This biography on Marilyn Manson has been assembled by myself over the course of a few years from the Marilyn Manson autobiography, Long Hard Road out of Hell, and Rolling Stone magazine. I constantly revise and add additional information to it and use the only one hundred percent reliable source there is on Manson- himself. The Early Years Brian Warner was born on January 5, 1970 to Hugh and Barb Warner. Growing up, his best friends were his cousin, Chad, and his dog, a Husky, Aleusha. Brian and Chad were both looked after by their grandparents during the school week. This is where Brian discovered startling secrets about his grandfather, which would return in his nightmares during the creation of Antichrist Svperstar. Brian's grandfather, Jack Warner, was a cross dressing chronic masturbator, who would "please" himself while playing with a model train set in the basement of his home.
Brian went to Heritage Christian School, where he was exposed to one sided religious seminars every Friday afternoon. These seminars also discussed the influence of rock bands on youth. Rock was strictly forbidden within school walls. Ms. Price, the teacher who gave the seminars, also spoke often of the Antichrist, and the mark of the beast. Brian was terrified of the Antichrist, and had nightmares constantly. He was confused by the Antichrist, and feared becoming it. One of the reasons he became attached to rock and roll was sheer defiance, to be a rebel. Since he was a boy, he always had to be different.
While still attending Heritage, Brian befriended a girl of his age named Lisa. He became fond of her, one of his first big crushes. He liked Lisa so much, he even went to Church with her and her mother every Sunday. They were regular roller skating partners, as well. One day, while returning from the rink, Lisa was teasing him because he was so skinny. Brian covered her mouth to quiet her, and she released a large wad of mucus into his hand. He didn't talk to her ever again. This incident is one of the reasons Brian remained a lone boy, never having many friends.
After this, Brian began to act up in school, to get kicked out, his defiant streak flaring. His parents wouldn't let him go to public school, Glen Oak East, so he rebelled. First, he began by selling candy in school. Candy was not allowed in Heritage, so it was the perfect gig. Within the first month, Brian was caught and suspended, but not expelled. Upon his return, he began to make a six page magazine, (in the spirit of Cracked), called Stupid. He sold them for 25 cents each. Again, he was caught, and suspended, but not expelled. Following this, he sold tapes of rock music. Caught, suspended, but not expelled. Finally, he placed a dildo into the desk of his teacher, Ms. Price. The principal, Ms. Cole, never spoke to him about it, but called his parents into school, instead. Ms. Cole did not expel Brian, or even mention the dildo to his parents, but talked to them about discipline, and instilling the fear of God into him. Looking back, Marilyn Manson realized the school needed the money each student brought into it, hence he could never have been expelled -- he would just have to walk away, and that's exactly what he did.
In 1986, Brian Warner graduated High School, and as a gift, received a red Pontiac Fiero Coupe 2 door. Manson put 218, 000 miles on the 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter engine himself. The car was auctioned in 2000. Poetic Interest and the Spooky Kids At the age of 18, Brian began to write short stories and poems. He submitted his work to Night Terrors magazine, but his work was never accepted by the editor, John Glazer. When the Warners arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Brian began to write more often. He then turned to 25th Parallel, and conned his way in by telling the editors he had written nationally. He became Senior Editor there. While working for the 25th Parallel, Brian interviewed numerous bands, including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. What Brian never expected was that a year later, after Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids became simply Marilyn Manson, they would be opening for NIN.
And now, to the creation of the band: after his poetry stopped being printed, Brian decided on another way to voice his opinion. He convinced Jack Kearnie, owner of The Squeeze, a local club, to have an open-mike night. There, he would speak his piece of mind awkwardly in front of an audience. From there, a band was born.
Brian, dressed in a blue jacket which read, "Jesus saves", and blue and white striped tights, entered The Kitchen Club, with a class mate, looking for musicians. There he met Stephen Bier Jr., who would later become Madonna Wayne Gacy. Soon after, looking for a present for his cousin Chad, Brian met Jeordie White, who was to be Twiggy Ramirez, in a local CD store. Next, at a party, Brian found Scott Putesky, who was later Daisy Berkowitz. Finally, the band lured Brad Stewart who was to be Gidget Gein for completion. They were called Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids. Soon after the band was created, the dying Brian Warner became the vibrant, unexplainable Marilyn Manson, the most defiant musician to ever step foot on stage.
With the Spooky Kids, Manson composed the song Lunchbox, which was also included on the 1994 debut album, Portrait of an American Family. For the revised group, Lunchbox would provide a CD single, and a music video, aired nationally, the second from the record. Marilyn Manson Emerges In 1994, Marilyn Manson wrote and co-produced Portrait of an American Family, which was their debut album. A year later, Smells Like Children was released, a remix album. Smells Like Children also included a few remakes: Sweet Dreams (are made of this), by the Eurhythmics; Rock and Roll Nigger, by Patti Smith; and I Put a Spell on You by Credence Clearwater Revival.
In 1995, Marilyn Manson began a project which was seen as the peak of his career by many. The album Antichrist Svperstar was in creation. During this period of time, Manson's life, and band was falling apart. Controlled by drugs and sex, the band did little work on the album at all. Manson's goal was less and less becoming a reality. After a trip to the hospital after an overdose, Manson put things back into perspective. Within the hospital bed, he assessed the damage being done, to himself, and the band, and returned with a new vision in mind. Leaving drugs out of the picture, Manson rebuilt the band, and finished the ground breaking album that was his dream. There was to be no more drug induced self-destruction. Marilyn Manson - the person and the band - were back to stay. Antichrist Svperstar was released in 1996.
In 1998, Mechanical Animals was released. Mechanical Animals is an album unlike any other work of Manson. The record is glam, and the darker essence of his work was lifted, to be replaced by cynicism and self irony. The band had become more mainstream then ever, and had finally been acknowledged musically. On the cover of the CD stands Manson, in a plastic suit, androgynous. The record's fame had to be short lived, however, as the Columbine shootings cornered Manson, leaving him option less. He became evil in the public eye, and unwanted. The Rock is Dead tour was cut short and Manson returned to his home to figure out what happened.
November 16th, 1999 marked the release of The Last Tour on Earth, Marilyn Manson's live album documenting the Rock is Dead Tour of 1999. The album also includes Astonishing Panorama of the Endtimes, and a new image for Manson, including a shaved head.
In 2000, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) was released on November 14th, almost a complete year after The Last Tour on Earth. Holy Wood is Manson's most powerful album, leading him into deeper controversy with such songs as Disposable Teens, "President Dead", and The Death Song, all delivering harsh messages that have to be heard. Now more than ever will Manson need the support of fans to survive in this politically correct society.
Holy Wood documents Manson's struggle to survive after the Columbine incident was blamed on him and his music. Manson received several death threats during its creation, and so retreated into his attic to write and learn, to develop and rise again. Holy Wood is his Manson out and swinging, alive once again.
In 2001, Marilyn Manson, man and band, joined the Ozzfest tour despite strong opposition from everyone but fans and other bands already on the tour. One of the most memorable events in Marilyn Manson history occurred on this tour: a complete set in Denver, Colorado, the city of the ill-famed Columbine shootings. A group called C.P.R. petitioned to keep Manson and the band out of the city and the tour, but that obstacle was leaped and after Manson's sold out performance, according to Rolling Stone magazine, almost half the crowd exited the venue: they were all there to see Marilyn Manson.
Marilyn Manson has left a solid impression with his fans and his enemies. The band is different, but the message is still the same. The God of Shock Rock, Marilyn Manson, has made his mark, his goal has become a reality. Home |
