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keep an organised filing system of all my tapes and notes. I researched libraries and computer nets trying to find any informa- tion I could, for I was convinced that—with something as signifi- cant as this—there had to be some work or research being con- ducted somewhere else. But I searched almost in vain, finding only the odd book by religious fundamentalists and the early work of Californian researcher William H. Yarroll II. From 1980 to 1983 Yarroll worked primarily in the area of rock music and its effects on the brain. It was his initial scientific research that unwittingly prompted much of the religious hysteria of the '80s. William Yarroll was also responsible for backwards messages being discussed in the Californian State Assembly and also in Arkansas. Both cases occurred in 1983 and the Arkansas case resulted in Governor Bill Clinton signing a bill requiring all rock-and-roll records suspected of containing backwards mes- sages to be labelled as follows: Warning: This record contains backward masking that makes a verbal statement which is audible when this record is played backwards and which may be perceptible at sublim - inal level when this record is played forward. The bill did not become law, but the questions persisted. Other than the aforementioned cases, I could find no other work on the subject. This seemed to be a new area of research and I felt a renewed sense of excitement. I was like a pioneer exploring a new frontier. keep an organised filing system of all my tapes and notes. I search for the source of the gun shots ("Hold it. Try and look researched libraries and computer nets trying to find any informa- up."). tion I could, for I was convinced that—with something as signifi- The Moon walk was similar. It was a live commentary with the cant as this—there had to be some work or research being con- backwards sentence communicating what I assumed would have ducted somewhere else. But I searched almost in vain, finding been Neil Armstrong's logical thoughts at the time. That is an only the odd book by religious fundamentalists and the early work expression of hope for the future of mankind in space, or "Man of Californian researcher William H. Yarroll II. will space-walk." From 1980 to 1983 Yarroll worked primarily in the area of rock I continued to find significant backwards phrases on this one music and its effects on the brain. It was his initial scientific record. There was the backwards sentence found on JFK's presi- research that unwittingly prompted much of the religious hysteria _—_ dential inauguration. His famous words, "Ask not what your of the '80s. William Yarroll was also responsible for backwards country can do for you, but what you can do for your country", messages being discussed in the Californian State Assembly and contained the backwards message, "Give Jack all your food." also in Arkansas. Both cases occurred in 1983 and the Arkansas Other famous historical events contained similarly amusing or case resulted in Governor Bill Clinton signing a bill requiring all poignant backwards messages that completely related to what was rock-and-roll records suspected of containing backwards mes- being spoken forwards, including one reversal on Lee Harvey sages to be labelled as follows: Oswald that said, "Hear them. Wish to kill the President." This Warning: This record contains backward masking that reversal was found on a radio broadcast recorded two weeks prior makes a verbal statement which is audible when this record to the assassination of JFK. Oswald was talking forwards about is played backwards and which may be perceptible at sublim - the Fair Play For Cuba Committee. inal level when this record is played forward. One particularly amusing example was found with Australia's The bill did not become law, but the questions persisted. Prime Minister at the time, Bob Hawke. Just after he won the Other than the aforementioned cases, I could find no other work 1987 Federal election, he was asked how he planned to celebrate. on the subject. This seemed to be a new area of research and I felt He replied with the comment, "Ah, several cups of tea." a renewed sense of excitement. I was like a pioneer exploring a Backwards, this said, "Used to smoke the best marijuana." This new frontier. example was later played repeatedly on Australian television as news of my research began to surface. NEW DIMENSIONS WITH THE SPOKEN WORD I should point out here that the moment of discovery of these Then, in 1986, my work took a sig- phrases and sentences was particular- nificant turn. I decided to research ly exciting for me because I usually the history of backwards phrases in had no idea what was on the for- the broadcast media since its incep- | started to record normal room wards tape. I would do my research tion, to see if any further trends could = by playing my tapes backwards only. be unravelled. conversations and found Tai this deliberately to try to reduce Looking back now, I find it diffi- backwards messages to be my own bias. Thus a tremendous cult to believe that up until that time I . excitement was created simply by the had researched only music and hadn't occurring constantly, often as process of hearing a backwards seriously considered normal speech. frequently as every 10 or 15 phrase and then discovering its All that was about to change. I obtained a recording of the histo- ry of radio from the 1920s to the pre- sent and began to play it backwards. One of the very first things that I incredible relationship, or comple- mentarity, with the forwards sound- track. The years 1986 and 1987 were exciting. I ceased researching music seconds of speech. heard backwards said, "Man will space-walk." This was a and concentrated my efforts solely on speech. This added an remarkably clear sentence that seemed to ‘jump out at me' from entirely different dimension to my work. the gibberish. I immediately played the tape forwards and heard I started to record normal room conversations and found back- Neil Armstrong's famous first words on the Moon, "That's one wards messages to be occurring constantly, often as frequently as small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." I was stunned every 10 or 15 seconds of speech. These backwards messages both at the clarity of the backwards statement and at its direct con- were nearly always complementary. I started to find out the nection with the forwards statement. secrets of my friends—things like lies they were telling, facts they Later that day I was to be stunned again when I heard the clear __ were hiding, an affair someone was having, including the name of words backwards, "He's shot bad. Hold it. Try and look up." I the person involved. Backwards phrases and sentences would played the tape forwards and heard a live commentary of the 1963 often discuss topics such as thoughts and feelings people had assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. I about each other. Then I started to find reversed conversations. isolated the precise forwards words responsible for the backwards Questions were being asked, answers were being given and it was statements. They were: "Parkland Hospital, there has been a all occurring backwards. shooting." They occurred at the precise moment that the radio My entire world was turned upside down at that point. Any commentator realised that a shooting had occurred. doubts I still had about random sound or imagination vanished. This was amazing to me. It was a live commentary and the This was something very real and tangible, something very signif- backwards words occurred as the reporter spoke in the field, not —_ icant. This was the voice of truth, the real self speaking. in a recording studio. There was no way this could have been It all seemed to fall into place in the early months of 1987. I orchestrated, and the message seemed to be a logical reflection of had discovered something and had to give it a name, write a theo- the thoughts this man might have had at the time; that is, horror at _ry, tell people about it. I pondered my research notes. I thought the realisation of an assassination ("He's shot bad"), and a frantic and theorised. backwards messages to be occurring constantly, often as frequently as every 10 or 15 NEXUS © 15 | started to record normal room conversations and found seconds of speech. OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1997