Exit (song) - Trial of Robert John Bardo

Trial of Robert John Bardo

Robert John Bardo is an American from Tucson, Arizona. In 1986 he became obsessed with actress Rebecca Schaeffer after sending her a letter. In 1989, Bardo witnessed her in a love scene in the 1989 film Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills; he later stated "Even though nothing really happened in the movie too dirty that involved her, it still bothered me, and it just ruined this innocent image of her." He paid a private investigator to find out her home address and began to stalk her. On 18 July 1989 he travelled to Shaeffer's home and murdered her.

Dr. Park Elliott Dietz, a psychiatrist who had worked on the case of John Hinckley, Jr. following his assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, was assigned to work with Bardo. He told that court that Bardo claimed "Exit" had influenced his actions. According to the Associated Press, when the song was played in court "Bardo, who had sat motionless through the trial, sprang to life... He grinned, bobbed to the music, pounded his knee like a drum and mouthed the lyrics." Bardo was convicted of first-degree murder.

Asked if he felt responsible that one of U2's songs was used in a murder defence, Bono said "Not at all. That sounded to me like a good lawyer at work for his client. But I still feel that you have to go down those streets in your music. If that's where the subject is taking you, you have to follow. At least in the imagination. I'm not sure I want to get down there to live. I'll take a walk occasionally, and have a drink with the devil, but I'm not moving in with him." The Edge said "I think it is very heavy. It gets back to self-censorship. Should any artist hold back from putting out something because he's afraid of what somebody else might do as a result of his work? I would hate to see censorship come in, whether from the government or, from my point of view, personal."