1979 song "Empty Spaces": "…congratula-
whose authors denied any intent to promote tions. You’ve just discovered the secret mes-
Satanism, backmasking has been used by sage. Please send your answer to Old Pink,
heavy metal bands to deliberately insert mes- care of the funny farm, Chalfont." (voice in
sages in their lyrics or imagery. Bands have background) "Roger! Carolyn is on the
utilized Satanic imagery for commercial reas- phone!"[42] This line may refer to former lead
ons. One of the most famous alleged uses of singer Syd Barrett, who is thought to have
backmasking is found in the song by Led Zep- suffered a nervous breakdown years earli-
pelin, Stairway to Heaven. If played back- er.[42]
wards during the section in the lyrics that One backmasking technique is to reverse
goes, "If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, an earlier part of a song. Missy Elliott used
don’t be alarmed now. It’s just a spring clean this technique in one of her songs, "Work
for the may queen. Yes there are two paths It",[43] as did Jay Chou ("You Can Hear", from
you can go by; but in the long run, there’s Ye Hui Mei),[44] At the Drive-In ("300 MHz",
still time to change the road you’re on," some from Vaya),[45] and Lacuna Coil ("Self Decep-
listeners claim to hear, "Here’s to my sweet tion", from Comalies).[46] A related technique
Satan. The one whose little path would make is to reverse an entire instrumental track.
me sad, whose power is Satan. He’ll give John Lennon originally wanted to do so with
those with him 666. There was a little "Rain", but objections by producer George
toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Martin and bandmate Paul McCartney cut
Satan." However this argument is still doubt- the backward section to 30 seconds.[9] The
ful and is supposedly a making up from en- Stone Roses have made heavy use of this
thusiastic fans passionate of esoteric ideolo- technique in songs including "Don’t Stop",[47]
gies. [34] For example, thrash metal band "Guernica", and "Simone",[48] which are all
Slayer included at the start of the band’s backwards versions of other Stone Roses
1985 album Hell Awaits a deep backmasked tracks, sometimes overdubbed with new
voice chanting "Join Us" over and over at in- vocals.
creasing volumes for 1 minute and 2 seconds Artists often use backmasking of sounds
until a deep voice says "Welcome or instrumental audio to produce interesting
Back."(listen ).[35][36][37] However, Slayer vo- sound effects.[31][49] One such sound effect is
calist Tom Araya states that the band’s use of the reverse echo. When done on tape, such
Satanic imagery was "solely for effect".[38] use of backmasking is known as reverse tape
Cradle of Filth, another band that has em- effects. One example is Matthew Sweet’s
ployed Satanic imagery, released a song en- 1999 album In Reverse, which includes re-
titled "Dinner at Deviant’s Palace", consisting versed guitar parts which were played dir-
almost entirely of ambient sounds and a re- ectly onto a tape running in reverse.[50] For
versed reading of the Lord’s Prayer[39] (a live concerts, the guitar parts were played
backwards reading of the Lord’s Prayer is re- live on stage using a backward emulator.[51]
portedly a major part of the Black The Canadian band Klaatu used the vocal
Mass).[19][40] track, reversed, from their song "Anus From
Uranus" as the vocal track to the song "Silly
Aesthetic use Boys", and even included a lyrics sheet that
attempted to translate the backwards vocal
Backmasking is often used for aesthetics, i.e.,
sounds into actual words, however the result
to enhance the meaning or sound of a
was mostly nonsensical non sequiturs or ima-
track.[16] During the Judas Priest subliminal
ginative license.[52]
message trial, lead singer Rob Halford admit-
ted to recording the words "In the dead of
the night, love bites" backwards into the
Humorous and parody messages

4


The manual for the popular sound program
SoX pokes fun at subliminal messages. The
description of the "reverse" option says "In-
cluded for finding Satanic subliminals."

A common use of backmasking is hiding a
comedic or parodical message backwards in Styx, after being accused of Satanic back-
a song. The B-side of the 1966 Napoleon XIV masking, included an actual backmasked
message in Kilroy Was Here: "Annuit Cœptis,
single "They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha-
Novus Ordo Seclorum".
Haaa!" is a reversed version of the entire for-
wards record, entitled "!aaaH-aH ,yawA eM
ekaT oT gnimoC er’yehT". It reached #3 in Among the many backmasked messages on
the US charts, and #4 in the UK.[53]. Tena- the album are: "Welcome to the show"
cious D include the backmasked message (2x);[18] "Thank you for listening"; "Look out
"Donkey Crap" at the end of "Karate" from there’s danger ahead"; "Hup two three four";
their self-titled first album. "Time After Time"; and "You’re playing me
In "Weird Al" Yankovic’s "Nature Trail to backwards".[55] Styx also released an album
Hell", from 1984’s "Weird Al" Yankovic in in response to allegations of Satanic back-
3-D, Yankovic’s backmasked voice declares masking:[58] 1983’s Kilroy Was Here, which
that "Satan eats Cheez Whiz" (listen ).[23]. deals with an allegorical group called the
Another early example can be found on the J. "Majority for Musical Morality" that outlaws
Geils Band track "No Anchovies, Please", rock music.[17] A sticker on the album cover
from 1980s album Love Stinks. The message, contains the message, "By order of the Ma-
disguised as a foreign-sounding language jority for Musical Morality, this album con-
spoken under the narration, is, "It doesn’t tains secret backward messages", and the
take a genius to tell the difference between song "Heavy Metal Poisoning" does in fact
chicken shit and chicken salad."[18] contain the backmasked Latin words "Annuit
Electric Light Orchestra and Styx, follow- Cœptis, Novus Ordo Seclorum" ("God has
ing their involvement in the 1980s backmask- favored our undertakings; a new order for
ing controversy, released songs that parody the ages")—part of the Great Seal which en-
the allegations made against them. ELO, circles the pyramid on the back of the Amer-
after being accused of Satanic backmasking ican dollar bill.[29]
on their 1974 album Eldorado, included back- Iron Maiden’s 1983 album Piece of Mind
masked messages in two songs on their next features a short backwards message, in-
album, 1975’s Face The Music.[54] "Down cluded by the band in response to allegations
Home Town" begins with a voice twice re- of Satanism that were surrounding them at
peating (in reverse) "Face the mighty water- the time.[59] Between the songs "The Troop-
fall".[55] And the opening instrumental "Fire er" and "Still Life" is inebriated drummer
On High" contains the backmasked message Nicko McBrain doing an impression of Idi
"The music is reversible, but time is not. Turn Amin Dada: "’What ho’, sed de t’ing wid de
back! Turn back! Turn back!" (listen ).[56] In t’ree bonce [said the thing with the three
1983 ELO released an entire album, Secret heads]. Don’t meddle wid t’ings you don’t un-
Messages, in response to the controversy.[57] derstand," followed by a belch.[60]

5


British band Act of Faith included in their
track Angels in Exile (1988) the reversed
phrase "Satan is bored", parodying the repet-
itive reports from the United States that
"Satan is Lord" and similar phrases were
backmasked into recordings. The message
was recorded out of phase so that it is not
heard if played on monophonic equipment.
Some messages chastise or poke fun at
the listener who is playing the song back-
wards. One such message was included by
"Weird Al" Yankovic in "I Remember Larry",
from the 1996 album Bad Hair Day, on which
Yankovic lightly chastises the listener with
the backmasked remark, "Wow, you must
have an awful lot of free time on your hands"
(listen ).[61] Similarly, the B-52’s song "De-
tour Through your Mind", from the 1986 LP
Bouncing off the Satellites, contains the mes-
sage, "I buried my parakeet in the backyard.
Oh no, you’re playing the record backwards.
Watch out, you might ruin your needle."[62]
Meanwhile, Christian rock group Petra in-
cluded in their song "Judas Kiss", from the
1982 album More Power To Ya, the message,
"What are you looking for the devil for, when
you ought to be looking for the Lord?"[18] The Frank Zappa used backmasking to avoid
band Mindless Self Indulgence released a censorship.
song titled "Backmask", which contains the
forward lyrics "Play that record backwards / Waters’ 1991 album Amused to Death, on
Here’s a message yo for the suckas / Play which Waters recorded a backward message,
that record backwards / And go fuck your- possibly critical of film director Stanley
self". The backwards messages in the song Kubrick, who had refused to let Waters
include, "respect your parents", "clean your sample a breathing sound from 2001: A
room", and "do your homework".[45] Space Odyssey.[64] The message appears in
the song "Perfect Sense Part 1", in which
Critical or explicit messages Waters’ backmasked voice says, "Julia,
Backmasking has also been used to record however, in light and visions of the issues of
statements perhaps too critical or explicit to Stanley, we have changed our minds. We
be used forwards. Frank Zappa used back- have decided to include a backward message,
masking to avoid censorship of the track "Hot Stanley, for you and all the other book
Poop", from We’re only in it for the Money burners."
(1968). The released version contains at the
end of its side "A" the backmasked message Censorship
"Better look around before you say you don’t A further use of backmasking is to censor
care. / Shut your f...ing mouth ’bout the words and phrases deemed inappropriate on
length of my hair. / How would you survive / radio edits and "clean" album releases.[65]
If you were alive / shitty little person?" . This For example, The Fugees’ clean version of
profanity-laced verse, originally from the the album The Score contains various back-
song "Mother People", was censored by masked profanities;[65] thus, when playing
Verve Records, so Zappa edited the verse the album backwards, the censored words
out, reversed it, and inserted it elsewhere in are clearly audible among the backward gib-
the album as "Hot Poop" (though even in the berish.[66] When used with the word "shit",
backward message the word "fucking" is cen- this type of backmasking results in a sound
sored).[63] Another example is found in Roger

6


similar to "ish". As a result, "ish" became a marijuana", in Queen’s song "Another One
euphemism for "shit". [67] Bites the Dust", is similarly disclaimed by the
group’s spokesperson.[23]
Accusations Subliminal persuasion
Artists who have been accused of backmask- Further information: Subliminal message
ing include Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Accusations have been made by various
Floyd, Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Styx, groups that backmasking can be used to cre-
AC/DC, Judas Priest, The Eagles,[68] The ate subliminal messages.
Rolling Stones,[68] Jefferson Starship,[29]
Black Oak Arkansas,[29] Rush,[69] Britney Fundamentalist Christian groups
Spears,[70],t.A.T.u. and Eminem.[23] Various fundamentalist Christian groups
Electric Light Orchestra was accused of have declared that Satan—or Satan-influ-
hiding a backward Satanic message in their enced musicians—use backmasked messages
1974 album Eldorado. The title track, to subliminally alter behavior. Pastor Gary
"Eldorado", was said to contain the message Greenwald claimed that subliminal messages
"He is the nasty one / Christ, you’re infernal / backmasked into rock music induce listeners
It is said we’re dead men / Everyone who has towards sex and drug use.[74] Minister Jacob
the mark will live."[29] ELO singer and song- Aranza wrote in his 1982 book Backward
writer Jeff Lynne responded by calling this Masking Unmasked that rock groups "are us-
accusation (and the related charge of being ing backmasking to convey satanic and drug
"devil-worshippers") "skcollob",[57] and stat- related messages to the subconscious."[16]
ing that the message "is absolutely manufac- Christian DJ Michael Mills argued in 1981
tured by whoever said, ’That’s what it said.’ that "the subconscious mind is being success-
It doesn’t say anything of the sort."[62] The fully affected by the repetition of beat and
group included several backward messages lyrics—being affected through a subliminal
in later albums in response to the message."[75] Mills has toured America warn-
accusations. ing Christian parents about subliminal mes-
In 1981, Styx was accused of putting the sages in rock music.[21]
backward message "Satan move through our Some Christian websites have claimed
voices" (listen ) on the song "Snowblind", that backmasking is widely used for Satanic
from Paradise Theatre.[17] Guitarist James purposes.[22] The web page for Alabama
Young called these charges "rubbish",[71] and group Dial-the-Truth Ministries argues for
responded, "If we want to make a statement, the existence of Satanic backmasking in
we’ll do it in a way that people can under- "Stairway to Heaven", saying that the song
stand us and not in a way where you have to contains the backward message, "It’s my
go out and buy a $400 tape player to under- sweet Satan … Oh I will sing because I live
stand us."[58] In 1983, the band released a with Satan."[76] The website of Australian
concept album, Kilroy Was Here, satirizing group Bible Believers quotes from Jacob
the Moral Majority. Aranza’s Backward Masking Unmasked re-
A well-known alleged message is found in garding William Yarroll’s proposed
rock group Led Zeppelin’s 1971 song "Stair- physiology of the mechanism by which mes-
way to Heaven". The backwards playing of a sages in music reach the subconscious:
portion of the song purportedly results in
words beginning with "Here’s to my sweet [A]t the base of the brain there is a
Satan" (listen ).[72] But Swan Song Records "check valve", the Reticular Activat-
issued a statement to the contrary: "Our ing System. Based on prior pro-
turntables only play in one direction—for- grammed values, emotional re-
wards".[19] And Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert sponses, and our conditioning, a
Plant denied the accusations in an interview: message will be accepted or rejec-
"To me it’s very sad, because ’Stairway To ted … If this interpretive process
Heaven’ was written with every best inten- fails to match the message to the lo-
tion, and as far as reversing tapes and put- gical, conscious brain hemisphere, it
ting messages on the end, that’s not my idea is passed on into the next hemi-
of making music."[73] Another widely-known sphere for further evaluation. If the
alleged message, "It’s fun to smoke

7


left conscious brain can find no conscious mind is absorbing the for-
known matching information, the ward lyric, the subconscious is work-
creative right takes over the decod- ing overtime to decipher the back-
ing process. As the right hemisphere wards message.[78]
mirrors the strange message … the
message is acknowledged and Court cases
stored. Serial killer Richard Ramirez, on trial in
1988, stated that AC/DC’s music, and spe-
This claim, though, of a "left conscious brain" cifically the song "Night Prowler" on High-
and a "creative right" which literally mirrors way to Hell, inspired him to commit
information coming from the left has abso- murder.[76] Reverse speech advocate David
lutely no basis in modern neuroscience. The John Oates claimed that Highway to Hell, on
Bible Believers website also quotes from a the same album, contains backmasked mes-
1983 Psychology Today issue in which a Dr. sages including "I’m the law", "my name is
Silverman writes that "the perception of stim- Lucifer", and "she belongs in hell".[79] AC/
uli too weak to be consciously recognized … DC’s Angus Young responded that "you didn’t
is a real phenomenon that has been demon- need to play [the album] backwards, because
strated beyond any reasonable doubt."[77] we never hid [the messages]. We’d call an al-
This refers, however, to stimuli that would bum Highway To Hell, there it was right in
otherwise be intelligible, but are simply too front of them."[80]
weak to be noticed consciously (e.g. a single In 1990, British heavy metal band Judas
frame of a Coca-Cola ad within a movie), not Priest was sued over a suicide pact made by
to stimuli which must first be manipulated two Nevada schoolboys. The lawsuit by their
just to be intelligible, such as deliberately families claimed that the 1978 Judas Priest
backmasked audio. album Stained Class contained hidden mes-
sages, including the forward subliminal
PMRC
words "Do it" in the song "Better By You, Bet-
In 1985, Dr. Joe Stuessy testified to the Un- ter Than Me" , and various backward sublim-
ited States Congress at the Parents Music inal messages. The case was dismissed by the
Resource Center hearings that: judge for insufficient evidence of Judas Pri-
est’s placement of subliminal messages on
The message [of a piece of heavy
the record,[81] and the judge’s ruling stated
metal music] may also be covert or
that "The scientific research presented does
subliminal. Sometimes subaudible
not establish that subliminal stimuli, even if
tracks are mixed in underneath oth-
perceived, may precipitate conduct of this
er, louder tracks. These are heard
magnitude. There exist other factors which
by the subconscious but not the con-
explain the conduct of the deceased inde-
scious mind. Sometimes the mes-
pendent of the subliminal stimuli."[82] Judas
sages are audible but are backward,
Priest members commented that if they
called backmasking. There is dis-
wanted to insert subliminal commands in
agreement among experts regarding
their music, messages leading to the deaths
the effectiveness of subliminals. We
of their fans would be counterproductive, and
need more research on that.[78]
they would prefer to insert the command
Stuessy’s written testimony stated that: "Buy more of our records."[83]

Some messages are presented to the Skepticism
listener backwards. While listening Skeptic Michael Shermer claims that the
to a normal forward message (often emergence of the Paul is dead phenomenon,
somewhat nonsensical), one is simul- including the alleged message at the end of
taneously being treated to a back- "I’m So Tired", was caused by faulty percep-
wards message (in other words, the tion of a pattern. Shermer argues that the hu-
lyric sounds like one set of words man brain evolved with a strong pattern re-
going forward, and a different set of cognition ability that was necessary to pro-
words going backwards). Some ex- cess the large amount of noise in man’s en-
perts believe that while the vironment, but that today this ability leads to

8


false positives.[84] Stanford University psy- influenced, consciously or unconsciously, by
chology professor Brian Wandell postulates the content of the backward messages."[90]
that the observance of backward messages is In 1992, an experiment found that exposure
a mistake arising from this pattern recogni- to backward messages did not lead to signi-
tion facility, and argues that subliminal per- ficant changes in attitude.[91] Psychology
suasion theories are "bizarre" and "implaus- professor Mark D. Allen says that "delivering
ible."[32] Rumors of backmasking in popular subliminal messages via backward masking is
music have been described as auditory par- totally and ridiculously impossible".[92]
eidolia.[85] James Walker, president of Chris- The finding of backward Satanic messages
tian research group Watchman Fellowship, has been explained as caused by the
states that "You could take a Christian hymn, observer-expectancy effect. The Skeptic’s
and if you played it backwards long enough Dictionary states that "you probably won’t
at different speeds, you could make that hear [backmasked] messages until somebody
hymn say anything you want to"; Led Zep- first points them out to you. Perception is in-
pelin publicist BP Fallon concurs, saying that fluenced by expectation and expectation is af-
"Play anything backwards, and you’ll find fected by what others prime you for."[93] In
something." Eric Borgos of audio reversal 1984, S. B. Thorne and P. Himelstein found
website talkbackwards.com[86] states that that "when vague and unfamiliar stimuli are
"Mathematically, if you listen long enough, presented, [test subjects] are highly likely to
eventually you’ll find a pattern",[23] while Jeff accept suggestions, particularly when the
Milner of popular backmasking site jeffmil- suggestions are presented by someone with
ner.com[72] recounts, "Most people, when I prestige and authority."[94] Vokey and Read
show them the site, say that they’re not able concluded from their 1985 experiment that
to hear anything, until, of course, I show "the apparent presence of backward mes-
them the reverse lyrics."[87] sages in popular music is a function more of
Audio engineer Evan Olcott claims that active construction on the part of the perceiv-
messages by artists including Queen and Led er than of the existence of the messages
Zeppelin are coincidental phonetic reversals, themselves."[21]
in which the spoken or sung phonemes form
new combinations of words when listened to
backwards.[11] Olcott states that "Actually
See also
engineering or planning a phonetic reversal • List of backmasked messages
is next to impossible, and even more difficult • Phonetic reversal
when trying to design it with words that fit • Reverse speech
into a song."[24] • Subliminal message
In 1985, University of Lethbridge psycho-
logists John Vokey and J. Don Read conduc-
ted a study using Psalm 23 from the Bible,
References
Queen’s "Another One Bites the Dust", and
other sound passages made up for the experi-
Notes
ment. Vokey and Read concluded that if [1] Backward(s) masking has two other
backmasking does exist, it is ineffective. Par- meanings; see backward masking. See
ticipants had trouble noticing backmasked also Crispen, Bob. "Backward Masking …
phrases when the samples were played for- another pious fraud". The Crispen
wards, were unable to judge the types of Family. http://www.crispen.org/rants/
messages (Christian, Satanic, or commer- backward.html. Retrieved on
cial), and were not led to behave in a certain 2006-09-01.
way as a result of being exposed to the back- [2] ^ Sullivan, Mark (October 1987). "’More
masked phrases. Vokey concluded that "we Popular Than Jesus’: The Beatles and the
could find no effect of the meaning of engin- Religious Far Right". Popular Music 6
eered, backward messages on listeners’ be- (3): 313–326. doi:10.1017/
haviour, either consciously or uncon- S0261143000002348.
sciously."[88] Similar results to Vokey and [3] Kittler, Friedrick. "The Gramaphone".
Read’s were obtained by D. Averill in Adventures in CyberSound. Australian
1982.[89] A 1988 experiment by T.E. Moore Centre for the Moving Image.
found "no evidence that listeners were http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/

9


PHONO_KITTLER.html. Retrieved on Record. iUniverse. pp. 425. ISBN
2007-03-01. 0595346634.
[4] Blecha, 48 [14] ^ Reeve, Andru J. Turn Me On, Dead
[5] Crowley, Aleister (1997) [1913]. Magick Man: The Beatles And The "Paul-Is-Dead"
(Book 4). Weiser. pp. 648. ISBN Hoax. AuthorHouse. pp. 11–13.
0877289190. [15] Yoakum, Jim (May/June 2000). "The Man
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whitefiles.org. http://whitefiles.org/rws/ http://www.gadflyonline.com/archive/
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[7] Peters, Michael. "The Birth of Loop: A Retrieved on 2007-10-12.
Short History of Looping Music". [16] ^ Blecha, 49
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[35] Fortes, Michael (2007-03-20). "The Retrieved on 2006-08-23.
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[38] Hellqvist, Janek (1998-12-03). "Slayer backcom.html. Retrieved on 2006-08-26.
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image solely for effect?’ Tom: ’Yeah…’" the Bus". Onstage.
[39] Corbin, Dean. "Hard Rock/Metal/Punk". [52] Klaatu audio samples
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[40] Fuller, Thomas (1863). Good Thoughts in detail.php?id=675. Retrieved on
Bad Times, and Other Papers. Ticknor 2007-08-13.
and Fields. p. 157. [54] Michel, Rob (August 2002). "1974:
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books?vid=OCLC05821745. Retrieved on Counting Out Time. Dutch Progressive
2007-03-21. "Witches are reported Rock Page. http://www.dprp.net/
(amongst many other hellish proghistory/index.php?i=1974_03.
observations, whereby they oblige Retrieved on 2007-03-17.
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prayer backwards." Orchestra Fan Site. FutureBright.
[41] "Judas Priest’s Lead Singer Testifies". http://elo.futurebright.com/Secrets.htm.
New York Times. 1990-08-01. Retrieved on 2006-07-27.
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2007-03-14. Retrieved on 2007-04-20.
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makes a statement". Suburban Sun- records or balderdash: Just what the
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[59] Narinian, Vartan. "The Iron Maiden FAQ (Arlington Heights).
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Psychology: 245–248. Cited in Hicks, Beatles, Queen
Robert D. (1991). In Pursuit of Satan:

13


• "Backwards Messages in Rock Orchestra, Prince, and Information
Music—Revealed!" podcast featuring The Society
Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Rush, • Radio program exploring backmasking by
Jefferson Starship, Wings, Queen, Phil announcer Joe Kleon, broadcast on WRQK-
Collins, Britney Spears, Judas Priest, Pink FM, with audio samples from Britney
Floyd, Iron Maiden, Electric Light Spears, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd,
Metallica, Styx,Cheap Trick, and others

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backmasking"

Categories: Audio engineering, Perception, Urban legends, Popular music, Mind control

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