Back in the mid to late 1990’s when Marilyn Manson came to
prominence I ran into some kids extolling the virtues of said Mr. Manson. They talked about an interview in which he
talked about his artistic originality versus that of the Teen pop queens and
boy bands. I double taked at that
remark. Marilyn Manson original,
No. That’s not right. I injected myself
into the conversation. I said, “You
realize that Marilyn has stolen his act from Four Rock Greats: Alice Cooper,
David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and Ozzy Osbourne.”
They were like yea right Old Man.
At the time I was in my late 20’s, but to teens old is anyone over
25. They ignored me and walked
away. Looking back I still hold to my
assertion. I know today Marilyn Manson
is no longer timely or relevant.
Surprising how he polarized public discourse only 6 or 7 years ago. What galled me is Marilyn Never acknowledge
his influences, whom he “borrowed” so much from. Rob Zombie in contrast has been public in the
fact that without Cooper, Pop and Osbourne, he would not have an Act. Zombie has gone out of his way to not only
acknowledge them, but also work with them. I will go a head and list what
Marilyn “borrowed” from these four.
From Alice Cooper, Manson took the whole Shock rock concept. Cooper borrows much from Burlesque and
Grand Guignol. He is all about theatrical rock, but from the
horrific side. He wants to shock us and
make us think. By all means this is not
new eve to rock, but Alice is considered by many music experts to be the perfector
of this form.
From David Bowie, Manson took the whole
gender ambiguous and sexually ambigious concept. Bowie famous for doing this with Ziggy
Stardaust. Bowie had people guessing
what he was or who he preferred to bed.
Now none of that is really anyone’s business, in my not so humble
opinion. Bowie was able to make you think about that subject in a way no one
had or has since.
From Iggy Pop, Manson took the in your face
and self mutilating image. Pop was known
in the 70’s to do all sorts of harm to
himself on stage. All of this was done under
the influence of multiple psycho active substances. I am not excusing or supporting this
behavior. This was done to shock the
audience, and Manson defintely wants or wanted to shock his audience. Actually I think he wanted to shock the
mainstrem society. Pop is considered
many as the Godfather or Grandfather of Punk.
Some of this behavior was adopted by that movement.
From Ozzy, Manson took the whole Prince of Darkness persona. With his antichrist Superstar he tried to do
the whole epitome of evil idea. Now he
went to go as far as claim to be a practicing Satanist and all that
encompasses. Ozzy did it as an act. Ozzy always has enjoyed Horror Films. In the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s, British
horror had a whole sub-genre of Satanist Cult films like Devil’s Daughter. Ozzy always did it tongue and cheek. He also separated his stage life from his
personal life. Manson has always blurred those lines.
Now in my opinion the four did those things much better than
Manson. They also were innovators and
pioneers of a sort. Their music was also
better too. That is my not so humble
opinion.
