Challenges Faced by Marilyn Manson: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of Marilyn Manson. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

Marilyn Manson, born Brian Hugh Warner, is an American rock musician and the frontman of the band Marilyn Manson, formed in 1989. Known for his controversial stage persona and blending of industrial rock with elements of shock rock, Manson gained prominence in the 1990s. His stage name, a combination of Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, reflects the band's thematic exploration of the dichotomy between good and evil, beauty and ugliness, and fame and infamy. Manson's music and performances often challenge societal norms and address themes of religion, sex, violence, and conformity, leading to both critical acclaim and public controversy.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

May 30, 1996: Empower America press conference

On May 30, 1996, Empower America organized a bipartisan press conference criticizing the record industry for selling "prepackaged, shrink-wrapped nihilism", specifically targeting rap music and Marilyn Manson's Smells Like Children album. C. Delores Tucker called Smells Like Children the "dirtiest, nastiest porno record directed at children that has ever hit the market".

September 1996: Settlement with Gidget Gein

In September 1996, former bassist Gidget Gein reached a settlement with Marilyn Manson where Gein would receive US$17,500 and 20 percent of any royalties paid for recordings and for any songs he had a hand in writing. This settlement was not honored.

December 1996: Empower America criticizes MCA

In December 1996, Empower America organized another press conference criticizing MCA president Edgar Bronfman Jr. for profiting from "profanity-laced" albums by Marilyn Manson, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg.

1996: Scott Putesky departed from the group

In Spring 1996, Scott Putesky (a.k.a. Daisy Berkowitz) departed from the Marilyn Manson group, which later led to a lawsuit in January 1998.

November 1997: Congressional Hearings on Lyrical Content

In November 1997, Marilyn Manson's lyrical content was examined during congressional hearings led by Lieberman and Sam Brownback to determine the effects of violent lyrics on young listeners. Raymond Kuntz blamed his son's suicide on the song "The Reflecting God", and Lieberman claimed Manson's music drove young listeners to suicide, calling the band the "sickest group ever promoted by a mainstream record company".

January 1998: Scott Putesky files lawsuit against Manson

In January 1998, former guitarist Scott Putesky (a.k.a. Daisy Berkowitz) filed a $15 million lawsuit against Marilyn Manson, the band, and the band's attorney, David Codikow, claiming unpaid royalties, publishing rights, and performance fees.

November 30, 1998: Craig Marks files lawsuit against Manson

On November 30, 1998, SPIN editor Craig Marks filed a $24-million lawsuit against Marilyn Manson and his bodyguards after the band accumulated over $25,000 in damages during their Mechanical Animals Tour in Poughkeepsie, New York.

1998: "Beautiful Monsters Tour" with Hole

In 1998, Marilyn Manson embarked on the "Beautiful Monsters Tour" with Hole. The tour was problematic, and Hole left after nine dates. After Hole's departure, the tour was renamed the "Rock Is Dead Tour".

February 19, 1999: Manson counter-sues Craig Marks

On February 19, 1999, Marilyn Manson counter-sued Craig Marks for libel, slander, and defamation, seeking US$40 million in reparation, following Marks' lawsuit against him.

April 20, 1999: Columbine High School Massacre

On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold committed the Columbine High School massacre, killing thirteen and wounding twenty-four before committing suicide. Media reports alleged they were wearing Marilyn Manson T-shirts and influenced by violence in entertainment. Despite evidence they preferred other bands, Manson was blamed for the tragedy.

October 27, 2000: David Diaz sues Manson

On October 27, 2000, David Diaz, a security officer, sued Marilyn Manson for US$75,000 in a Minneapolis federal court, alleging civil battery from a concert incident. The jury found in Manson's favor.

2000: Implication in Nun's Murder and Arrest in Rome

In 2000, Marilyn Manson faced controversy when an elderly nun was murdered in Italy by schoolgirls reportedly influenced by him. Soon after, he was arrested following a concert in Rome for allegedly "tearing off his genitals," which Manson claimed was politically motivated due to his implication in the murder by Italian tabloids.

July 30, 2001: Manson charged with sexual misconduct

On July 30, 2001, Marilyn Manson was charged with sexual misconduct against a security officer, Joshua Keasler, during a concert in Clarkston, Michigan. He pleaded no contest to reduced charges, paid a fine, and settled the lawsuit under undisclosed terms.

April 3, 2002: Maria St. John files lawsuit against Manson

On April 3, 2002, Maria St. John sued Marilyn Manson, accusing him of providing her daughter, Jennifer Syme, with cocaine and instructing her to drive under the influence, leading to Syme's fatal car crash after leaving a party at Manson's house.

June 30, 2003: Jodi Jones Murder

On June 30, 2003, 14-year-old Jodi Jones was murdered in Scotland. Marilyn Manson's film Doppelherz and paintings depicting the Black Dahlia were presented as evidence during the trial of her boyfriend, Luke Mitchell, who was found guilty.

2003: Media Blame in French Vandalism Case

In 2003, French media blamed Marilyn Manson when several teenagers vandalized the graves of British war heroes in Arras, France, further fueling controversies surrounding his image and influence.

August 2, 2007: Stephen Bier files lawsuit against Manson

On August 2, 2007, former band member Stephen Bier filed a lawsuit against Marilyn Manson for unpaid "partnership proceeds", seeking $20 million in back pay.

October 10, 2007: SuccessTech Academy Shooting

On October 10, 2007, Asa Coon, wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt, shot four people at SuccessTech Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, before committing suicide. This incident further connected Manson to school shootings controversies.

December 2007: Manson counter-sues Stephen Bier

In December 2007, Marilyn Manson countersued Stephen Bier, claiming that Bier failed to fulfill his duties as a band member to play for recordings and to promote the band.

May 18, 2009: Larose-Cut Off Middle School Incident

On May 18, 2009, Justin Doucet entered Larose-Cut Off Middle School in Louisiana with a pistol. After being refused a demand to say "Hail Marilyn Manson", he fired shots and then shot himself, later dying from his injuries, further perpetuating the association between Manson and violent incidents.

December 28, 2009: Settlement in Bier vs Manson case

On December 28, 2009, the lawsuit between Stephen Bier and Marilyn Manson was settled, with Bier's attorneys being paid a total of $380,000.

2010: Production shut down on Phantasmagoria

In 2010, studio bosses shut down production on Marilyn Manson's film Phantasmagoria: The Visions of Lewis Carroll due to viewers' responses to violent content.

April 4, 2015: Manson withdraws from Phantasmagoria

On April 4, 2015, Marilyn Manson commented that he had withdrawn from the Phantasmagoria project because the writing process was damaging to his psyche.

2017: Heaven Upside Down Release

In 2017, Marilyn Manson released 'Heaven Upside Down', with its single 'Kill4Me' becoming the band's highest-peaking single on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart. Manson was also injured on stage during a performance in New York.

2018: Charlyne Yi's Accusation

In 2018, actor Charlyne Yi accused Marilyn Manson of harassing them and other women on the set of the series House, adding to the growing number of allegations against him.

August 19, 2019: Incident with Videographer

On August 19, 2019, during a concert in New Hampshire, Marilyn Manson allegedly blew his nose on a videographer, leading to a misdemeanor count of simple assault.

January 21, 2021: Senator Rubio's Request for Investigation

On January 21, 2021, California State Senator Susan Rubio wrote to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General, requesting an investigation into allegations made against Marilyn Manson by several women.

2021: Abuse Allegations

In 2021, former partner Evan Rachel Wood accused Marilyn Manson of psychological and sexual abuse. Other women followed with similar accusations, with five women suing him in civil court.

September 2022: LACSD Presents Findings to Gascón

In September 2022, the LACSD presented the findings of their 19-month investigation of the sexual assault allegations made against Marilyn Manson to California district attorney George Gascón.

January 2023: Out-of-Court Settlement with Bianco

In January 2023, Esmé Bianco and Marilyn Manson reached an out-of-court settlement with undisclosed terms of agreement in her lawsuit against him.

January 2023: Jane Doe Lawsuit Filed

In January 2023, another plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against Marilyn Manson, alleging that he groomed and sexually assaulted her in the 1990s. The lawsuit also named Nothing Records and Interscope as co-defendants.

February 2023: Smithline Recants Allegations

In February 2023, Ashley Morgan Smithline recanted her allegations in legal documents, claiming she was "manipulated" and "pressured" by Evan Rachel Wood and her associates to make allegations against Marilyn Manson that were "not true".

September 2023: Assault Case Settlement

In September 2023, Marilyn Manson plead nolo contendere to a misdemeanor count of simple assault stemming from a 2019 incident, receiving a sentence of 20 hours of community service and a fine of $1,400.

September 2023: Settlement in First Jane Doe Lawsuit

In September 2023, Marilyn Manson settled the first Jane Doe lawsuit. The settlement was reached in the Superior Court of California in Los Angeles and was made the week before the case was scheduled to go to trial.

December 2023: Walters's Lawsuit Reinstated

In December 2023, Ashley Walters's lawsuit against Marilyn Manson was reinstated following an appeal to the California Courts of Appeal, which excluded her lawsuit from the statute of limitations due to claimed suppressed memories.

July 2024: Dismissal of Portions of Jane Doe Lawsuit

In July 2024, substantive portions of the Jane Doe lawsuit were dismissed, as the claims fell outside the remit of New York's Adult Survivors Act, in which the lawsuit was filed.

October 10, 2024: Gascón Considers New Evidence

On October 10, 2024, California district attorney George Gascón announced that he was considering new evidence in the case involving sexual assault allegations against Marilyn Manson.

November 2024: Discontinuation of Lawsuit Against Wood and Gore

In November 2024, Marilyn Manson discontinued his defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood and Ashley "Illma" Gore, agreeing to pay Wood's legal fees after initially appealing the anti-SLAPP ruling.

January 2025: No Charges Filed by LACSD

In January 2025, the LACSD concluded their 4-year criminal investigation of the abuse allegations against Marilyn Manson, and district attorney Nathan Hochman said charges would not be filed for either domestic violence or sexual abuse, because "we cannot prove charges of sexual assault beyond a reasonable doubt", and that the claims fell outside of the statute of limitations.

2025: Investigation Concludes

In 2025, a four-year criminal investigation of the abuse allegations by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department concluded, resulting in no charges filed against Manson due to lack of evidence.