Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" is famend as one of the greatest rock and roll epics of our generation. Recorded in 1970, the song's popularity has enjoyed an impressive longevity, as it is all the more widely played on radio stations worldwide. Thing of Stairway's enduring presence in the usual's conscience is owed to the question surrounding alleged eclipsed backwards messages--encoded via "backmasking"--which reached its pinnacle in the 1980s.
Identification
"Backmasking," which is a conversation formed from the modern phrase "backward masking," is used to convey image a approach used while video a harmonious track, such as on an tome. When backmasking is employed, a secret indication or sound is recorded on the track that you can by oneself hear while playing the track backwards. When you rotate a turntable backward--either manually or using a specially designed turntable--the audio Testament play back in reverse, allowing the secret indication to be heard.
History
The elementary prominent example of backmasking appeared in songs by The Beatles, specifically "Revolution No. 9" and "I'm So Done in," which both appeared on the 1968 self-titled LP (aka "The Hoary Publication"). These tracks allegedly contained dark messages revealing Paul McCartney's bereavement, such as "Paul is dead, miss him, miss him..." and "Turn me on, dead subject..." and a Satanic note: "Devil Stare at me." These rumours created a frenzy, causing listeners to obsessively play records backward, searching for hidden messages, while Christian pundits decried and denounced pop harmonization containing supposed satanic messages.
Significance
Two oldness adjacent, Led Zeppelin released "Stairway to Heaven," another song rumoured to include cryptic backward messages. However, it wasn't until 1982 that prominent Baptist radio DJ Michael Mills began purporting that Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" contained dangerous satanic messages that were influencing young children to commit sins and participate in risky behavior. This accusation, along with the rising hysteria of the public, led to record-burnings, segments on talk shows devoted to searching for subliminal messages, and most importantly, court hearings regarding "dangerous" backmasking.
Theories/Speculation
According to backmasking expert, Jeff Milner, the backward lyrics are:
Oh here's to my sweet Satan.
The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan.
He will give those with him 666.
There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad Satan.
Others claim that the words "I live for Satan" can be heard in the recording.
More recently, David John Oates conjectured in his book "Reverse Speech: Voices From the Unconscious," that the messages within were unintentional, a result of the will of the subconscious. One such popular program is Audacity, an open-source audio editor and recorder that allows you to play songs backwards.
These legal proceedings eventually led to the institution of the Parental Advisory warning that now adorns albums containing "explicit lyrics" that refer to sex, drug use or violence.
Misconceptions
The band and the record label denied the claims -- stating that any backward message heard by listeners were a result of the power of suggestion. The most well-known official stance comes from the Led Zeppelin's producer who is quoted in Stephen Davis' 1985 book "Hammer of the Gods" saying that the speculation was "totally and utterly ridiculous. Why would they want to spend so much studio time doing something so dumb?"
Function
Today, when most music is either in digital format or on CDs, which are easily converted to digital audio files, the easiest way to detect backward messages is by using digital audio manipulation programs. He claims to hear the words, "Words have two meanings," "thoughts are misgiven" and "play backwards."In 1982, the Consumer Protection and Toxic Materials Committee staged a hearing on backmasking, drawing on neuroscientists and other experts who claimed that backward messages in songs such as "Stairway to Heaven" have a negative influence on listeners.
