Band Vows To Proceed With Onstage Suicide
(10/1/03, 5 p.m. ET) -- The leader of the alternative rock band Hell On Earth vows that the band will proceed with an onstage suicide on Saturday (October 4), according to the Associated Press. Frontman Billy Tourtelot says the show will be held privately in St. Petersburg, Florida, despite a new city law designed to stop it.
On Monday, the St. Petersburg City Council unanimously approved an emergency ordinance that makes it illegal to conduct a suicide for commercial or entertainment purposes in the city, and to host, promote and sell tickets for such an event. Tourtelot maintains that the show will be played in front of a "select few people" at an undisclosed location, and will be shown on the band's website, hellonearth.net.
Regarding the city ordinance, council member Bill Foster told the Associated Press, "While I still think it's a publicity stunt, we still couldn't sit idly by and let somebody lose their life." The city is also seeking a court injunction against the band to stop them from promoting the show.
Although violating the ordinance is punishable with a $500 fine and up to 60 days in jail, Hell On Earth's Tourtelot says he's not worried about the legal ramifications. He claims that the event is taking place to promote the support of physician-assisted suicide.
A Florida law already makes it manslaughter, a second-degree felony, to assist in a suicide, but Tourtelot says the band is not assisting in the act. "This person will be doing this self-deliverance totally by themselves, on their own accord," he said. The person, reportedly a member of the Euthanasia Society, is remaining anonymous until the day of the show.
Hell On Earth, of course, is promoting a new album titled All Things Disturbingly Sassy.
http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=214765
I don't see what the big deal is, people goto flordia all the time to die. (its all old people!) The fuzz is gonna all over this like a hobo on a ham sandwitch.
