Marilyn Manson Makes the Rounds in Tinsel Town

Jim Moret, Co-Host: At the age of 29, Marilyn Manson is ushering in a new phase of his career.

Forged of metal, he's turned to tinsel in his latest glittering incarnation. Paul Vercammen reports he's

also making the rounds in tinsel town.

Paul Vercammen, CNN Correspondent (voice-over): Whether it's performing at the MTV

Music Awards or making an appearance on "Politically Incorrect," Marilyn Manson just keeps

creeping into pop consciousness. Marilyn is living life, not like a candle in the wind, but like a flame

thrower in a blast furnace.

Marilyn Manson: Well, I don't think I'm so much shocking as just a charming gentleman, and I

think that kids like to snap their fingers to my songs, and the moms want to have sex with me. It's

not my fault.

Vercammen: Such opinions make many parents regard Manson as the devil in a thinly veiled

disguise. And Manson's harshest critics charge his bashing of religion and illusions to sex, drugs, and

violence drives a wedge between parents and children.

Manson: If anything, you know, the wedge is already there. But while it's there, I can provide a

way for people to talk more to each other. I just try to make people think, and people get very

upset when someone tries to replace God in their kids' lives. And I think there's more spirituality in

music, and there's more honesty.

Vercammen (on camera): As Marilyn Manson's image glares over Sunset Boulevard in

Hollywood, it's apparent that he pushes those emotional buttons with great intent. You can't help but

think this is one well-marketed, well-packaged product.

(voice-over): His new CD, "Mechanical Animals," debuted at number one, is garnering good

reviews and comparisons to David Bowie.

Manson: Well, glam rock was something that was really a big thing when I was growing up. You

know, Bowie, T-Rex, Freddie Mercury, Alice Cooper, these were all the people that were bigger

than life and had something -- You know they approached rock and roll like and art form, and that's

what I like to do.

Vercammen: Manson's hard-edged art and attitude seems to be softening up. There's even talk of

a girlfriend, actress Rose McGowan.

(on camera): Can you describe your relationship with Rose McGowan?

Manson: People are going to see how they want to, you know. I think I can say to sum it up would

be one of the few people in the world that I care about.

Vercammen (voice-over): Yes, Manson said a four-letter word, "care." Because of health

concerns, Manson forbids smoking on tour. He also bans talk of sports.

Manson: The main thing with sports is I used to get beat up a lot by people that played sports

when I was a kid. So now I can kind of call the shots. And the smoking thing is just common sense,

you know. Look what happened with Clinton and his cigar. So I think if you have to some morality,

I believe in not smoking.

Vercammen: At times, Manson clearly doesn't seem to take himself too seriously. Why should

anyone else?

(on camera): What do you say to people who say, "Oh, my goodness. It's all just a put on"?

Manson: Well, I'd like to see them put it on. I don't think they can do it with as much style as I do.

Vercammen (voice-over): Manson just turns his back on anyone questioning his taste. Paul

Vercammen, CNN Entertainment News, Hollywood.