Alice Cooper may have pioneered the whole shock rock movement in the 70s, but for the MTV-dependent 90s and the new millennium Marilyn Manson (aka Brian Warner) is definitely the icon of choice among discerning metal fans keen to upset their parents and teachers.
Warner's career actually started out in the realms of music journalism which doubtless gave him the incentive to launch his career as the androgynous gothic freak nightmare of Marilyn Manson. Starting out as Marilyn Manson And The Spooky Kids, before becoming simply Marilyn Manson, the band rapidly formed something of a major reputation in their home locale of south Florida, the conservative nature of the area highlighting their deliberate mission to offend any self-appointed moral guardians. Winning a supporting slot with Nine Inch Nails the band signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records, the perfect home for their sub-industrial glam grind.
Their 1994 debut 'Portrait Of An American Family' was a solid enough stab at skewering the values of middle America but with 1996's 'Antichrist Superstar' and its slew of MTV hit singles - aided by some dazzling video work - Manson became public enemy number one. As if it were possible, 1998 follow-up 'Mechanical Animals' taunted the moral guardians with even more viciously acerbic satire. The latest album 'Holywood' has already stirred up loads of controversies.
Check out newz, updates, lyrics, discography @ www.marilynmanson.com. A real neat site, but it takes a bit of time to understand the latout of the site.... so what else do you expect from Marilyn Manson ;-)!