The Satanic Panic of the ’70s: Why ELO’s “Fire on High” Was Accused of Evil Backmasking episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 21, 2026 · 20 MIN

The Satanic Panic of the ’70s: Why ELO’s “Fire on High” Was Accused of Evil Backmasking

from Professor of Rock

Coming up. Let’s dive into the bizarre and sensational era of the Satanic Panic, a time when songs were accused of harboring "evil" hidden messages, and bands faced relentless scrutiny as alleged corruptors of society. While heavy metal bands were the primary targets, even the likes of today’s squeaky clean band ELO, the Electric Light Orchestra, found themselves entangled in the fanatical crusade. Today we break down the hidden messages in ELO’s music including the doubled sided hit Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Fire On High.. We unravel the stories behind these cryptic songs, their secret messages, and the mysterious woman who cast her spell on an unsuspecting rock star named Jeff Lynne and how Fire On High might must be the most bizarre and creepy B side of the entire 70s…. NEXT on Professor of Rock.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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The Satanic Panic of the ’70s: Why ELO’s “Fire on High” Was Accused of Evil Backmasking

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