Marilyn Manson used to be about giving a voice and an identity to an entire generation of angst-ridden teenagers. It used to be about pissing off Mom and Dad, having fun and dressing up. It used to be about the music.

So why has all that stopped? Why has Marilyn Manson reverted to being just another MTV band? And why is Mr. Manson being such an asshole about it all?

I remember back when Manson was still relatively an underground band--back in the days just slightly before POAAF when Marilyn wore his shiny vinyls, both blue contacts, and his lip ring. He reminded everyone a little bit of a cross between Alice Cooper and various Saturday morning cartoon characters. The kids loved him and their parents hated him--and that's the way he wanted it.

Then Smells Like Children came out along and Manson started getting a big head. Along came the Sweet Dreamers, and this is when we "devoted" fans started getting a little pissy. We had put up with all of Marilyn's helpless cries for attention (and had even participated in a few ourselves) but god forbid there be any new faces in the crowd. Manson was our band, he was playing for us and besides, the Sweet Dreamers didn’t even know Manson, and had probably never even heard Portrait (and what's this you say? Didn't know the lyrics to Suicide Snowman?!).

But with AntiChrist Superstar, a lot of the formerly devoted fans just gave up hope. We had given him the benefit of the doubt with the Sweet Dreamers, but when you're at a concert between a 13-year-old girl wearing all black vinyl, complete with the smeared lipstick and ripped fishnet arm bands and a group of little 12-year-old Twiggys, it makes you wonder. Especially when you notice that you are the only one not singing "Hate every other hater."

Manson has chosen to become a sellout, which is fine if that's what he wants, but he's got to live up to it and not expect it to last forever. And if he says everyone is a hypocrite, and then turns right around and insults religious people by calling hypocrisy the entire basis of their church doctrines, that's not exacltly what's going to win people's praise. Or, at least, it shouldn't--the sad thing is that, all too often, it DOES, and that's where we get these blind followers of Manson saying "Manson is God" and "I worship Marilyn Manson." Don't they see that they are acting exactly oppisite the way Marilyn himself (allegedly) believes? And isn't that just a little TOO hypocritical?

The problem with Marilyn Manson is that he places himself on a pedistal about 10 feet above everyone else and thinks he's the all powerful Marilyn God while he subtlely patronises us humans--and he expects us to love him for it. Go figure.

Personally, in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons, I still like Marilyn Manson as a band---I've liked them for several years. But it is hard for me to respect and adore someone who doesn't respect me. And, despite what you've probably heard, Marilyn respects and adores no one but himself.


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