Doug Small: Marilyn Manson - The Unauthorized Biography

Marilyn Manson emerged from the swamplands of Southern Florida to take the Nineties music scene by the throat, garnering chart success and critical acclaim while simultaneously whipping the moral majority into such a frenzy they were late for church. Fast-forward to 2007 and Manson hasn’t loosened his grip, with his latest in an impressive string of hit albums, Eat Me, Drink Me, set to sustain his stranglehold.

Ever since Antichrist Superstar hit the unsuspecting U.S. charts with a Number Three debut back in 1996, Manson has been waging a full-on war against conservative groups whose hysterical cries of outrage against the rock star they’ve mistaken for Satan have ensured that barely a date on world tour after world tour has gone by without protest, controversy, or cancellation. When the finger was pointed at him in the wake of the Columbine shootings, he chose to use his prominence as Public Enemy Number One to advocate freedom of expression and the importance of art and individualism. The uproar persists, but Manson has proven himself to be a provocateur who can be relied upon to create ever-evolving and enduring art.

Here are all of the down and dirty details of the band whose goal is to be the musical equivalent of shouting Fire! in a crowded theatre. From Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids’ formation in 1989 and their early gigs, through the progression of the band’s sound and lineup to Manson’s present-day incarnation as artist, actor, writer, director, and musician. Filled with glossy photographs, revelling in the gory glory, this book is a must-read for anyone inspired by the inimitable Marilyn Manson.