Marilyn Manson

Aka the Antichrist/Brian Warner, interestingly this controversial rocker began his musical career as a music journalist.  After becoming disillusioned with his life as an outsider he and fellow loner guitarist Scott Mitchell, formed a band.  Mitchell then changed his name to Daisy Berkowitz, Warner swiftly followed suit, changing his name to Marilyn Manson.

The line up was completed with the addition of bass player Gidget Gein and keyboardist Madonna Wayne-Gacy.  Even at the beginning of his musical career, Manson was noted for his theatrical make up and on stage antics.  As a collective they became known as Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids.

In 1993 they were offered a recording contract with the Nothing Records Label, the following year they opened for the ‘Nine Inch Nails’.  Their debut album ‘Portrait of a family’ was released and later that year Twiggy Ramirez replaced Gein on Bass. 

Around this time their popularity was beginning to grow.  Marilyn’s on stage antics were gaining him a new found notoriety.  During an appearance in Salt Lake City the Antichrist ripped up a copy of the religious Book of Mormon.   Although some critics dismissed him as a publicity seeking manipulator, his popularity with troubled white teenagers continued to grow.  The release of ‘Smells Like Children’ in 1995 cemented their assault on mainstream consciousness.  The record was a huge success, although in part this was due to a cover of the Eurythmics' ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).’

Fellow founder Berkowitz was the next to jump ship he was subsequently replaced by guitarist Zim Zum.  The 1996 release ‘Antichrist Superstar’ provided Manson with another massive hit, reaching number three in the pop music album charts.  His continued success sparked the picketing of his concerts from various religious groups.  His controversial style was attacked by the right wing and the religious.  Yet all the media attention simply reinforced his popularity, the more controversial he became the more records he sold.  At the time he was hailed as on of the biggest entertainers of the time.  He was gracing the covers of magazines such as Rolling Stone and his biography ‘The Long Hard Road out Of Hell’ was a best seller.

In 2001 Marilyn was touring to support the release of the album ‘Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death).’ Whilst performing in Michigan he was charged with criminal sexual conduct after it was alleged he performed an offensive act on a security guard.  His version of ‘Tainted Love’ appeared on the ‘Not Another Teen Movie Soundtrack’ whilst another security guard accused the artist of rubbing his pelvis on his head.  He was eventually charged for committing a misdemeanour in Michigan and all civil suits were dropped.

‘The Golden Age of Grotesque’ was released in May 2003; it provided the rocker with yet another success, spending a week at the top of the album charts.

Since then he has released a best of album, which contains his favourite hits including a cover of ‘Personal Jesus’ by Depeche Mode.

Lest We Forget: The best of    Imusic  2004
Lunch Boxes and Choklit Cows Imusic 2004
The Golden Age of Grotesque Interscope Records 2003
Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) Nothing/Interscope 2001
Mechanical Animals                  Interscope Records 1998
Antichrist Superstar                 Interscope Records 1996
Smells Like Children                 Interscope records  1995