10 Most Controversial Hard Rock Songs Of All Time

Shock rock isn’t really a new concept in the world of music. Ever since Alice Cooper sparked outrage in parents and religious leaders back in the late ‘60s, countless bands have come to the forefront trying to challenge the normal assumptions of what a musician is expected to do. There have been plenty of shocking things coming through the rock sphere, but none were as vile as Marilyn Manson.

After breaking into the mainstream with Antichrist Superstar, parents were absolutely appalled with Marilyn’s behavior, which included everything from disturbing videos to a stage show from Hell. The title track of the album ended up becoming the grand opus of Manson’s vision, where he proclaimed himself as the scourge of society who has come to spread his wrath. This was also the track where Marilyn was known to assume the role of the heavy metal dictator onstage, during which he would tear up a Bible and throw it into the crowd.

Though most of it ended up being nothing more than provocative theater, things got real when Manson was accused of being the inspiration for the Columbine Shooting. The amount of shock generated from fans became almost too much for Manson to handle, with him sitting out for a few years before returning to the spotlight. Heavy metal has always been against the grain, but this was where things started turning really ugly.