Marilyn Manson

This article is about the person. For his band, see Marilyn Manson (band).

Marilyn Manson, (born Brian Hugh Warner on January 5, 1969), whose name is formed from Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, is an American musician and the lead vocalist of the band Marilyn Manson.

Early life

Marilyn Manson was born in Canton, Ohio and christened Brian Hugh Warner. He attended Heritage Christian School, but was alienated by what he saw as hypocrisy, and a religion that seemed to teach fear more than it taught virtues; sermons prophesying the Apocalypse had a lasting effect upon his outlook. After transferring and later graduating from Canton's Glen Oak High School, Brian and his family moved to Boca Raton, Florida. While living in Boca Raton, he attended Broward Community College studying journalism and theatre [1], becoming assistant entertainment editor of BCC's student newspaper, the Observer.

Private life

Those close to Manson give a mixed impression of his personality. While his wife, Dita Von Teese speaks of him as a genuine and passionate individual and parents Barbara and Hugh often expressed great pride in their son's career, Manson has a history of strained and destructive relationships.

Manson has been quoted as saying, "I always feel like other people are interchangeable."

Unofficial tour footage allegedly reveals Manson treating fans, interviewers, and tour staff in a condescending, demanding, or curt manner.

Fallout with Trent Reznor

One of his very high-profile relationships, the defunct friendship with Trent Reznor, has been marked with mutual bitterness and perhaps vendetta. In an interview Manson implicated Reznor as being responsible for the disappearance of the master recordings of Manson's first 3 albums. Although it was thought that the two had since reconciled their differences, Trent Reznor has since criticized Manson on a number of occasions, specifically for his cover of Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus' and joked at his expense in a UK Metal Hammer interview.

Twiggy Ramirez's departure

In May 2002 Twiggy Ramirez (real name Jeordie White) dramatically left the band, citing differences in perspective as to the future of the band. It is widely circulated that Ramirez left the band of his own volition and belief that the job of Manson bassist had become too routine. He went on to play bass for A Perfect Circle and Nine Inch Nails.

While not a hostile departure, Manson has publicly maintained that he fired Ramirez.

Manson told SPIN Magazine:

"He felt he had to choose between his personal life and Marilyn Manson (the band), and I pointed out that Marilyn Manson should be his personal life. It was amicable, but we don't see each other anymore."

Manson has claimed in interviews that he and Twiggy are still close friends although Jeordie maintains that he rarely speaks to Manson. Twiggy was not invited to Manson's wedding to Dita Von Teese on December 3, 2005.

Fallout with John 5

One example is former guitarist John 5's reaction to being fired:

"I don't know… I was nothing but nice to him," he continued. "I never screwed up onstage — well not really badly — and I did everything I could to get along with him. Maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with the fact that I don't drink or do any drugs, and he's not like that at all. Maybe he held that against me. I don't know. He never said."

But it was later confirmed in innumerable interviews that John 5's reasons for leaving were mutual; he was in fact attempting to pursue a solo career and to also form another band. John continues to hold a deep respect for Manson, citing his skilled production style and his love for the band's music - John was already a fan of the band before joining in 1998.

Romance

Manson has been linked to or involved with Melissa "Missi" Romero, Traci Lords, and Jenna Jameson.

After a series of reports and insights into his private life, Manson was engaged to Rose McGowan, but their relationship ended around the time he became involved with burlesque dancer and adult model, Dita Von Teese.

Marriage

Manson and Von Teese started dating on Manson's 32nd birthday, and Manson proposed four years later on 22 March 2004. On 3 December 2005, the couple were married in a non-denominational ceremony at Gurteen Castle in Kilsheelan, County Tipperary, Ireland, the home of Gottfried Helnwein. The wedding was officiated by surrealist film director and comic book writer Alejandro Jodorowsky. She wore a royal purple silk taffeta gown by Vivienne Westwood, complete with train and petticoats worn over a Mr. Pearl couture corset, topped off by a tricorne hat by Stephen Jones, while Manson wore a John Galliano black silk taffeta tuxedo with velvet trim and a hat also crafted by Stephen Jones. They reportedly exchanged vows in front of approximately 60 guests, including burlesque dancer Catherine Delish, Lisa Marie Presley, Eric Szmanda, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, David Lynch, Jessicka and Christian Hejnal.

Film career

Manson has helped or provided full scores for several major motion pictures, although several of his pieces have been cut, and his name dropped from the credits. Some of his more notable soundtrack score contributions include From Hell, The Matrix and Resident Evil. Manson's first appearance in a film was in the role of a pornographic actor in David Lynch's Lost Highway, in 1997. He also had a minor role in former love interest Rose McGowan's 1998 flick Jawbreaker and a supporting role in 2003's Party Monster. His most talked-about film cameo was in the Michael Moore political documentary Bowling for Columbine discussing the motivations of the perpetrators and allegations that his music was somehow a factor.

Manson was featured in the 2004 film The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, and is set to appear in Abelcain, directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Living Neon Dreams in 2005 as well as voicing Edgar the Gray Alien in the game Area 51. He will also be seen as a bartender in an upcoming vampire movie starring Lucy Liu called Rise.

He is currently working on PHANTASMAGORIA: The Visions Of Lewis Carroll, which is scheduled to appear on his website by the end of 2006. The film is said to feature special effects using a magician rather than computer-generated imagery.

Art career

Manson is also an accomplished watercolor painter. An exhibit for his art was held at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions on September 13, September 14, 2002 and also at the Hotel Lutecia, Paris on September 14, 2004 and the next day in Berlin. He contributed a piece to the West Memphis Three benefit exhibition at six spaces. Many of his paintings have sold for over $5,000; buyers include Jack Osbourne, Nicolas Cage, Dave Navarro, and Andy Dick. He has also stated that a new book containing all his pieces of art work will be released in the near future, possibly 2006.

Manson calls his art movement the Celebritarian Corporation. In January 2006 his website was updated with many new artworks being revealed. Details have been listed here at the Hierophant.

Lawsuits

• In a civil battery suit, David Diaz, a security officer from a concert in Minneapolis, Minnesota on October 27, 2000, sued for $75,000 in a Minneapolis federal court. The federal court jury found in Manson's favor.
• In a civil suit presented by Oakland County, Manson was charged with sexual misconduct against another security officer, Joshua Keasler, during a concert in Detroit, Michigan on July 30, 2001. Oakland County originally filed assault & battery and criminal sexual misconduct charges, but the judge reduced the latter charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Manson pleaded no contest to the reduced charges, paid a $4,000 fine, and later settled the lawsuit under undisclosed terms.

• A $15M lawsuit by former guitarist Scott Putesky (known in the band as Daisy Berkowitz) was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

• In April 2002 the mother of Jennifer Syme alleged that Manson's distribution of a controlled substance led to her wrongful death.

Trivia

• Is good friends with actor Billy Zane. Zane was the first person Manson got to know when he arrived in Hollywood.
• His prized sartorial possession is a jacket made from the skins of conjoined twin lambs.
• Just before his own wedding, Manson criticized Britney Spears wedding to Kevin Federline, in which they celebrated by wearing personalized tracksuits: "If you're going to do something like getting married, it should have a sense of celebration to it. It should be grand and not in tracksuits!" [2]
• In July 2005, Manson told Rolling Stone Magazine that he was shifting his focus from music to filmmaking - "I just don't think the world is worth putting music into right now. I no longer want to make art that other people--particularly record companies--are turning into a product. I just want to make art."
• Manson guest appeared on rapper DMX's album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood for the track "The Omen", produced by Swizz Beats.
• Marilyn Manson was mentioned in the controversial lyrics of New Radicals' hit song "You Get What You Give". In response, Manson stated that he would crack Gregg Alexander's skull for using him in the same sentence as Courtney Love.
• Played himself on an episode of the animated television series Clone High, where he sings a song about nutrition and the food pyramid.
• An urban legend circulated in the 1990s that the actor Josh Saviano who played a nerdy sidekick in the 1960s themed TV show The Wonder Years grew up to be Marilyn Manson.
• An urban legend circulated that Marilyn Manson had two ribs removed so he could facilitate fellatio on himself.
• Another urban legend circulated that actor Rob Stone from Mr. Belvedere was Marilyn Manson at a younger age.
• Marilyn Manson was considered for the role of Dr Jonathon Crane/The Scarecrow in Batman Begins.
• His height, 6'3", is mentioned briefly by Marilyn Manson in his autobiographical work, The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell, as well as by him in interviews, wherein he usually credits his height to an abnormality caused at birth by his father Hugh's exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
• Manson made a cameo appearance in a short film in the BMW Films series (starring Clive Owen as the Driver), which featured James Brown as himself, and Gary Oldman as Satan.
• Marilyn Manson bears the title of "Reverend" in Anton Szandor Lavey's Church Of Satan.
• In the 2005 first-person shooter Area 51, Manson provides voice talents (an alien named Edgar), alongside David Duchovny and Powers Boothe.
• Marilyn Manson is featured as a playable character in the video game MTV Celebrity Deathmatch. Marilyn Manson was on the first level and could be killed easily.
• Marilyn Manson has stated that he may create his own fragrance and line of cosmetics.
• His favourite vegetable is brocoli
• Enjoys absinthe.
• His favorite film is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
• Claims to have lost his virginity at 16.

Major label discography

• Portrait of an American Family (1994)
• Smells Like Children (1995)
• Antichrist Superstar (1996)
• Remix and Repent (1997)
• Mechanical Animals (1998)
• The Last Tour on Earth (Live) (1999)
• Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (2000)
• The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003)
• Lest We Forget (The Best Of) (2004)

Filmography

• Lost Highway (Acting, 1997)
• Jawbreaker (Acting, 1999)
• From Hell (Score, 2001)
• Resident Evil (Score, 2002)
• Bowling for Columbine (Guest Appearance, 2002)
• The Hire: Beat The Devil (Acting, 2003)
• Party Monster (Acting, 2003)
• Doppelherz (Director, 2003)
• The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (Acting, 2004)
• Living Neon Dreams (Acting, 2006)
• Rise (Acting, 2006)
• PHANTASMAGORIA: The Visions Of Lewis Carroll (Acting, Directing, Writing, Score, 2006)
• Abelcain (Acting, TBA)
• Up To The Ground (Acting, TBA)

Writing

• The Long Hard Road Out Of Hell (1998)

External links

• Manson's Official Website
• Marilyn Manson Artwork Online
• The Heirophant Marilyn Manson News
• The Nachtkabarett Marilyn Manson Analysis
• Marilyn Manson at IMDb
• Manson's Mugshot Taken after his arrest in Detroit, July 2001 for sexual misconduct.