Joanna _____________________________________________ Band promises concert suicide
From correspondents in Tampa, Florida October 1, 2003
A FLORIDA-BASED rock band that has promised that an unidentified terminally ill person will suicide on stage during an October concert is fighting a legal battle to have the show go on.
Yesterday the St Petersburg City Council passed an emergency ordinance that makes suicide for commercial or entertainment purposes illegal, as a way of countering the rock band Hell on Earth's promise to show an onstage suicide during an October 4, 2003 concert in the city.
Precisely where the concert will be is uncertain.
The State Theatre in St Petersburg was the scheduled venue for the concert, but the theatre has cancelled the performance.
The band has until Thursday to have a hearing before Pasco-Pinellas Counties Circuit Judge John Lenderman to explain why they should be allowed to proceed with the concert and the scheduled suicide.