Israel's Son
| "Israel's Son" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Silverchair | ||||
| from the album Frogstomp | ||||
| Released | 1995 (Australia) | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Recorded | 1994 | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal | |||
| Length | 5:20 | |||
| Label | Murmur | |||
| Writer(s) | Daniel Johns | |||
| Producer(s) | Kevin Shirley | |||
| Silverchair singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Israel's Son" is a song by Australian rock band Silverchair, released in 1995. It was the third single released from their debut full-length album, Frogstomp, which was released earlier the same year. It was also released on their The Best of Volume 1, and used on the soundtrack to the western version of Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie.
It is the only Frogstomp song the band still played live in the years prior to the band going into "indefinite hibernation” in 2011. The song was taken half a step down, likely to compensate for Daniel Johns' changing vocals.
Murder trial
In a January 1996 murder case, the defendant counsel for Brian Bassett, 16, and Nicholaus McDonald, 18, claimed that the pair listened to "Israel's Son", from Frogstomp, which contributed to the murder of Bassett's parents and a younger brother.[1][2] McDonald's lawyer cited the lyrics "'Hate is what I feel for you/I want you to know that I want you dead'" which were "almost a script. They're relevant to everything that happened".[3] The band's manager, Watson, issued a statement that they did not condone nor intend any such acts of violence, "The band is appalled by this horrific crime, and they hope that justice will prevail".[2][3] Prosecutors rejected the defence case and convinced the jury that the murder was committed to "steal money and belongings and run off to California."[1]
Charts
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart[4] | 11 |
| New Zealand Singles Chart[5] | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[6] | 39 |
References
- 1 2 "Teen Sentenced to 65 Years for His Part in Murders". Kitsap Sun. E. W. Scripps Company (Charles D Horton III). 22 February 1996. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- 1 2 "Attorney wants to open teen's murder trial with rock song". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Hearst Corporation. 18 January 1996. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- 1 2 Elliott, Paul (1997). "Roo Fighters". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
- ↑ "Silverchair singles". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2001-06-14.
- ↑ "Silverchair singles". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 2011-06-14.
- ↑ "Silverchair - Billboard singles". allmusic. Retrieved 2011-06-14.