sevensevencorp:

Pop culture today is more vibrant and thrilling than it’s ever been. Scanning the current landscape you’ll find a whole host of Artist (that I really enjoy) who are inspiring and entertaining millions including, but not limited to Tyler The Creator, Chris Brown, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne.

Recently though, I got a bit excited when I heard murmurings from a dark corner. A certain melo-dramatic howl of someone sinister, someone devilish, someone we all know as Marilyn Manson.

See, ol Mr. Manson is gearing up for a new album, Born Villain, recently releasing to the world a Holy Mountain (ref 1: http://imdb.to/11ldUX ) inspired music video directed by Shia Lebaof  - No Reason (ref 2: http://bit.ly/o5veYA).

What I find a tad bit confusing, or dare I say shocking, is why Marilyn Manson isn’t getting a little more credit? A bit more accolades?  And a little more respect amongst – well, everyone, especially at this stage in his career. Why isn’t the devil being given his proper due?

The criticism has virtually been the same since the 90’s: “A tired shock artist who’s bag of tricks are as much old as they are used for attention.” But is this fair?

Lady Gaga turned heads as well as sparking a fair share of conversation when she arrived at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in full drag; A drag-king to be exact. But really? Gender bending? Don’t get me started. Marilyn Manson was the undisputed king of gothic androgony taking the style to new levels in 1998 with his Ziggy Stardust inspired 1998 album, Mechanical Animals (ref 3:http://bit.ly/o4bcWC ) . It was during this time, when Marilyn Manson took on the glam’d out persona, Omega, dawning bright red hair and eyes, tits and a Ken and Barbie like nub where his genitals should’ve been (ref 4:http://youtu.be/5R682M3ZEyk & ref 5: http://youtu.be/zjud7VH32pU).

Everything about Lady Gaga both stylistically and sonically is virtually a light version of Marilyn Manson. After all, Manson is and never wanted to be anything more than “dark-pop.” They’re visuals, they’re public personas are virtually inspired by the same thing; Art. Everything they do can be traced back to some artist period, or some artist rather they be a static Artist, or a performers ranging from The Club Kids to Leigh Bowery (ref 6:http://bit.ly/aT6wz)  - to Alice Cooper or KISS.

You might find, of say, Tyler: The Creator’s horrocore, style – his vague satanic references to be somewhat novel?  Exciting? Even a bit, twisted? Two words: “Antichrist Superstar!” (ref 7: http://bit.ly/3HqyzZ) the title of Manson breakthrough 1996 conceptual album.

With his overt and charming references to the dark lord coupled with his ascension into popular culture Manson became a frequent target of the religious and political right in American who’s natural knee-jerk mouth breathing reaction was to see him (and they weren’t alone), literally, as the devil incarnate. In fact the Antichrist Supersaver album booklet acts as a vertical user-friendly corner store guide to the occult.  

Lil Wayne might be considered a modern day rock star - an outlaw of pop culture, what with his drug use, his tatted up physic, his long hair, his stellar rock n roll tinged persona and concert experiences. Except kids, Marilyn Manson was the original Rock N Roll Nigger.

Like Vaudeville before him a Marilyn Manson concert was a wild good ol time of a racus including put not limited to, joints being passed around, pills being consumed, beer bottles flying left and right – the occasional sexual encounter, though not in a bathroom or someplace private  – but right in the audience. And the outfits – don’t get me started on the outfits.

On stage was no better.

A dry humping here and there – a skull fucking for kicks. Outrageous costumes, goulash makeup; Long, greasy sweaty bottled-black hair;  Loud, rock n roll piping from the speakers – Buzzsaw guitar riffs, teutonic drum percussions, the breaking of equipment, the cutting of ones self right across the chest and a romantic echoing of Adolf Hilters Nuremberg Rallies.

Good times. Good times I tell ya.

Recently Chris Brown made a successfully comeback after the near career ending blowout with Rihanna back in 2009 (ref 8: http://nydn.us/a0Ai). You want to know who else was able to weather the storm of public scrutiny after a career ending public indecent?

In 1999 near Littleton Colorado two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, enteted their high school, Columbine High School, armed to the teeth and took the lives of 13 of their fellow students, plus one teacher before taking their own (ref 9: http://bit.ly/9pWtGr). The witch-hunt that followed – the media firestorm, penned the blame squarely on Marilyn Manson.

If you don’t know, or don’t remember, Columbine was a big fucking deal. Up until that point is was the most deviating school shooting in American history and Marilyn Manson was considered the culprit. But he survived. In 2000 he released a album - a bitter, angry, critically acclaimed, poorly selling, and banned at Walmart album, Holy Wood. It was as much rock and roll as it was a indictment of American hypocrisy, layering it with occult symbolism and pop culture references ranging from the John F. Kennedy assassination to the John Lennon to Tarot Cards.

Up until this point Chris Brown, has not released any song addressing what happened between him and Rihanna – dodging, avoiding even, some might say, running from the issue all together But, In a act of sheer defiance Marilyn Manson spit Columbine right back into our collective faces, using the incident as inspiration for the singles (and subsequent videos) for Disposable Teens (http://youtu.be/GKkiCFOE-Ic), The Fight Song (http://youtu.be/9GFI6Rf-IkI) and The Nobodies (http://youtu.be/f4JWt-HxIac).

After the, some would say embarrassing (but in my opinion it was a knee-jerk and not well thought out move by his public relation teams) television appearance on the Larry King Show (ref 9: http://gaw.kr/CtE8) Chris Brown public relations team quickly realized that they needed a new strategy, and late knight “adult” talk shows, were not his forum. Chris Brown may be many things, but he’s not polished enough to articulate himself in a mature and persuasive fashion.

But Marilyn Manson is.

After a brief time “away” – waiting until the hype from Columbine died down, he emerged and took the opportunity to face his critic’s head on, appearing on Fox News’ highly popular mostly conservative talk show The O’Riley Factor (ref 10: http://youtu.be/G6n5Oi4714o) and confronting angered parents (ref 11:http://youtu.be/P4rnAZEKkI4) on a edition of MTV’s TRL in late 2000.

Now not get me wrong! I’m not comparing Marilyn Manson to contemporary entertainers, like some ego-boosting dick swinging contest amogst guys  – indulging a desire to suggest that one is bigger, er, better than the other. I’m not. I love Gaga, Tyler, Chris Brown. I’ve been to a Lil Wayne concert and had a great time. The man is a truly and unquestionable phenomenal entertainer. They all are.

I’m just suggesting that nothing new exists under the sun and maybe – MAYBE, its time to give the devil his due - the respect and acclaim he deserves.

And here’s why:

He was and is a champion of free speech – helping to make it easier for entertainers today to freely express themselves and do their job as they see fit. He moved the bar, ever so higher and defined what it meant to be an entertainer. He barebacked his way across the collective conciseness of popular culture becoming a voice, an icon for and to angst ridden teens in Bill Clintons’ 90’s. He inspired so many “be themselves” given confidence to those who where constantly ridiculed for their appearance – long before the recent anti bullying campaign(s).

His music, his art, his very look continues to entertaine and inspire millions around the world both casual fan and celebrity alike. The very name itself conjured up connotations of something evil, something sinister, something sinister, something we shouldn’t be listening to – and something, well, exciting.

Perhaps his greatest contribution to culture was his short, but meaningful, appearance in the Michael Moore documentary Bowling for Columbine in which he explained that music was “the escape.”

He was right. When you’re a teenager you’re under so much pressure, so much bodily changes and so many feelings of alienation. In many cases you’re only escape is music – because music, your favorite record will never judge you. In fact It will make you feel better about your life.

When asked by Moore, what he would’ve said to the Columbine killers, he replied that he would’ve “Said nothing and just listened – something no one else did.”

Despite his popularity, He was never a big “numbers” guy. Sure he pushed a lot of units – making a lot of money for Interscope and Nothing Records but nothing compared to say, Britney Spears or Jay-Z.

And yet, somehow he always managed to remain relevant – offering up a healthy villainous alternative in the pop culture spectrum. This was true up until lets say, 2006-07, when he one reason or another fell off the pop culture radar.

The same could be true today. He’ll never be able to compete money wise or in a popularity with the likes of Lil Wayne, Kings Of Leon, 30 Seconds To Mars -  but he can still be an alternative in spite of his age (he must be atleast 43 now) and criticism. Pop culture always needs good villains and Marilyn Manson is a Born Villian.

Was he the first? Absolutely not, and he’ll be the fist to tell you that. Is he the best? Depends on who you ask. Was he the only champion of free speech? No. Tupac, NWA, The New York Dolls, Madonna, Prince, Sonic Youth, The MC5, Cab Calloway, Nine Inch Nails, Onyx, Grace Jones, Black Sabboth, DMX, and a whole host of others - all pushed boundaries and buttons.

But one thing is for certain – he is, in my opinion the last rock star – who is approaching the age and stage in his career where he might be considered an icon.

The people who love him like a god and the people who dismiss him as being a tired relic of the 90’s give him too much credit, except for the credit he deserves.

But love him or hate him he did and does make pop culture that much more entertaining.

Maybe, just maybe its high time to give the devil his due.

PS

Think about it - Kanye West may have produced a song called Jesus Walks (cite) Lady Gaga has a song and video called Judas – but no artist has the gull to produce entire album called Antichrist Superstar, nor would they even dare take on the public persona and relate to the fallen angel – and make it sound good!

(via amazingatheist)