HELL ON EARTH - JUDGE BLOCKS HELL ON EARTH'S SUICIDE SHOW

LATEST: A judge has barred rock band HELL ON EARTH from holding an onstage suicide which is intended to be broadcast live over the internet on Saturday night (04OCT03).

City officials in St Petersburg, Florida, had asked Circuit Court judge JOHN C LENDERMAN for the injunction after the group announced plans to have a terminally ill person commit suicide during a show somewhere in the city. The judge had issued a temporary order on Monday (30SEP03) blocking the performance and any advertising for it.

Hell on Earth frontman BILLY TOURTELOT, who did not attend the hearing, had said earlier the band will defy the city law, which makes it illegal to conduct a suicide for commercial or entertainment purposes, and to host, promote and sell tickets for such an event.

Tourtelot says the suicide is intended to raise awareness of right-to-die issues. He says "a select few people" will attend the show, and that it will be shown live on the band's website.

The terminally ill person, reportedly a member of the EUTHANASIA SOCIETY, is remaining anonymous until the day of the show.

If the band violates the order to stop publicising the concert, members could face contempt of court charges.