In 1996, Marilyn Manson were the most hated band in America, fronted by a totem of indecency who prowled the stage wrapped in bandages in front of imagery that channeled Satanism, numerology and fascism to terrify polite American society back into its gun closet. At their peak, songs were blacklisted from radio stations, shows were picketed by religious groups and, for a while, it seemed as though the self-styled antichrist superstars might actually take over the world. Yet along with this notoriety came the assumption that Manson was a degenerate idiot who only shouted because he had nothing useful to say. Then two teenagers, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, gunned down twelve students at Columbine High School and, despite police insisting that no Marilyn Manson records were found at the boys homes, the media blamed the band none the less. The platform on which Manson chose to defend himself was the Michael Moore documentary Bowling For Columbine, in which the vilified frontman revealed himself to be eloquent, intelligent and tenderhearted. While this didnt come as a surprise to Mansons fans, it did make millions of others reconsider the man whose antagonistic lyrics I am the faggot anti-pope, anyone? had previously turned him into public enemy number one.
