Marilyn Manson's career was 'destroyed' after Columbine - one of America's worst tragedies

Publish date: 2024-04-06

The Lord of Darkness, Marilyn Manson, once opened up how Columbine, one of America’s tragic school shootings, destroyed his career.

He became public enemy No 1 after Marilyn Manson’s name was linked to the 1999 massacre at Columbine high school in Colorado. Although he had nothing to do with the tragedy, because the two teenagers behind the shooting were allegedly fans of his music, he was dragged into the outrage that came afterward.

Marilyn Manson was brought into Columbine aftermath

The Columbine High School shootings took place on April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colorado. 15 people lost their lives, including two students who were responsible for the attack.

It has been named as one of the deadliest school shooting massacres in American history.

Eric Harris, 18, and Dlyan Klebold, 17, entered their High School and killed 12 fellow students, a teacher, and wounded 21 more in under 20 minutes. They later took their own lives.

The argument had shifted to video games and rock music, claiming the violence in these areas incited real-life events.

At the time, Marilyn Manson released a statement on Columbine, and postponed five dates of his US tour.

“People are trying to deal with their losses,” he said. “It’s not a great atmosphere to be out playing rock’n’roll shows, for us or the fans.”

The statement also said: “It’s tragic and disgusting any time young people’s lives are taken in an act of senseless violence. My condolences go out to the students and their families.”

‘I would listen to them’

WARNING: The video above contains adult language.

In 2002, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore released Bowling for Columbine. He looked at the events before the tragedy, and spoke to survivors and families of the massacre. He also sat down with the singer for the movie.

When asked what he would say to the children at Columbine High School, he gave a succinct answer.

Marilyn said: “I wouldn’t say a single word to them. I would listen to what they have to say, and that’s what no one did.”

The celebrity also said of the bad press: “I definitely can see why they would pick me. Because I think it’s easy to throw my face on the TV, because in the end, I’m a poster boy for fear. Because I represent what everyone is afraid of, because I say and do whatever I want.”

Marilyn Manson: ‘The Columbine era destroyed my entire career’

He then spoke about the tragedy almost 20 years later in an interview with The Guardian.

At the time he was releasing his new record, Heaven Upside Down, his 10th album. But he was apparently outraged at his record label suggesting he release a censored version of his music for Walmart.

Marilyn responded: “It denies the legitimacy of it. If your parents give you money to buy a clean version of my record at Walmart, you might as well go there, buy a gun instead, take it into your own hands, do whatever you want.”

Marilyn Manson then linked back to the tragedy of Columbine, talking about how easy it is to buy guns in America.

He added: “Give them the money and let them make their own choice: guns or records. If [the Columbine killers] had just bought my records, they would be better off. Certain people blame me for the shootings at schools – I think my numbers are low, and hopefully they go up on this record.”

The rock star then admitted: “But, honestly, the Columbine era destroyed my entire career at the time.”

‘I received death threats’

After the tragedy of Columbine, Marilyn Manson said he received “death threats” daily. Even hundreds of them when he returned to Colorado.

Despite his crazy antics on stage – such as cutting himself with glass, jumping into the crowd or punching fans, as he admits himself – his father’s advice stuck with him.

“But my dad gave me the best advice: ‘If people are going to kill you, son, they wouldn’t tell you in advance,” he said.

He then confessed he didn’t miss that part of his career: “It made everyone around me upset”.

Marilyn Manson has always caused a stir

After the tragedy, speculation circulated the teenagers were ‘outcast goths’, and listened to music by Marilyn Manson. 10 US senators sent a letter to Seagrams, owner of his record label, asking them to stop distributing “music that glorifies violence”.

Marilyn Manson’s breakthrough record, titled Antichrist Superstar, caused a stir in 1996, three years before the Columbine incident. It was denounced by religious conservatives in the US, who apparently saw the singer as promoting Satan.