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Marilyn Manson music biography continued...

Warner in Canton, OH in 1969.




Following an early stint with a Florida band known as the Spooky kids, Manson reinvented the group under the now familiar Marilyn Manson moniker.




A protégé of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor, Manson and his eponymous band gained widespread exposure and a large fanbase thanks to Reznor's seal of approval, and the backing of his then record label, Nothing. The label released the band's debut, Portrait of an American Family in 1994.




Among the group's biggest hits were an unlikely cover of the Eurthymics' 1980s hit, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", and the eerie, Willy Wonka-themed, "Dope Hat."




Having grown up with the shock-rock music of Alice Cooper, Manson was well aware that being controversial was a key to publicity. Manson and his bandmates even adopted stage names that combined the names of models and serial killers (Marilyn Manson, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Twiggy Ramirez, etc).




The groups deliberately shocking image and dark lyrics were a hit with young fans, despite (or perhaps because of) the loud protestations of critics and parents.




Manson has experimented with different images over the years, including a transformation for 1998's Mechanical Animals that was reminiscent of David Bowie's androgynous futuristic alien persona, Ziggy Stardust. His most common look involves gothic white face make-up, shaved eyebrows, jet black hair and colored contact lenses.




Adding to his inflammatory image, Manson caused an uproar when he tore up a copy of the Book of Mormon during a performance in Salt Lake City, Utah.




In addition to successful albums such as Antichrist Superstar and Portrait of an American Family, in 1998 Manson released a best-selling autobiography, Long Hard Road Out of Hell. Manson has also appeared in several films, including Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine and Asia Argento's The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things.




Odd rumors about his personal life have long swirled around the singer, but Manson typically stays quiet on the subject.




Following a broken engagement to actress Rose McGowan, Manson's short, rocky marriage to burlesque dancer and adult film star Dita Von Teese came to an end in 2007. The split was accompanied by Manson's headline-grabbing relationship with then 19-year-old actress Evan Rachel Wood, culminating in a scandalously steamy (and weird) video for his song, "Heart-Shaped Glasses."