The lights dimmed and the crowd broke into a frenzy. The chanting of "Manson, Manson, Manson" could be heard rising above the screams. Just as the crowd of generation x'ers and those belonging to a generation yet un-named were growing impatient, there was movement on-stage. The crowd began to surge and move as one great mosh pit as the lights rose on the figure of Marilyn Manson atop a huge stair case in the center of the stage. The Anti-christ stood in front of a crudely constructed church wall, with a stain glass window in the center of it all. The picture was that of a clean shaven christ which bared a striking resemblance to Manson himself.
Why does he do this? Why has this man invaded our otherwise peaceful existence, and created a state of chaos? Or has he? Hasn't he only brought the message of individuality and self expression, a message that society claims to support, into a new light? Manson is the epitome of individuality, there is no other human being on the planet who can even come close to this man. Not even the industrial god Trent Reznor. While Trent is an individual, he still lacks the essence that Marilyn Manson captures. Trent is very much like myself in that while he is an individual, he is still trapped by society. Manson however seems to overcome this. His concerts are a show, where he steps out of the bonds of society and leads the onlookers into a dream. It’s an ethereal experience one that will not soon be forgotten by anyone who attends.
America has always been portrayed as the melting pot. The place to go if you want to express yourself, if you want to be yourself, if you want to practice your belief. Why is it then that when someone does just this he is ostracized and rejected by the majority of people in the country? Is it maybe that they were `just kidding' when they said that we could be ourselves? I think it is. If you look at anyone in the work force today, they all look the same. Whether they have a uniform or a power tie and a dark suit, were all carbon copies of each other. But not anymore. The newer generations won't stand for this, and Manson is there to make sure that we don't have to. We have to fight for our individuality, we have to take what is rightfully ours.
Parents cringe at the thought of their children listening to this `trash', this `noise' that does nothing but repeat the word `fuck' a million times, and spread a message of anti-religion and individualism. However what parents don't realize is that it's about time someone has reached out to us. Many music groups have come before Manson spreading the same message, but they weren't listened too like Manson is. Hootie and the Blowfish for example have a wonderful song called `Drowning.' A very powerful anti-racism song, though no one really paid it any attention. Hootie was just another poppy band with a weird name. Manson on the other hand says things like `you can save yourself', and `I am the god of Fuck', powerful statements that are actually being listened to. In saying that ‘you can save yourself’ he is showing that we don’t need others, or religion, that we are our own gods. It’s up to us to lead our lives in the best possible way. We shouldn’t have to bow down at an alter in order to lead a good life. We need only look within ourselves. The youth of today would never listen if the likes of Hootie had said something like `I am the god of nothing', however because Manson states it as `I am the god of fuck', you stop for a minute and think wow, this guy has something to say. He uses those words to get our attention, to get us to listen to him. The statement ‘I am the god of fuck’ conveys the same message that ‘you can't save yourself’ does. He is showing that he is the god of nothing. He’s just a person like any of us, and cannot be turned to to act as something he's not. There is no god and we have to fend for ourselves. You are your own god, Manson can't do it for you anymore than Jesus Christ can.
The most powerful thing I've ever seen happened at the end of that concert on April 13th, 1997. Perfect white lily's had been placed on Manson's microphone stand. They were some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. Manson was back stage covering himself with blood red paint and bandages so that it looked like he was bleeding, and as he sang his arms brushed the flowers covering them in `blood'. Snow machines kicked in blowing pristine snow over the stage, Manson, and the tainted flowers. As the show ended the men in the band cleared the stage and all that was left was a spot light on the tainted lily's and the beautiful snow falling on the stage. I know what that meant for me, but I won't say because like all of Manson's music it's up to your own interpretations. All I can say though is that if all you have to do to be the Anti-christ is be yourself, then Marilyn Manson more than deserves the title.
