Marilyn Manson is one of the most controversial and provocative rock stars of all time. His music, image and persona have often shocked and outraged the public, especially in the 1990s when he was accused of promoting violence, Satanism and drug abuse. But what is the story behind his stage name? Is he really related to Charles Manson, the notorious cult leader and murderer who died in 2017? Here is the truth behind the shocking name.
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The Origin of Marilyn Manson’s Stage Name
Marilyn Manson’s stage name is a mash-up of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Born Brian Hugh Warner, Marilyn Manson combined the names of two famous American icons of the 1960s who represented opposite extremes of society: beauty and horror, glamour and gore, innocence and evil. According to sitename Loudwire, Marilyn Manson explained his choice of name in his autobiography, The Long Hard Road Out of Hell:
“I picked those two names because they were the most memorable people from the Sixties. They were both white trash from hillbilly country, both came to Hollywood with a dream, both became stars in their own right — one for killing people, one for fucking people — and both had a big influence on society.”
Marilyn Manson also said that his name was a commentary on how the media creates celebrities out of criminals and how society idolizes both beauty and violence. He wanted to challenge the hypocrisy and conformity of mainstream culture by creating a persona that was both attractive and repulsive, both familiar and alien.
The Connection Between Charles Manson and Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson is not related to Charles Manson by blood or by any other means. They never met in person, although they did exchange some letters in prison. According to sitename Louder Sound, Charles Manson sent a letter to Marilyn Manson in 2012, which was published by a fansite. The letter was cryptic and rambling, and it mentioned something about a card game, a non-profit organization called ATWA (Air, Trees, Water, Animals), and a balance between good and evil. It also included some drawings and symbols that were hard to decipher.
Marilyn Manson did not respond to the letter publicly, but he did acknowledge Charles Manson’s death in 2017 by tweeting a mock Life magazine cover featuring a photo of Charles Manson and the word “Lie”. He also linked to his cover of Charles Manson’s song “Sick City”, which he recorded in 2000. According to sitename NME, Marilyn Manson has said that he was fascinated by Charles Manson’s music and his ability to manipulate people with words. He also said that he did not condone or glorify his crimes, but rather used his name as a symbol of rebellion and social critique.
The Confusion Between Marilyn Manson and Charles Manson
Despite the obvious differences between Marilyn Manson and Charles Manson, some people have confused them or thought that they were the same person. This happened especially after Charles Manson’s death in 2017, when some Twitter users expressed their grief over the loss of Marilyn Manson instead. According to sitename Lad Bible, some of these tweets were genuine mistakes, while others were jokes or trolls.
The confusion between Marilyn Manson and Charles Manson may be due to their similar names, their association with violence and controversy, or their lack of familiarity with either one of them. However, it is clear that they are two distinct individuals with different backgrounds, careers and personalities. Marilyn Manson is a rock star who adopted his name as a form of artistic expression and social commentary. Charles Manson was a criminal who led a cult that committed several murders in 1969. They are not related in any way, except by their shared influence on popular culture..
