The sky darkens, as if on command from Marilyn Manson himself. There follows a terrific explosion before the Dark Lord reveals himself; stripped to the waist and clad in stockings and suspenders. The crowd as one stare fascinated as the giant screens rely the pictures of his black and white kohl expression - screaming, taunting, mocking. In contrast to Papa Roach, Manson's show is designed to play before such large crowds, with its pyrotechnics and props.

He does only have two songs - the fast one with the repetitive chorus that sounds like the riffs have been stolen from glam's heyday and the slow one that has lots of eerie keyboard and allows him to prowl the stage, spitting derisively in the direction of the audience.

The show remains the same that has done the rounds of the world's arenas this past year - there's the spider legs, the papal outfit, the 30-foot skirt and the political podium. But there's still a sense of drama, the sense things could get out of control, despite the knowledge that the show is a well-drilled machine. His chilling cover of Eurythmics' 'Sweet Dreams' still provokes horror and fascination, while 'Love Song's "God, guns, government" chorus takes on an extra edge as the American establishment Manson so mocks closes in on him.

At times it really does sound as if he's screaming out like a man in front of a firing squad. As he slams his mike stand into the stage there's another huge explosion and he's gone, promising to return later with America's other most wanted - Eminem. But he leaves an indelible mark on Reading 2001