7 Rock Songs With Spooky Backmasked Messages

Coincidence or Intentional?

Since time immemorial, rock music has been often associated with Satanic rituals. When we were younger, we’ve heard of people claiming that some songs had hidden messages and we often shrugged it off as nonsense. But sometimes, the phrases are just way too clear for coincidence.

Is this intentional? Or are classic rock fans have so much wild imagination? Let’s find out.

7. The Eagles – “Hotel California”

YouTube video

Ever since it was released, there were so many rumors about the supposed actual meaning of the song. Some say the title refers to an actual hotel in San Francisco which was purchased by occultist Anton LaVey who later converted it into the Church of Satan. Although the words donโ€™t mean much, when you try to play it backwards, it becomes something else. The message isnโ€™t clear but somehow, you can make out the word โ€œSatan.โ€ Others believe they can hear other Satanic messages like โ€œSatan organized his own religionโ€ or โ€œYeah, Satan hears this.โ€ It might require you to listen closely and put it on repeat before you can understand the words. Some of it is subtle but yes, itโ€™s there. We donโ€™t know if The Eagles intentionally put it there but according to Don Henley, โ€œSome of the wilder interpretations of that song have been amazing. It was really about the excesses of American culture and certain girls we knew. But it was also about the uneasy balance between art and commerce.โ€

6. Queen – “Another One Bites The Dust”

YouTube video

To be fair, this one is neither spooky nor scary. Then again, weโ€™re still quite impressed how people manage to discover something like this. Do they simply play random records and hope thereโ€™s a secret message? Because really, who would have thought thereโ€™s any to be found in one of Queenโ€™s classic hits. So, what do you hear when you backmask โ€œAnother One Bites The Dust?โ€ The phrase is pretty clear โ€“ โ€œItโ€™s fun to smoke marijuana.โ€ You can play it many times, itโ€™s actually on our third try when we heard the words. Neat, right? But it sounds really fun though, unlike the other messages on this list โ€“ this one is mild. Itโ€™s not exactly anything scandalous or one that will make other people want to boycott the band. Itโ€™s kind of funny too. Imagine Freddie Mercury singing about weed! This guy is just cool and awesome on so many levels.

5. Cheap Trick – “Gonna Raise Hell”

YouTube video

This one is kind of epic, to say the least. Just a quick warning though, this will definitely transport you back to the โ€˜70s. Maybe people really took the title of the song literally and thought, โ€œThis sounds like something with a hidden Satanic message on it.โ€ And well, they did come across something. The line says, โ€œYou know Satan holds the keys to the lockโ€ and you only hear it if you concentrate and listen closely. You see, for stuff like this, you need more than sharp auditory senses. It can be difficult to make out the words too unless someone already gives you an idea. Itโ€™s always easier when you know what to look for because if you donโ€™t, youโ€™d be fishing for ideas. And you might think, thereโ€™s probably no hidden message here at all. But this one is interesting though. Letโ€™s see if you can find it.

4. Judas Priest – “Better By You, Better Than Me”

YouTube video

Now this one will definitely send chills down your spine. Itโ€™s probably the creepiest thing youโ€™ll hear today. Weโ€™re still kind of spooked even if weโ€™ve heard about this story several times. If you can recall in 1985, two young men ended a night of drinking and smoking joints by going to the playground and shooting themselves with a shotgun. One died on the spot while the other lived for three more years but suffered with complications. The reason? They said they heard the words โ€œletโ€™s be dead,โ€ โ€œdo it,โ€ and โ€œtry suicideโ€ in this song. Judas Priest was sued along with CBS Records. In the end, the judge declared that the band wasnโ€™t responsible for any of it. According to the survivor, James Vance, โ€œWe had been programmed. I knew I was going to do it. I was afraid. I didnโ€™t want to die. Itโ€™s just as if I had no choice.โ€

3. The Beatles – “Revolution 9”

YouTube video

We donโ€™t really know who started the โ€œPaul McCartney is deadโ€ theory (and replaced by a double) but after the White Album was released, fans religiously took note of any subliminal or hidden messages in the songs. Legend has it, the other members dropped hints or clues in their music to tell the real fans the truth. For one, during the fade out in โ€œStrawberry Fields Forever,โ€ John Lennon allegedly says, โ€œI buried Paul.โ€ But perhaps the creepiest and freakiest one can be heard in the avant-garde song โ€œRevolution 9.โ€ It was an odd track and had so many noises and other effects. For those who subscribed to the rumors, this became another solid evidence that Paul was indeed gone. The phrase โ€œnumber nineโ€ when played on reverse becomes โ€œturn me on dead man.โ€ Others even claim they could hear a car crash sound or someone yelling, โ€œlet me out.โ€

2. Cradle of Filth – “Dinner at Deviant’s Palace”

YouTube video

We sincerely hope you are not reading this before bedtime or worse, at midnight. Weโ€™ve included something funny and creepy but nothing will come close to this. It might, at the very least, convince you to abandon any ideas of sleeping. Cradle of Filthโ€™s album artwork cover alone is enough to give you nightmares but when you play โ€œDinner at Deviantโ€™s Palaceโ€ in reverse, you can hear The Lordโ€™s Prayer backwards. It was being read by lead guitarist Paul Allenderโ€™s son. It will give you the creeps, no doubt. Itโ€™s like watching โ€œThe Exorcistโ€ on Halloween โ€“ youโ€™re in for a real scary treat. Weโ€™re used to hearing weird stuff in metal but nothing will prepare you for this. Itโ€™s guaranteed to get under your skin. We just canโ€™t say โ€˜creepyโ€™ enough. When you listen to it alone in your room, itโ€™s as if youโ€™re half expecting the lights to suddenly start blinking before losing power!

1. Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven

YouTube video

Somehow, this Led Zeppelin masterpiece is very controversial in more ways than one. This has become the most popular example in backmasking because allegedly when played in reverse, you can hear the lines โ€œOh hereโ€™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.โ€ Most say itโ€™s nothing but pure coincidence and whether itโ€™s true or not, we canโ€™t deny the fact that it somehow added a touch of mystery to the band. Maybe itโ€™s also because Jimmy Page has been associated with the occult long before this came out. Even until today, some people still believe that he sold his soul to the devil so he can achieve the fame and fortune he enjoys now. However, Page said in an interview, โ€œTo me itโ€™s very sad, because โ€™Stairway to Heavenโ€™ was written with every best intention, and as far as reversing tapes and putting messages on the end, thatโ€™s not my idea of making music.โ€