M.M. (The Band)

Marilyn Manson is a five piece band formed in Florida in the early 90s, the original name was Marilyn Manson and The Spooky Kids which was later shortened to just Marilyn Manson.

It all began when a music journalist by the name of Brian Warner decided to form a band.One of the first people that Brian became good friends with in Florida was Jeordie White, who was later dubbed Twiggy Ramirez. Jeordie was already in a band at the time but would soon become one of the most important parts of Marilyn Manson.

When the band was first put together there was Daisy on guitars, Gidget Gein on bass, Sara Lee Lucas on drums, and Pogo on keyboards...although in the very beginning Pogo did not even own a keyboard!

The band got their break through Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor. Manson met Trent while working as a journalist. The two became friends and Trent was impressed by the band enough to sign them to his label. Nothing Records. The band soon began work on what would become their first album "Portrait Of An American Family".It was during this time that the band reached their first hardship. Gidget Gein had become addicted to heroin and it was when he overdosed that Manson felt that he cannot be in the band. This is when Twiggy Ramirez comes in.

After the completion of their debut album Portrait of an American Family in 1994. The band soon toured, opening up for Nine Inch Nails. They also made videos for "Get Your Gunn", "Lunchbox",and "Dope Hat". The touring did get the band a following of Nine Inch Nails fans and they did have a reputation in Florida but, they failed to really break onto the scene and Portrait didnt really go anywhere. The videos also found little room in MTV rotation.Manson himself wanted to work on another album which would become Antichrist Superstar but the label wanted to focus on Portrait and release an album full of remixes and extra tracks. This would be called "Smells Like Children" and would feature Marilyn Mansons first hit. "Sweet Dreams(are made of this)", a cover of the Eurythmics classic with a Marilyn Manson twist.The video received rotation on MTV and also got buzzworthy status.Suddenly there was a demand for a new album and now the band would begin work on the first album of the tryptich "Antichrist Superstar".

After Portrait was completed and during the Smells Like Children era the band got a new drummer, Gingerfish. And guitarist Daisy Berkowitz was replaced by Zim-Zum.The recording of ACSS was plagued with excessive drug use,lost members, and dying friendships...it is safe to say that all this made the completion and release of the album in 1996 all the more satisfying.

The album was about the evolution of a worm to the Antichrist Superstar and how this being used his power. The albums first single "The Beautiful People" got heavy rotation on radio and all music stations across America and the album debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts.

The sudden success made the band targets for christian/family organizations across the country and made them targets for politicians.The controversy made the band all the more popular and Antichrist Superstar achieved multi-platinum status. Regardless of the rumors and the protests, the band had gained a huge fan base. One of the most loyal fan bases in the music industry(if you doubt this, just search for Marilyn Manson fan sites, or just keep your eyes on this one !!!)

In 1997 the band performed on the MTV Video Music Awards. They also released an EP "Remix and Repent". Which featured live tracks and remixes off of Antichrist Superstar.During this time the band toured extensively and began writing and recording tracks for their third full length studio album "Mechanical Animals". This album would be a complete change for the band. Manson exchanged his black wardrobe for pink boots and glitter...

Mechanical Animals was released in 1998 and debuted at #5 on the Billboard charts. The album was a big change for the band, both soundwise and image. This drastic change met criticism from fans for "selling out". Most fans however changed there minds after listening to the album. Musically it was better than Antichrist Superstar and more complete.And there was no denying such catchy, touching songs like "Speed Of Pain", "Coma White", and the infamous "The Dope Show".

Mechanical Animals also welcomed the world to John5. John5 whos real name is John Lowery has worked as a studio musician and a guitarist for David Lee Roth among others.A very talented guitarist, so it was only appropriate for him to replace ZimZum on guitars.

The album was separated into two characters, The Alpha and the Omega. Two beings that saw the world in completely different ways, one chooses to live in it while the other is outside "in space".

"The Dope Show" got the band nominated for a grammy. The band also performed on The MTV Video Music Awards for the second time. Many will agree that among all the bland crap that night that Manson definitely stood out (as always!).During this whole period Manson himself was dating actress Rose McGowen who he later was engaged to, this however sadly ended in 2001.

Marilyn Manson made videos for "The Dope Show", "I Dont Like The Drugs(But The Drugs Like Me)","Rock Is Dead", and "Coma White".In 1999 they toured with Hole for awhile before Hole dropped out of it. The tour was interupted again when the Columbine Tragedy broke. This caught Marilyn Manson in a blaze of very negative controversy. Marilyn Manson was blamed for the incident. It is amazing that there are people that believe you can blame music for such a thing but apparently there are many. So many that Manson called off the tour and retreated home. It was during this period that the band began work on the last album of the trilogy. Holywood.

Holy Wood (In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death) was originally a movie but when Manson found himself disillusioned with the way it was coming together the band decided instead to make an album, and later on a book.

HolyWood has 19 tracks.The album includes references to Columbine, John Lennon, The Beatles, and John F. Kennedy. The main character of the album is Adam...(the Adam of Eden?) Perhaps! Marilyn Manson decided to introduce the album to the fans by touring a few weeks before the album came out and a few weeks afterwards. The tour entitled "The Guns, God, and Government tour" played allot of small venues and featured Godhead, the first band signed to Mansons label Posthuman Records as the opening act.

The album HolyWood debuted at #13 on the Billboard Charts. Some see this to be somewhat of a disapointment. Many others see Holywood to be a strong comeback for Manson. There arent many artists that have been around since '94 that have had three consecutive albums debut in the top 20. Holywood so far has spawned 3 videos "Disposable Teens", "The Fight Song", and "The Nobodies"(my fav video). The albums overall sound is a mixture of Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals. More polished than Antichrist Superstar yet allot darker than Mechanical Animals. It also shows allot more input from John5.

In 2001 Marilyn Manson joined OZZfest on the main stage. Many agree that among all the bands Manson puts on the best show. You can also see that the band has come a long way since the last time they were on the bill. The evolution is complete...for now!