Marilyn Manson - The Long Hard Road Out of Hell - Autobiography
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22 July, 2007 08:00
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“In his twenty-nine years, Manson has experienced more than most people have – or would want to – in a lifetime.”
Although not recently written or published, this auto-biography co-authored with Neil Strauss, has succeeded in leaving such a good impression on me, that it has prompted this honest and encouraging review.
The world’s most controversial and misunderstood rock star shares his most private and sinister thoughts with us, helping us gain a better understanding of his twisted persona, and a greater appreciation of his art. From his graphic illustrations and short stories to his more commonly used medium of expression – music.
Split into 3, ‘Part one – when I was a worm’, ‘Part two – Deformography’ ‘Part three – how I got my wings’ this book is beautifully constructed with photos and artwork which help with the understanding of his narrative. The entire structure of the book is both unusual and intriguing. There are 16 chapters that run consecutively from Part one to Part three, and smaller sections known as ‘Circles’ that overlap these chapters, starting from ‘Circle 1 – Limbo’ to the tenth circle referred to as ‘Circle Zero – Enlightenment’.
Prior to the official introduction by David Lynch is a quote from 19th Century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, known for fearlessly criticising vanity and bad faith in humans. In this particular introduction, Nietzsche speaks on the Genealogy of Morals, “an Anti-Christ…the victor over God and Nothingness – he must come one day”. It seems amusing the fact that Manson chose to pick this particular quote on the coming of an anti-christ as a way of introducing himself to the reader. He continues to quote Nietzsche and other renowned philosophers (Bertrand Russell) , writers and musicians throughout the book, cleverly using them as introductions to each chapter, where, within their complex meanings, they always serve as clues to the subject or theme he is about to discuss next.
Manson opens the book with his childhood, where he refers to himself as a worm, and with great literary flair guides us through his transformation from Brian Warner to Marilyn Manson. As a boy he uncovers the dark and shocking secrets in his grandfather’s basement, which seems to help pave the way for who he has become today. Ironically, he was first introduced to heavy metal when it was played backwards over his Christian School’s PA system to show the students the depraved ‘satanic’ messages it carried. His god-fearing teachers instilled the fear of the coming of the Anti-Christ in him, and at one point in his childhood he really believed this to be true and was scared to step outside his bedroom. Manson describes all these first person memories in an extremely fascinating and interesting manner, very witty at times, revealing his misunderstood dark sense of humour. He speaks affectionately of his dog Aleusha who had blue and green mis-matched eyes and was sadly poisoned to death by his neighbour. This might be the reason why he wears one pale blue lens today.
‘MARILYN’ MONROE & CHARLES ‘MANSON’
Throughout the book, he manages to make the reader understand why he leans towards misanthropy and attacks organised religion, and how both have influenced his own goals and ambitions in life. He talks about the formation of his first band ‘Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids’, and of their rise to the top of the charts based on a platform of sex, drugs and Satanism. He explains the reasons behind their names, a combination of the first name of an iconic female sex symbol and the last name of an ‘iconic’ serial killer – the name Marilyn Manson is composed of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. These names were representative of a concept the band considered to be central – the dichotomy of goodness and evil, and the existence of both, together, in every whole. “Marilyn Monroe had a dark side, just as Charles Manson has a good, intelligent side” he explains.
One of the highlights of the book is reading about the Anti-Christ Superstar tour through his diary. It was during this controversial tour that Manson provoked the media frenzy in the States, shocking the American Family Association into making up most of their unfounded and false claims on the band in an effort to have their tour cancelled. These hilarious and ridiculous affidavits are printed on the back pages. But why did the AFA feel the need to do this? Because he was questioning the hypocrisy of the society we live in, our morals, and how we choose to present ourselves to others and not how we truly are. The obsessive manner in which we are instructed to live our lives, and of how organised religion and its establishments is scarring humanity. He chose to walk down the road of taboo, and frequently exhibited his non-conformist behaviour on stage…and still does.
A very intelligently written book, an eye-opener not just to his world, but to the world we live in. Marilyn Manson can be considered as a modern day philosopher.
RRRRR
Although not recently written or published, this auto-biography co-authored with Neil Strauss, has succeeded in leaving such a good impression on me, that it has prompted this honest and encouraging review.
The world’s most controversial and misunderstood rock star shares his most private and sinister thoughts with us, helping us gain a better understanding of his twisted persona, and a greater appreciation of his art. From his graphic illustrations and short stories to his more commonly used medium of expression – music.
Split into 3, ‘Part one – when I was a worm’, ‘Part two – Deformography’ ‘Part three – how I got my wings’ this book is beautifully constructed with photos and artwork which help with the understanding of his narrative. The entire structure of the book is both unusual and intriguing. There are 16 chapters that run consecutively from Part one to Part three, and smaller sections known as ‘Circles’ that overlap these chapters, starting from ‘Circle 1 – Limbo’ to the tenth circle referred to as ‘Circle Zero – Enlightenment’.
Prior to the official introduction by David Lynch is a quote from 19th Century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, known for fearlessly criticising vanity and bad faith in humans. In this particular introduction, Nietzsche speaks on the Genealogy of Morals, “an Anti-Christ…the victor over God and Nothingness – he must come one day”. It seems amusing the fact that Manson chose to pick this particular quote on the coming of an anti-christ as a way of introducing himself to the reader. He continues to quote Nietzsche and other renowned philosophers (Bertrand Russell) , writers and musicians throughout the book, cleverly using them as introductions to each chapter, where, within their complex meanings, they always serve as clues to the subject or theme he is about to discuss next.
Manson opens the book with his childhood, where he refers to himself as a worm, and with great literary flair guides us through his transformation from Brian Warner to Marilyn Manson. As a boy he uncovers the dark and shocking secrets in his grandfather’s basement, which seems to help pave the way for who he has become today. Ironically, he was first introduced to heavy metal when it was played backwards over his Christian School’s PA system to show the students the depraved ‘satanic’ messages it carried. His god-fearing teachers instilled the fear of the coming of the Anti-Christ in him, and at one point in his childhood he really believed this to be true and was scared to step outside his bedroom. Manson describes all these first person memories in an extremely fascinating and interesting manner, very witty at times, revealing his misunderstood dark sense of humour. He speaks affectionately of his dog Aleusha who had blue and green mis-matched eyes and was sadly poisoned to death by his neighbour. This might be the reason why he wears one pale blue lens today.
‘MARILYN’ MONROE & CHARLES ‘MANSON’
Throughout the book, he manages to make the reader understand why he leans towards misanthropy and attacks organised religion, and how both have influenced his own goals and ambitions in life. He talks about the formation of his first band ‘Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids’, and of their rise to the top of the charts based on a platform of sex, drugs and Satanism. He explains the reasons behind their names, a combination of the first name of an iconic female sex symbol and the last name of an ‘iconic’ serial killer – the name Marilyn Manson is composed of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. These names were representative of a concept the band considered to be central – the dichotomy of goodness and evil, and the existence of both, together, in every whole. “Marilyn Monroe had a dark side, just as Charles Manson has a good, intelligent side” he explains.
One of the highlights of the book is reading about the Anti-Christ Superstar tour through his diary. It was during this controversial tour that Manson provoked the media frenzy in the States, shocking the American Family Association into making up most of their unfounded and false claims on the band in an effort to have their tour cancelled. These hilarious and ridiculous affidavits are printed on the back pages. But why did the AFA feel the need to do this? Because he was questioning the hypocrisy of the society we live in, our morals, and how we choose to present ourselves to others and not how we truly are. The obsessive manner in which we are instructed to live our lives, and of how organised religion and its establishments is scarring humanity. He chose to walk down the road of taboo, and frequently exhibited his non-conformist behaviour on stage…and still does.
A very intelligently written book, an eye-opener not just to his world, but to the world we live in. Marilyn Manson can be considered as a modern day philosopher.
RRRRR
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