Update July 09th, 2018 09:31pm:
Periphery frontman Spencer Sotelo has since offered the following about the lyrical content about the band’s track mentioned below:
Especially crazy because the meaning of the lyrics are anti bullying and anti suicide. That’s a tragic and unfortunate situation, but I just don’t see how something positive could drive someone to do something like that.
— Spencer Sotelo (@SPENCESOTELO) July 10, 2018
Original Story:
Periphery have been in the Australian news after having been mentioned as part of an ongoing trial. That trial is to determine the fate of 26-year-old Evie Amati, who in January of 2017, went to a 7-11 store in Sydney and allegedly attacked three people with an axe, all of whom survived.
ABC.net.au report that Crown prosecutor Daniel McMahon opened his case by pointing out that Amati had been listening to Periphery‘s song “Flatline” prior to the attack, describing it as featuring “some pretty dark themes.”
The report goes on to list Amanti‘s various alleged mental health struggles around the time of the incident, including alleged issues with gender dysphoria and depression. She is also alleged to have made generalized threats via social media prior to the attack.
Amati‘s lawyer Charles Waterstreet opened his address by arguing she was not guilty due to mental illness. According to ABC‘s report, he argued: ‘at the time of the attack she was in a state of psychosis caused by her mental illness and a “toxic mixture” of gender transition hormone medication, cannabis, amphetamines and alcohol.’
You can find more about the proceedings over at ABC.net.au. Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb was alerted to the case via Twitter and commented:
It’s 2018 and lawyers still find it relevant to mention what kind of music a would-be murderer listened to beforehand. A couple more pertinent questions: favorite Seinfeld episode? Favorite food? MJ or LeBron? Star Wars or LOTR? Apple Music or Spotify? Favorite Golden Girl? https://t.co/XjsYcYGbS1
— Mark Holcomb (@MarkPeriphery) July 9, 2018
Holcomb also went on to retweet the following from a fan:
Flatline is literally about bullying and suicide, its helped me in many ways. blaming music is complete bullshit.
— ZacharyMcGinnis (@GinnisZachary) July 9, 2018
