Why Marilyn Manson Embraced Satanism
Many classic rock stars were falsely accused of being Satanists. Marilyn Manson is one of the only rock stars who follows a form of Satanism. In his book, he explained what attracted him to the oft-maligned religious movement. In addition, he connected his love of Satanism to his experiences within a New York subculture.
Marilyn Manson connected his Satanism to his taste in fashion
During a 2016 interview with Dazed, the “Lunchbox” singer discussed how New York City brought him to a certain religion. He seemed to connect his faith to a movement within 1990s fashion. “I found myself in New York City, around 1992, getting let into Limelight by Michael Alig at the height of the Club Kids (’90s clique of underground clubbers),” he recalled. “And it was a truly great f****** era.
“Michael Musto, Pat Fields — people that would become part of the fabric of my very existence,” he added. “All that led me to Leigh Bowery, and that led me to Salvador Dalí, and that led to [the artistic movement] dada, and that led me to Andy Warhol, and Satanism, Schiaparelli, you know, many laces in the shoes of fashion. I guess, looking back, I was probably more a fan of Club Kids than I was part of creating it. It was an interesting and strange time, and very important, I suppose, in the history of — of everything.”
The church’s founder made Marilyn Manson a reverend
Manson’s 1998 autobiography The Long Hard Road Out of Hell might be the definitive statement of the “We Are Chaos” singer‘s early years. In the book, he explained the Church of Satan. Although its name suggests it’s a church where people worship the devil, that is not the case. The Church of Satan teaches that the devil does not exist. Instead, the group uses Satan as a symbol of rebellion against Christian morality.
Manson’s connection to Satanism extends beyond believing in it. He met with Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan. Manson said that LaVey was a charismatic speaker. LaVey made the singer a reverend in the Church of Satan, which Manson compared to receiving an honorary degree. He did not anticipate the controversy that his reverendship would spark. Manson’s comment seems a little naive, as everything about the Church of Satan has been controversial since its inception in 1966.
Satanism became a big part of the singer’s work
Satan and Satanism became a big part of Manson’s artistry. For example, he released a song called “Say10,” which is a pun on the word “Satan.” One of his lesser-known tunes is called “You and Me and the Devil Makes 3.”
Many rock musicians, such as Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, Avril Lavigne, and Mötley Crüe, have evoked Lucifer in some way, either as a metaphor or as a literal figure. Other rockers were falsely accused of worshipping the devil, such as Led Zeppelin and Kiss. What makes Manson different from other rock singers is that the devil is a major part of his spirituality. Just as gospel singers are trying to bring you to Jesus Christ, Manson has been a longtime proponent of the personal freedom that Beelzebub supposedly represents.
