OK. Here’s the deal. I’m not going to tell you what the info’s FOR (why I need it), because that might influence what I get. I need info on Marilyn Manson, focusing on his (her?) life. I’m sure I can find song lyrics easily enough, but what I really need are things about his (her?) life, and if at ALL possible, interpretations BY HIM (her?) of his (her?) songs. Any links would be helpful. Also, if you’ve been to one of his (her) concerts, I could also use an account of what sort of things went on.
Remember, I’m trying for this to be as UNbiased as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
(Sorry if this is in the incorrect forum (MPSIMS? GD [later, maybe]? The PIT?!) or if it’s been posted before.
Marylin Manson was born Brian Warner somewheres in ohio. He was an extremely normal, reserved kid until he got out of high school, where he started some band or another. Then he got into the whole 80’s shock rock revival thing and became what he currently is. All this is from my Manson days back in high school freshman year, so the only things I’m absolutely sure about are Reverend Brain Warner (Church of Satan) and the normal childhood part.
I would like to add that he somehow made his way to Florida when he was in his late teens/early twenties (family moved there?) and had a band called the Spooky Kids and later Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.
Also, on VH1 he once mentioned that his family was extremely religious and that he went to extremely strict Christian schools yada yada yada. He seemed to intimate that his fetish for gore, death and Satan is a result of his upbringing.
And I gotta agree with samclem: It’s all an act. When his 15 minutes are up, he’ll probably by a condo in West Palm Beach, take off his freakish makeup, and play golf for the next 45 years, or until he drinks himself to death. Whichever comes first. :rolleyes:
If Spritle were in his shoes (heels?) the conversation with self might have gone something like this:
Hmmm. I want to be a millionaire. Who makes gobs of money…legally? Actors! That Tom Cruise dude is getting something like $20 mil/pic!
Hmmm. I have no acting ability. On to plan B. I’ll be a musical star!! OK, what demographic spends the most money on music? Teenagers!! What do teenagers like? Whatever their parents don’t!!
OK, here’s the plan. I’ll form a band (how hard can it be to learn three power chords). Next, I need an image that is totally against the parental establishment…
Marilyn Manson is a he/him. No she/her involved, despite the molded breast bodysuit for Mechanical Animals. The band members take first names of sex icons and the last names of serial killers (Marilyn Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, etc.).
Brian Warner used to hang out with my brothers and his friends in the malls of suburban Ft. Lauderdale, about ten years ago.
He had just moved down from Ohio, and was in the metal music scene at the time. He wrote reviews and interviews for Rag, a local free music mag that you pick up in music and record stores. In the recent Saigon Kick greatest hits compilation, there’s a photocopy of one of Brian Warner’s reviews of a SK gig, circa 1990.
Anyway, he took a stage name, formed a local band called Marilyn Manson and the Funky Bunch and got noticed by Trent Reznor right around 1991-92. I used to be on their mailing list, which consisted of a news sheet photocopied, including bad Xeroxes of gay porn interspersed with their club dates. I wish I kept some of them, they’d probably be worth something on eBay now…
He’s not doing anything that Alice Cooper and David Bowie weren’t doing 25 years ago, and he knows it. Musically, he’s nowhere near good, either. He’s an entertainer, and a shocker.
I’m not sure how unbiased it is, since it’s a vaguely left/liberal paper (which is why I read it) and seems to be aiming at dispelling some of the hysteria around him. It certainly doesn’t tally with the idea of a normal childhood:
(mods: I hope this quote isn’t a problem; the article itself is much longer, and this is the bit most relevant to his upbringing)
His show is a total act. He was actually a very good interviewee. I saw an interview with him last week with Zane Petersen on MTV. He came across as very smart, and a bit more mature than he has in the past. I think that he realises that his act will wear thin with his fans.
He is talented, both musically and economically. Some of his music is very good. The biography (which Manson co-operated on), well, I wouldn’t say that is the most unbiased of sources. After all, the more shocking it is, the more it sells, and the more money for the Author and the more money for Manson.
No. See, I ALREADY did a search (before I posted the question), and I came up with either Manson FAN sites (I’m not interested in what his FANS think, I’m interested in what HE thinks) or religious sites that trashed him (and as we all know, those CAN be a bit misleading).
Everyone else: Thanks for the info so far, it’s been somewhat helpful. Anything else (What’s happened at concerts, interviews [mattk, thank you SO much for the article. Very helpful], anything like that. . .) would be GREATLY appreciated.
Read his book if you want info on what he thinks. Its a start at least (and not a bad read, while you are at it.)
I can’t help you beyond that, I have listened to some of his music (I liked the oldish stuff better than his new stuff) but I like other music better (RENT)
Marylyn “wrote” a really bad book about himself, in which he basically says, “Whaah whaaah, I had a really weird childhood and got crabs so now I’m lashing out at society and I’m a big poser and do way too much coke.”
That’s funny, I read the same book and what I got out of it was that he had a basically normal upbringing with the standard dose of disfunction thrown in. I also read about how he started his first band and their trials and tribulations. Then I read about how he hopped on the rock star bandwagon and drowned himself in drugs and drink for several years before emerging (somewhat smarter) into who he is today.
He didn’t have to have the book. He could have just had the whole world believe that he was a Satan-worshipping, puppy-killing, blood-drinking, cocaine-addicted, groupie-raping psychopath by doing nothing but being himself. However, he does have the book and it dispels some of that blown-entirely-out-of-proportion, over-the-top mythology floating around about him.
It’s not a bad read. It’s actually entertaining. I highly suggest it if you want insight into how his thought processes work.