Manson, Marilyn (1971– )

US heavy metal artist and the name of his group. Controversial for his shocking stage antics and explicit lyrics, and popular particularly among suburban teenagers, Manson formed his band (originally named Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids) in 1990. Known more for his showmanship and marketing prowess than his music, Manson nevertheless released several crossover albums that achieved mainstream success, including Antichrist Superstar (1996) and Mechanical Animals (1998).

The group's debut album, Portrait of an American Family (1994), was a heavy metal hit. The band broke into the mainstream with their cover of the Eurythmics' ‘Sweet Dreams are Made of This’ from the EP Smells Like Children (1995). Antichrist Superstar, featuring the hit ‘Beautiful People’, debuted at number three on the pop album charts. Other albums include Holy Wood (2000), The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003), and the compilation Lest We Forget, featuring a successful cover of Depeche Mode's ‘Personal Jesus’ (2004). His version of Soft Cell's 1980s anthem ‘Tainted Love’ appeared in the film Not Another Teen Movie (2001).

He was born and grew up in Canton, Ohio. He moved to Tampa Bay, Florida, at the age of 18, where he worked as a music journalist. Like other members of his band, he chose as his stage name the first name of a female celebrity and the surname of a notorious murderer. Infamous stage antics include ripping apart a copy of the Book of Mormon while performing in Salt Lake City, Utah, the capital of the Mormon church. He gained further notoriety for two sexual misconduct cases in 2001.