Psychiatrist Testifies That Victim Blamed Judas Priest’s Music

A young man who entered into a suicide pact after listening to hours of the albums of the British rock group Judas Priest believed the music influenced his actions, a psychiatrist testified Friday.

Dr. Bruce Tanenbaum said that James Vance “didn’t care if he ever got a dime from the lawsuit” against Judas Priest and CBS Records. Vance, who survived for three years after blowing away his face, “felt other people needed to be aware of the dangers” of the music, said Tanenbaum as the trial ended its second week.

Vance, who was then 20, and his friend Raymond Belknap, then 18, took a shotgun after listening to hours of the record “Stained Class,” drinking beer and smoking marijuana on Dec. 23, 1985. Belknap shot himself and died instantly. Vance shot himself, but survived until he died from complications of the wounds and prescription drugs in November, 1988.

The families claim subliminal messages on the record telling the young men “Do it” are responsible for the suicide. They are seeking damages, which have not yet been specified except for the more than $400,000 in medical bills for Vance.

Tanenbaum said he treated Vance’s mental problems after the incident. Vance, according to the psychiatrist, was “not in a suicide zone” the day of the shooting.

He said there was nothing, outside the music, driving him to suicide. “I cannot see any other event that would have led James to suicide,” said Tanenbaum.

Attorneys for the families are expected to complete their case next week. The band has denied there were any subliminal messages hidden on the 1978 record.