Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson (born Brian Hugh Warner in 1969) is an American rock musician. His stage name was formed by juxtaposing the names of two American cultural icons, namely actress Marilyn Monroe and murderer Charles Manson.[1][2][3] Manson generated controversy both for both his provocative image and lyrics, as well as for doing some things clearly in the name of stirring up controversy, like tearing up a Book of Mormon to spite religious leaders attempting to bribe him not to hold a concert in Utah. For this reason he is also commonly labelled a "shock-rocker". His lyrics reveal a fascination with death, violence, sex, authority, and celebrity. His artistic contributions to iconoclasm are often interpreted as anti-Christian, especially his 1996 anti-authoritarian concept album, Antichrist Superstar, though he says he has respect for many aspects of the religion. He received the honorary title of Reverend of the Church of Satan from founder and friend Anton LaVey, though he is not a Satanist himself. Manson does not believe in a God or gods, an atheist by definition despite not self-identifying as one.[4] He has also received much erroneous blame for causing youth school shootings and suicides.[5]
Because Heaven sounds lame anyways Satanism |
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God's own scapegoat |
A devilish plan |
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Time to put on some Music |
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Soundtrack |
Musicians |
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History and ideology
Marilyn Manson (and the Spooky Kids) formed in 1989 and released their first studio album 1994, Portrait of an American Family. This album, which Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails produced in the Sharon Tate House, was basically LSD mixed with Satan, Willy Wonka, and George Carlin. It was a cheesy and satirical album about the dark ridiculousness of America's moral underbelly, and Reznor took Manson's band on the road with greater exposure as a result.[6] Antichrist Superstar is staunchly anti-conservative, anti-establishment, and anti-theistic. Its tour's shocking antics further solidified Manson as a boogeyman for sanctimonious religious conservatives.[7] The album after that, Mechanical Animals, is arguably more musical and artistic, showing more Marilyn than Manson. It happened to be a case of Manson returning to vibes and emotions while experiencing alienation and the shallow numbness of society.[8] The next album, Holy Wood, is a critique of how the media deals with death. The albums Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals, and Holy Wood make up a tryptich (trilogy), Manson saying the story is a human cycle that occurs in reverse chronological order. Throughout his career, Manson has definitely been in favor of personal freedom and social progress. He voted for Barack Obama and, in the music video for his song "SAY10", decapitated Trump long before Kathy Griffin did. Despite this, he is certainly not a "vote blue no matter who" type of person as evidenced by his statement in 2016, saying a vote for Trump or Clinton would be voting "between cat shit and dog shit".[9][10]
Fundie backlash
Following the release of their album Antichrist Superstar, Frank Keating, then-Governor of Oklahoma, said:
“”It's important for us to say 'We're not going to shut you down by law, we're not going to shut you down by the writ of a censor, we're going to shut you down because what you propose is not uplifting. It's not helpful, doesn't advance the culture.' |
Many people in cities where the band played began to pray for them and their fans to be "saved." Manson, meanwhile, argued that it has always been the job of artists to push culture forward.[11]
In 2000, Bill O'Reilly invited Manson to appear on the "Children At Risk" segment of his show.
“”O'Reilly: What's your message, what are you trying to get across in the lyrics to these songs? Manson: It's always about being yourself and not being ashamed of being different or thinking different. I try and take everyone's ideals, common morals, flip them around, make people look at them differently, question them so that you're not always taking things for granted. |
O'Reilly attempted to challenge Manson's presentation of this message. However, O'Reilly had bitten off more than he could chew. Rather than getting angry with O'Reilly's interruptions and "think of the children" mindset, Manson makes the point that it should be a parent's decision what their kids hear. O'Reilly admitted Manson was a "well spoken guy", but challenged his constant use of profanity. Manson's reply to that was:
“”It's better to use a curse word than to hurt somebody, I find. |
O'Reilly moved on and made Manson's point for him, claiming that Manson's lyrics might cause kids to commit murder or suicide to gain fame through death. Unfortunately for him, nobody told him that the point of Manson's stage name was to highlight the media's exact cause of that through their obsession with serial killers.[12]
Columbine
“”I wouldn't say a single word to 'em. I would listen to what they have to say as that's what no one did. |
—Manson, when asked what he would say to the perpetrators and community. |
The Columbine High School shooting in Colorado was an opportunity for independent thinkers like Senators Joe Lieberman, Sam Brownback, and Orrin Hatch to take up Tipper Gore's old pet peeve and blame movies like The Matrix, rock and rap music, and in particular, Manson, for inspiring the Columbine killers and kids in general to commit murders. Manson stopped all promotional activity out of respect for the victims and decided to lay low for a while.
Manson gave an interview to filmmaker Michael Moore for his documentary Bowling for Columbine.[13] Due to the ongoing criticism by Christian groups aimed at his works, Manson later issued the following statement:
“”I am truly amazed that after all this time, religious groups still need to attack entertainment and use these tragedies as a pitiful excuse for their own self-serving publicity. In response to their protests, I will provide a show where I balance my songs with a wholesome Bible reading. This way, fans will not only hear my so-called, 'violent' point of view, but we can also examine the virtues of wonderful 'Christian' stories of disease, murder, adultery, suicide and child sacrifice. Now that seems like 'entertainment' to me. |
—Manson in response to protestors. [14] |
Former bandmate Daisy Berkowitz noted the irony of Manson attempting to distance himself from Columbine, arguing that if he set out to portray himself as having such tremendous power over his listeners that he might as well claim his share of the credit. However, many responded that Berkowitz's comment failed to understand that things like the "Satanic Panic" were not real, while Columbine was a genuine, actual massacre, in which many children lost their lives.
In a further irony, the actual Columbine killers themselves, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, didn't even listen to Manson. As the man himself noted[15], they actually disliked his music, and instead listened to bands like Rammstein and KMFDM[16] that, while briefly stained by controversy, weren't hit nearly as much as Manson was, likely because nobody had ever heard of them.
Nazi imagery
Being as cool and edgy as he is, Manson has at various times during his career picked up a penchant for using Nazi-inspired imagery and designs, both for album art and costumes.[17][18] While it's probably safe to say that Manson is in no way a proponent of anything reminiscent of Nazism, one does have to wonder about how tactful it is to basically dress up as one (though countless people do wear Hugo Boss without evoking
controversy
Abuse allegations
On February 28, 2018, actress Evan Rachel Wood
On February 1, 2021, Wood revealed who the partner was: Marilyn Manson. [22] This led to accusations of sexual assault, psychological abuse, and other forms of coercion, violence, and intimidation from four other women.[23] Allegations included a charge that Manson had a room in his house that he referred to as the "rape room" [24] and a charge that Manson once pulled a gun to a stylist's head in 2011. [25] The allegations resulted in Manson being dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, his record label Loma Vista
The accusations made against Manson were supported by several other musicians. Trent Reznor
The accusations only underscored Manson's history of violence. In 2009 Manson made a hollow violent threat towards journalists. [39] In his 1998 autobiography, Manson admitted to making rape threats against a woman who spurned his advances, smashing his mother in the face with a perfume bottle (leaving a permanent scar), and coming within moments of trying to murder an ex. [40][41] In 2001, Manson was charged with sexual assault when he rubbed his crotch against a security guard's head. [42] Manson's childhood was reportedly very troubled (his mother was abusive, wishing imaginary illnesses on Manson,
References
- Charles Manson Trial, 2violent.com.
- Manson, Marilyn (1998). The Long Hard Road out of Hell. HarperCollins. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-06-098746-4.
- "Biography for Marilyn Manson". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlakLIwqfXw
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson%E2%80%93Columbine_High_School_massacre_controversy
- See the Wikipedia article on Portrait of an American Family.
- See the Wikipedia article on Antichrist Superstar.
- See the Wikipedia article on Mechanical Animals.
- https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/1129651/marilyn-manson-donald-trump-say10/
- https://www.loudersound.com/news/marilyn-manson-wont-vote-for-clinton-or-trump
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5zOXR_FB_0
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G6n5Oi4714o
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiaxzBlFgmQ
- https://www.nme.com/news/music/marilyn-manson-185-1390296
- Manson, Marilyn. "Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?" Rolling Stone, 24 June 1999 (recovered 29 November 2015).
- A couple of mirrors of some of Harris' old web pages, containing the lyrics to the KMFDM songs "Son of a Gun" and "Power".
- http://maluenda.tumblr.com/post/465693904/manson-shirt-with-imagery-very-reminiscent-of-the
- http://deadfrankolson.blogspot.com/2013_03_01_archive.html
- "Evan Rachel Wood: Actress tells Congress about sexual abuse", BBC News, 2018 February 28
- "Evan Rachel Wood details sexual assaults to Congress" by Erin Jensen, USA Today, 2018 February 28
- "Evan Rachel Wood: How Wild Past, Personal Demons Prepped Her for ‘Westworld’" by Alex Morris, Rolling Stone , 2016 November 17
- "He “Horrifically Abused Me for Years”: Evan Rachel Wood and Other Women Make Allegations of Abuse Against Marilyn Manson" by Maureen Ryan, Vanity Fair, 2021 Febraury 1
- "Marilyn Manson denies Evan Rachel Wood’s abuse allegations – ‘Horrible distortions of reality’" by Kate Feldman, Daily News, 2021 February 2
- "Phoebe Bridgers Says Marilyn Manson Has a ‘Rape Room’ in His House" by Amanda Arnold, New York Magazine: The Cut, 2021 February 5
- "Stylist who claims Marilyn Manson 'pulled a gun to my head' paints 'dark' scene" by Melissa Roberto, Fox News, 2021 February 4
- "CAA Drops Marilyn Manson After Evan Rachel Wood’s Abuse Allegations; Follows Ax From ‘American Gods’ And ‘Creepshow" by Dominic Pattern and Alexandra Del Rosario, Deadline, 2021 February 2
- "Marilyn Manson Dropped by Record Label, Booking Agent After Abuse Allegations" by Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 1
- "Marilyn Manson Dropped by Longtime Manager Amid Sexual and Physical Abuse Allegations" by Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 5
- "Dita Von Teese speaks out on Marilyn Manson abuse allegations" by Rhian Daly, NME, 2021 February 4
- "Rose McGowan Is ‘Disgusted’ by the Marilyn Manson Allegations" by Amanda Arnold, The Cut, 2021 February 3
- "Q&A: Marilyn Manson" by William Goodman, Spin, 2009 June 24
- "Marilyn Manson on Rose McGowan's Allegations Against Harvey Weinstein: "I Disagree with the Entire Snowball Effect" by Sarah Murphy, Exclaim, 2017 December 21
- "Marilyn Manson speaks out on sexual harassment: ‘Tell the police, not the media’" by Mayer Nissim, NME, 2017 December 22
- "A Miami Goth-Scene Pioneer's Battle With Cancer" by Andrea Richard, WLRN Miami South Florida, 2013 November 18
- "Trent Reznor Disses Marilyn Manson" by Melissa Goldstein, Spin, 2009 June 2
- "Trent Reznor Rebukes Marilyn Manson in New Statement" by Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2021 February 3
- "OTEP Alleges MARILYN MANSON's Wife Would Call Her House "Hysterical" Because Manson Was Drugged, Abusive" by Robert Pasbani, Metal Injunction, 2021 February 5
- "Wes Borland on Marilyn Manson: "Every single thing that people have said about him is true" by Fraser Lewry, Metal Hammer, 2021 February 3
- "Marilyn Manson threatens journalists with violence" by Sean Michaels, Guardian, 2009 July 30
- "Marilyn Manson admitted rape threats, murder plot in autobiography" by Lee Brown, Page 6, 2021 February 3
- "Marilyn Manson detailed bashing mom with perfume bottle in 1999 book" by Laura Italiano, Page 6. 2021 February 4
- "Marilyn Manson Charged With Sexual Assault" by NME, 2001 August 17
- "Marilyn Manson: The Vampire of the Hollywood Hills" by Erik Hedegaard, Rolling Stone, 2015 January 6
- "Marilyn Manson: a nose for trouble" by Tim Noakes, Dazed, 2015 February 19
- "Marilyn Manson: ‘I created a fake world because I didn’t like the one I was living in’" by Carole Cadwalladr, Guardian, 2015 January 18