And you thought Marilyn Manson was whack!!!!!

[Zero Tolerance]

Billy Tourtelot, band leader of a group called He11 on Earth (http://www.hellonearth.net/), announced yesterday that an onstage suicide will be conducted during a private St. Petersburg concert this weekend.
In an interview with a Tampa Bay radio station, Tourtelot said that a terminally ill person in the Bay area contacted him via email through the band's web site. He says the suicide is not a stunt to gain publicity for He11 on Earth. "They'd rather have an assisted suicide, but because of the way the laws are written, they can't do it... So, bringing dying with dignity to the forefront is really what it's all about."

See, Front man for He11 on Earth takes his case to Bay area airwaves. (http://www.baynews9.com/site/NewsStory.cfm?storyid=24731)

How much dignity does the fan expect at a concert of a group whose songs include Toilet Licking Maggot and Raped by the Virgin Mary and whose past stage stunts, according to Tourtelot, include having intercourse with cows, drinking blended rats, and draining his blood onstage.

The fan issued a press release on Monday (September 15) saying: "I thank the Lord that He11 on Earth is giving me this opportunity to end my suffering. I just want to say as my last will and testament that this is my God-given choice to end my life... I'd prefer to have a physician-assisted suicide but until the laws are changed, those who are in pain like me will either have to continue to suffer or do it themselves."

See, METAL FAN SET TO TAKE OWN LIFE ONSTAGE AT GIG. (http://www.nme.co.uk/news/106205.htm)

Tourtelot denied his group was assisting a suicide, or that they were doing anything illegal. He asserted the band has legal representation, and said "I'm definitely not assisting in any suicide... what I'm doing may be immoral, but it's not illegal."

Local law enforcement authorities disagree. According to Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/printer_friendly.asp?nid=18696), the group could be hit with secondary felony charges for assisting in the commission of self-murder. The punishment for such a crime is fifteen years in prison.

[ZyklonB]

Yea this has been all over the news down here for weeks. They were supposed to play the State Theatre but they cancelled them when they got wind of what was going down. They have secured a new secret venue which they are going to announce just before the show this weekend. The city of St. Petersberg passed some kind of emergancy law that will allow the band to be arressted if it happens weather they assist or not. It is supposed to be shown live on their home page as well. Here's the link to the persons actual suicide note. http://www.btls.com/bubba_suicide.html

[Zero Tolerance]

just blows my mind!

if someone wants to kill themself....more power to them...but when it becomes a national event and political statement...thats where i draw the line

afterall...if this loser wants to end it all....there is nothing stopping him/her....im sure there are allot of tall buildings in St Pete to jump or fall from!!!!!!

[RacinRN]

This is SUCH a publicity stunt! This crosses so many lines and I would never be part of the audience on this! It sickens me that a band would want to put themselves into such a moral and legal position as to be a part of this. Bands like this give a bad name to the music industry.

I'll stick with Avrel Lavine. At least you can understand the words she is saying.

[ZyklonB]

Originally posted by RacinRN
I'll stick with Avrel Lavine. At least you can understand the words she is saying.

Yea but who the hell wants to?

The bigger part of the story is that the person and the band are making a statement about euthanasia and assisted suicide. It's not just publicity but I'm sure that doesn't hurt.

[Zero Tolerance]

so what was the message the bands lead singer was saying when he was poking the cow in the ass??

:D

[ZyklonB]

Dude I'll be the first to say I don't understand "art".

On one hand if people want to kill themselves so be it. Their choice.

On the other hand your going to hell if you do.

All I know is that government shouldn't be telling me what I can and cannot do. We all have our own moral compass.

[Dave420]

I agree that the government has no say in when I die(unless they kill me) but this band is a bunch of wankers looking for free press.this is not the first stunt they pulled to get free press -but last time their music was so bad it did them no good-bubba the love sponge is a great place for them to state their case -afterall he too is a hack that needs controversy to cover the fact he has no talent.

[Zero Tolerance]

ZB....bro....ya know Im not the compassionate type....and if the guy wants some bullets for his cause...I'd be the first to donate...

but what kind of message do you think that a thing such as this would convey to young people?

lemme think....."uhhhhhhh....well you may not be terminal...but maybe if you think your life is sux....you can go onstage at a concert and "do away with yourself".....and at least go out in your 15 minutes of fame....take the easy way out and be the coolest person your friends USED to know!....LOL

i really dont have a stand on the "assisted suicide" issue.....but i do not think that we as a nation should promote the public display of it........however....i do think that we should publicise death row inmates being "done away with"....now that would be something to consider!.....hell maybe they can even do it onstage at concerts!

LMAO :D

[Mojo_Joe]

Originally posted by ZyklonB


All I know is that government shouldn't be telling me what I can and cannot do. We all have our own moral compass.

Ah, but you are quite wrong, the government, in certain circumstances, and with certain limitations, can (and get this point, SHOULD) tell you what to do... This is the role of law in a civilized society...

Of course, the government can go too far and then you have a facist state (which in case you are unaware is also a bad thing).

I do think Hell on Earth should be jailed if they assist in this spectacle, but I also think that Dr. Jack Kevorkian is performing a public service with his assisted suicides (until he sells the rights to Howard Stern to televise them) and should be allowed to continue... if that makes any sense.

Anyway, back to the point... ZT was on the right track but I think he misses this too... Why most "normal" people are appalled by this act has less to do with the "message" (if there really is one) or with the public nature of the suicide, but rather with the tasteless "Jerry Springer-like" spectacle of the way it is being carried out.

If this guy shot himself in the head at rush hour on the Pinellas County Courthouse steps (without first holding a press conference or alerting the media) then I think that you could make a point about his "message," but for now it simply appears to be just a stupid and disgusting stunt for the "faces of death" amusement of the "working at 7-11 retards" who go to these sort of concerts and some free publicity for another shock-laden talentless band. Which is really sad, rather than poignant, moving or (did you actually use the term) art.

You may (or may not) recall a famous photo of a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk who set himself on fire in South Vietnam to protest the plight of the Buddhist population in South Vietnam.

http://www.uwec.edu/greider/BMRB/culture/student.work/hicksr/

This was also a public suicide, but it was infinitely different than what is being proposed in St. Pete. Some even compared the act of Thich Quang Duc to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I will not go down that road, but it does beg the question Zyklon, why did that suicide touch people and garner widespread compassion as opposed to the nearly universal revulsion that this one is getting?

Think about it.

[Bond]

You lost me. I don't see how Hell on Earth should be jailed for having some guy kill himself on their stage. Unless they're giving him a rope, or assisting in some way, then why are they to blame? Because they are promoting it? Big friggin deal. Should we arrest all the cameramen and women who film car accidents, skydivings gone bad, etc, and then SELL their footage to RealTV or some Fox program. THEY'RE being compensated, just as Hell on Earth will no doubt be in terms of national attention. (I'll admit, I'VE never heard of them until now).

And I, too, think that "Dr. Death" was a noble, decent, caring man who didn't want people to suffer with life when they could find happiness in death. And it's not often you find someone with the cajones to stand by his beliefs, realizing that the punishment is life in prison.

[Greg]

Very simply put, if they let him in with the knowledge that they have they are assisting with prior knowledge of the "crime" that will be committed. Suicide is illegal.

[Zero Tolerance]

You may (or may not) recall a famous photo of a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk who set himself on fire in South Vietnam to protest the plight of the Buddhist population in South Vietnam.

yeah....that one made the "Rage Against the Machine" album cover

LOL....maybe thats where they all got the idea from??

I still think that it all being orchestrated the way that it is/was...doesnt send a positive message of the rights of the termimally sick to end their lives....but rather a message of life is meaningless...so why not end it onstage while some sick freak is screwing a cow in the ass!

just my .o2's :D

[RacinRN]

Originally posted by ZyklonB
Yea but who the hell wants to?

The bigger part of the story is that the person and the band are making a statement about euthanasia and assisted suicide. It's not just publicity but I'm sure that doesn't hurt.

Well, obviously I want to. You got a problem with that, too?

I realize what this story is about. Pure publicity under the guise of making a statement about euthanasia. This band has no compassion for a person dying....and don't even begin to talk to me about compassion and watching someone you care about die. I am ALL FOR making a peson comfortable when they are terminal and I think I am one of the most compassionate, empathetic people I know and I would never expose someone to that kind of crap under the guise of euthanasia and assisted suicide. And what they proprosed doing was wrong. I don't care who commits suicide...in fact I know of a few peeps that should do it, but don't pretend it's one thing when it's actually another.

ZB...You don't like my opinions, music or what I have to say...then put me on your Ignore List, but leave my choice of music artists alone. I never liked your choices either. :p

[Anaconda]

<begin rant>
glorifying suicide on stage is no way to make a political statement about assisted suicide. Death is a somber experience, both for the family and the person dying, it should never be turned into a spectacle, or side show. In my opinion it should be done in the home (or a hospital) while surrounded by your loved ones, NOT infornt of 1000 strangers who don't know, and probably don't even care about, who you are.

If one wants to make a statement about it.. they should write to their elected officials pleading their case, and asking them to change the laws surrounding it. Or even write a book, or an article for the local paper.. get the public on their side. Doing it on a stage is just going to convince people that it should be illegal.

The LAST thing you want to do is alienate the people you need to support your cause.
<end rant>

[ZyklonB]

I still say this person has the right to off themselves anyway they see fit.

[Anaconda]

I'm not saying that they don't have the right to choose end their lives.. In fact I support the concept in extreme and terminal cases. I however do not feel that it should be taken lightly, nor be made easy. Believe it or not, some people need to be protected from themselves.

Remember that in many cases the choice to end their life, is not made to die in dignity, but is rather made due to depression, and loss of will. Many of these depressed people that commit suicide, could have been treated for their depression, and might have lived otherwise happy lives.

Life is a gift, let's not waste it.

[Zero Tolerance]

well said Snake!

[ZyklonB]

Let me be clear that as a Roman Catholic I personally think that suicide is wrong and those that do it are going to hell. That being said, if you read their note, this person is terminally ill, has exhausted all medical solutions and is in constant pain. They beleive they have the right to end their life as they see fit. I also beleive they have that right. If they want to grab their 15 minutes of fame on the way out, so be it.

[Greg]

This is like anything else that gets publicity, it will attract more persons to grab that 15 minutes of fame. Quite possibly for the wrong reasons. Is this the message you want your kids getting dad? Kill yourself to be cool and get on stage?