12 Greatest Hard Rock Riffs Of The 1990s
11. The Beautiful People - Marilyn Manson
The world of hard rock always had a bit of a flirtation with the theatrical side of music. Ever since Alice Cooper and KISS first shocked the world in their day, fans have had a hankering for music that would both send them into a frenzy and anger their parents. Marilyn Manson seemed to fit the bill in the '90s, but "The Beautiful People" took that disturbing idea to a completely different level.
Opening with a slew of what sounds like sampled strings, the leading charge of the entire song is a relentless guitar riff which seems to be dragging you into the underworld every time it's played. Whereas Manson was drifting into more industrial territory on Antichrist Superstar, this song feels most in tune with the metallic side of the spectrum with the guitars out front.
With the relentless rhythm and disorienting beat structure, there's a bit of a tribal quality to the riff, almost as if Manson himself is luring you into his world of sin. Manson may have just been something scary to annoy your parents with, but this song not only exposed him to a new audience, but gave him full reign over the minds of metalheads everywhere. Some may have been running scared, but this kind of riff will have you beating the tribal drum right alongside Manson.