European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 10, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Caught in the act Story and photo by Luke Britt staff writer Lisa Stansfield where does Lisa Stansfield get her soul the club life of her Manchester England Home had something to do with it of course and the hours she a said she spent listening to rhythm and blues As a child certainly contributed. Manchester is Only an atmosphere though and listening to someone else or amp a might satisfy a person who Ain t got it. But Stansfield has it and it s More than something she just picked up along the Way. Stansfield a tour of Germany ended last week in Mannheim a Rosengarten theater and to a crowd made up mostly of people under age 20 who seemed hardly hip enough to know what they were hearing she poured out her soulfulness with generosity. Expecting one Swank dance tune after another Stansfield a music however is More than a collection of pop tunes with a pseudo soul finish for the creation of her second album affection stari Fie h along with band members and songwriting a collaborators Ian Devaney and Andy Morris returned t Manchester after some unsuccessful years trying to produce pop music in London. The three were determined to get Back to their ramp a roots and their Success is a tribute to the British dominance of the modern soul scene. She a got soul Lisa Stansfield in concert. In a sense the Small Rosengarten offered a Good setting for Stansfield. Between instruments amplifiers and band members she was left with 25 Square feet of stage about what she was accustomed to in the British clubs that up until last year were her Home. But for concert goers the theater was cramped at Best. When 20 percent of the crowd is forced to eavesdrop on the concert from the hallway its legitimate to question the planners. It became Clear before the night ended that a segment of the Young people who came weren to really in tune with what Stansfield is All about. Based on her current hit this is the right time some were apparently its possible the people who attended the Mannheim concert did no to know that however billboard Magazine reports that Stansfield a concerts Are not rating very High in Gross ticket sales. Her album sales Are doing much better but mostly among soul and blues customers. And radio stations have been reluctant to give any airplay to tunes other than her recent upbeat hit around the world and the is the right time. It appears Stansfield May be caught in a Gap Between her chronological age 24, and the mature sound of her music. Somehow she missed out on or purposefully avoided a the Funky Road to pop Success. But As a soul musician in a pop culture it will be interesting to see whether Shell stick to this sound or blend More with the contemporary. As for the affection tour those who Groove More on the feeling put into the music than the thumping of the Bass will find Stansfield a Fine concert. But watch for a gradual migration As occurred last week of Young people away from the stage making room for the More mature priest will keep on by Anne m. Peterson associated press m embers of the heavy Metal band Judas priest would like to put the recent past behind them but they re not about to change their tune. The band is recovering from a recent Nevada court Battle which questioned whether subliminal messages exist on their 1978 album stained class and ultimately prompted two Young men to enter a suicide pact. Lead Singer Rob Halford and guitarist Glenn Tipton said their court Victory Clearing them of deliberately placing the subliminal messages on the album was bittersweet. But they re not going to quit making the music they be been producing for the past 16 years. Quot we wont Back Down to that kind of Legal terrorism Quot said Tipton. Judas priests new hard driving album painkiller and upcoming tour demonstrate their tenacity. The band was cleared on aug. 24 by Washoe county District court judge Jerry Carr who ruled the plaintiffs alleged subliminal message Quot do it Quot on the song better by you better than me was an unintentional exhalation of breath and a drum beat. Statement in court the prosecution was jumping up and Down in glee because they thought they won the trial Quot Halford said. Quot the fact is its just a sound effect. Its been going on since Jimi Hendrix and before him. Its a simple operation of recording an instrument a a cymbal a guitar a voice a backwards to create a sound effect. Its been going on for 30 or 40 Tipton agreed saying it was impossible to prove whether backward messages Are effective. Quot in the whole history of the world there is not one instance that a been proven that anybody can interpret anything backwards particularly something below audible level a he said. Lead Singer Rob Halford says Judas priests recent court Victory clearer the band of placing subliminal messages on an album was bittersweet. A we were fighting a Case on an Issue based on something that does no to exist. We had to sit in court while they were discussing freudian theories on subconscious Levels and whether the subconscious mind could pick up sub audible signals and act upon it Quot said Tipton. Quot we had to sit through that when All the time we wanted to just stand up and say a but there Are no messages a a Raymond Belknap 18, died from a self inflicted Shotgun blast to the face on dec. 23,1985. James Vance then 20, shot himself also. He lived but suffered horrible facial disfigurement and died in 1988 of complications from his injuries and a reaction to medications. Both had listened to stained class before making the suicide pact. Their families sued Judas priest and lbs records for $6.2 million in damages claiming the subliminal messages were on the album and influenced their sons actions. Defense lawyers however countered that the youths came from troubled Homes and had been drinking and smoking marijuana that Day. The judge did order lbs records to pay the plaintiffs $40,000 for refusing to comply with discovery orders involving the original master tape of the album. Both Halford and Tipton said they were sorry the Young men died but added that the band was the unnecessary Scapegoat for the tragedy. Quot people try and shoulder the Burden of guilt on anyone else a shoulders. They should look a Little closer to Home for the real issues and the real reasons that cause incidents like this Quot Tipton said. Halford added that it was ridiculous to place the blame on the band or the music. He said at times during the court Battle he Felt it was heavy Metal on trial not just Judas priest. Quot there a absolutely never been and never will Ever be any scientific proof evidential that heavy Metal music or any kind of music can physically make somebody do something or change or be someone else Quot Halford said. So called Quot backward masking Quot or conveying a subliminal message by recording it backward also became a Well publicized Issue in the trial. Halford testified on the stand he had put a backward message on one Judas priest song but it was not on the album or song cited by the plaintiffs. Quot when i made that Halford 39, wearing a to shirt imprinted with the words Quot free speech formed from the american Flag is the groups primary lyricist. He said that although Judas priest is known for Quot no holds barred Quot heavy Metal he a never written lyrics that Are obscene or advocate satanism or violence. It Quot that a what a so ludicrous about the whole controversy supposedly surrounding this band Quot Halford said. Tipton agreed Quot we be never condoned the use of drugs or alcohol or doing bad . Although the band does use words such As Quot hell Quot and Quot Damn Quot on the new release painkiller the words Are not used in a violent manner. A Quot it depends on How these words Are used. We done to say a take these babies Down into hell and kill its like a Hellas a hot the word hell is used but its not used in what i would consider a bad or influential Way Quot Tipton said. Judas priest which includes Halford Tipton . Downing Ian Hill and Scott Travis will go on the Road in october with their new album. The worldwide tour starts in Canada moves into the United states in november and ends up in Europe next year. Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday october 10,1990 1
