Untitled Document

He's offensive, he's grotesque, he's the androgen that pushes America's buttons, and he represents what every suburban mother fears... he's Marilyn Manson, and the man knows how to put on a show!

Visions of the nations icon set afire light up the screen as "God Bless America" plays. The band filed onto the stage John 5, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Ginger Fish, and Manson appearing last. Tall, gaunt and daunting he is disgusting and glamorous all at once somehow. It's like looking face-on into an accident, you're ashamed to admit you are attracted to this almost putrid thing before you, but you are.

Mr. Manson stands before the crowd preaching like a pastor to his congregation. Before "Disposable Teens", "This song is for every dad that said you'd never amount to anything!" the crowd responds "F**k YOU!" "This is song is for every priest that said you're going to hell!" Congregation..."F**k YOU!"

During "The Nobodies" the stage was filled with thick smoke and bathed in a glow of purple lights. MM entered crawling on tall stilts arm braces and wondered around the stage alike a spider in the throws of death. As the band played "Rock is Dead", and "The Dope Show" Manson sang every note not dropping his stage persona for a second. A curiously fragile ragdoll of a figure Twiggy flails around the stage in his little cotton frock and his make-up impersonating a blend of Betty Davis in "What ever happens to baby Jane" and Robert Smith of the Cure. Twiggy is a worthy sidekick to Manson's magnificent tragedy. For "Crucifixion in Space" MM has changed to what seems to be a long black skirt, but it begins to telescope towards the sky until it's about 20 ft. high. Always pushing the envelope of good taste Manson brings a girl on stage during "Sweet Dreams" and simulates sex with her, and even manages to get her topless (she didn't seem to mind). Later he comes out wearing a Pope costume for "Antichrist Superstar" , images of famous and/or controversial people are on the screens.... Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Manson, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Gandhi, John Lennon Jesus Christ, the Pope, and Hitler. For the last song MM has an "SS" style costume and sang "The Beautiful People" from his podium with his emblem of the cross fashioned out of guns. A strong political parallel speaking volumes about his views on both gun control and our country, his set ended with the well placed knee to the groin of the right winged religious front of our nation.

Click here to read the about the other performers at Ozzfest 2001
All Text © 2001 The Scene Los Angeles

All Photos © 2001 K.J. Banuk

Marilyn Manson Ozzfest 2001 by Caren Spitler

He's offensive, he's grotesque, he's the androgen that pushes America's buttons, and he represents what every suburban mother fears... he's Marilyn Manson, and the man knows how to put on a show!	Visions of the nations icon set afire light up the screen as "God Bless America" plays. The band filed onto the stage John 5, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Ginger Fish, and Manson appearing last. Tall, gaunt and daunting he is disgusting and glamorous all at once somehow. It's like looking face-on into an accident, you're ashamed to admit you are attracted to this almost putrid thing before you, but you are. Mr. Manson stands before the crowd preaching like a pastor to his congregation. Before "Disposable Teens", "This song is for every dad that said you'd never amount to anything!" the crowd responds "F*k YOU!" "This is song is for every priest that said you're going to hell!"* Congregation..."F**k YOU!"
During "The Nobodies" the stage was filled with thick smoke and bathed in a glow of purple lights. MM entered crawling on tall stilts arm braces and wondered around the stage alike a spider in the throws of death. As the band played "Rock is Dead", and "The Dope Show" Manson sang every note not dropping his stage persona for a second. A curiously fragile ragdoll of a figure Twiggy flails around the stage in his little cotton frock and his make-up impersonating a blend of Betty Davis in "What ever happens to baby Jane" and Robert Smith of the Cure. Twiggy is a worthy sidekick to Manson's magnificent tragedy. For "Crucifixion in Space" MM has changed to what seems to be a long black skirt, but it begins to telescope towards the sky until it's about 20 ft. high. Always pushing the envelope of good taste Manson brings a girl on stage during "Sweet Dreams" and simulates sex with her, and even manages to get her topless (she didn't seem to mind). Later he comes out wearing a Pope costume for "Antichrist Superstar" , images of famous and/or controversial people are on the screens.... Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Manson, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Jackie Kennedy, Gandhi, John Lennon Jesus Christ, the Pope, and Hitler. For the last song MM has an "SS" style costume and sang "The Beautiful People" from his podium with his emblem of the cross fashioned out of guns. A strong political parallel speaking volumes about his views on both gun control and our country, his set ended with the well placed knee to the groin of the right winged religious front of our nation.