Judas Priest Drummer Jailed

[M29]

http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_866051.html?menu=

Ex-Judas Priest drummer jailed for eight years

Rock drummer David Holland has been jailed for eight years for the attempted rape of a special needs youngster while giving the teenager drum lessons at his home.

Holland, the former drummer with rockers Judas Priest, was convicted of one charge of attempted rape and five counts of indecent assault on the 17-year-old at the star's rural Northamptonshire home between June and December 2002.

Sentencing Holland, Judge Charles Wide QC said: "(the teenager) was a boy with a very, very troubled past.

"You planned this abuse by grooming his parents and him through the careful construction of the opportunity to abuse and the common factors of detaching a boy from his parents by giving him cigarettes, alcohol and pr0n."

Holland, 55, of Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, was convicted by a jury of seven women and five men at Northampton Crown Court on January 23 this year.

Judge Wide added: "You must never work with children again."

Northampton Crown Court heard that the assaults began in spring 2002 when the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, began staying over at Holland's cottage.

The rock drummer forced the teenager to perform sex acts upon him before assaulting the boy.

Holland joined Judas Priest in 1979 and played with them for the next 10 years in their heyday.

The Birmingham-based band reached Number 12 in the British charts in 1980 with two records, Living After Midnight and Breaking The Law. They had several other Top 20 hits but never reached the Top 10 in the UK.

 

[Darky]

It always sucks when somebody in a band you idolise falters along the way, especially when there is somebody else invoved as a victim. That sort of crime will get no sympathy from anyone, nor should it.

From a band perspective, it's probably lucky it was the least well known member, otherwise their reputation would have been severely tainted by association. Pretty hard road for Priest since the late 80s, after those two looney tunes shot themselves and the parents blamed the band (ironically for a song they did not write), personnel changes and falling sales - but the return of Aunty Rob and the seemingly amicable departure of Ripper Owens would indicate they're on the right track.

 

[bobbity2]

Originally posted by Darky
It always sucks when somebody in a band you idolise falters along the way, especially when there is somebody else invoved as a victim. That sort of crime will get no sympathy from anyone, nor should it.

From a band perspective, it's probably lucky it was the least well known member, otherwise their reputation would have been severely tainted by association. Pretty hard road for Priest since the late 80s, after those two looney tunes shot themselves and the parents blamed the band (ironically for a song they did not write), personnel changes and falling sales - but the return of Aunty Rob and the seemingly amicable departure of Ripper Owens would indicate they're on the right track.

Hmmm...not sure if two teenagers shooting themselves makes them 'loony tunes', probably just very troubled young men. What WAS loony tunes was the ridiculous court case brought about by the parents, in which they attempted to argue 'subliminal messaging' on Priests' part. Rightfully dismissed. Sorry to be a 'trainspotter', but I thought the song in question was 'Beyond the Realms of Death', written by Priest, no?

 

[Darky]

Originally posted by bobbity2
Sorry to be a 'trainspotter', but I thought the song in question was 'Beyond the Realms of Death', written by Priest, no?

That's what I originally thought too, especially judging by the lyrics, but several documentaries/biographical videos on which the incident has been mentioned (including "Metal Works", the official Priest doco from 1993) all refer to "Better By You..." as being the alleged trigger for the self-shootings. I guess the lyrical matter is quite similar in subject, but "Beyond the Realms..." is a lot less subtle.

There may also have been allegations that the "offending" track had subliminal messages when played at different speeds or backwards, hence the song as it is on the CD may not thell the whole story.

Once again, I find it bizarre that the band was blamed for a song they did not write.

Just as strange IMHO, is that they're my two favourite tracks on it.

 

[Savatage]

Originally posted by Darky
There may also have been allegations that the "offending" track had subliminal messages when played at different speeds or backwards, hence the song as it is on the CD may not thell the whole story.

Play the chorus of "Beyond the Realms" backwards....

" I Took my life" is what comes out.

Quite co-incidental of course, but worth checking out!

 

[BT]

Originally posted by Savatage
Play the chorus of "Beyond the Realms" backwards....

" I Took my life" is what comes out.

Quite co-incidental of course, but worth checking out!

I don't doubt this, most of these "played it backwards" rumours do tend to hold up. With the ability to record & playback on PC's it's easy enough proven or disproved.

How were these kids able to play the track backwards? That was what 20 years ago? Surely the technology available to these kids didn't allow for a clear playback?

None the less Priest have that notoriety tag & they're stuck with it, this incident won't help of course but the band can't be held responsible for one sick man's crazy actions.

Why does every 2nd Priest convo lead to that tragic suicide story?

 

[BT]

Originally posted by Darky


Just as strange IMHO, is that they're my two favourite tracks on it.

Same here, it's a tad chilling.

Story goes (The Priest Version) is that the kids listened to "Better by you, better than me" for over 6 hours on that tragic day.

Make of that what you will....

 

[Savatage]

Originally posted by BT
I don't doubt this, most of these "played it backwards" rumours do tend to hold up. With the ability to record & playback on PC's it's easy enough proven or disproved.

How were these kids able to play the track backwards? That was what 20 years ago? Surely the technology available to these kids didn't allow for a clear playback?

None the less Priest have that notoriety tag & they're stuck with it, this incident won't help of course but the band can't be held responsible for one sick man's crazy actions.

Why does every 2nd Priest convo lead to that tragic suicide story?

They could've reversed the belts on their LP player back then.

However one things for certain, they were ****ed up individuals.

 

[NoelMugavin]

If you play Judas Priest epic Victim of Changes backwards it says Love Your Parents, Do Your Homework, Eat brocholi..

its amazing actually! Very sinister! those B as t ards - how could they!

 

[BT]

Originally posted by NoelMugavin
If you play Judas Priest epic Victim of Changes backwards it says Love Your Parents, Do Your Homework, Eat brocholi..

its amazing actually! Very sinister! those B as t ards - how could they!

Hehehe .

I think the court case exposed the frailties of the whole sinister message thing. The case was filed by desperate parents unable to accept the fact that their kids were a few clubs short.

Deflecting blame from themselves so they can cope better, understandable in the circumstances but still very wrong.

 

[Darky]

If you play "Ram It Down", "Hot Rockin'" and "Hell Bent For Leather" backwards,, well I won't tell you what it says (all ages forum after all) but you can't half tell Aunty Rob wrote the subliminals and I never knew you could do that with an eggplant and a black man named Marlon.