Interview with writer and author Shane Cashman of Timcast to discuss the allegations against Marilyn Manson, the #MeToo movement and our parallel political shifts
I have a lot to say but sometimes it’s hard to articulate all of it in this forum. It’s difficult to not get jumped on by people who feel differently. I hope what I’m about to say will make sense but if it doesn’t I apologize in advance.
I had wild nights of sex in my 20’s. I had sex when I didn’t really “feel” it. I agreed to things I didn’t really want to or maybe just didn’t actually feel comfortable with but did it anyway. I’ve woken up without clothes and bruised with my boyfriend laying there, and twice with a friend of mine. I’ve slept with ppl I wish I hadn’t bc I was under the influence and felt like it was a good idea in the moment.
The regret and shame afterwards can create all kinds of victims and falsehoods when you make bad decisions in your early adult life. All of those decisions, when I look back, I shutter and feel like thank God I made it through that. However, I think sometimes people, #metoo, are taking the shame and embarrassment and instead of owning responsibility and being accountable for these poor choices and growing from them we make victims. Because it’s easier to not take responsibility and be a victim or point the finger then it is to say wow I really effed that up and hopefully I don’t act like that again. Or fear of being labeled a whore when telling the story some kind of dance around truth and it can appear to others as rape.
I think a deeper conversation needs to occur. Women aren’t angels. Men aren’t devils. All women aren’t truth tellers and all men aren’t lying scum. I fear for my little nephew, my husband, my brother, and any other male in my life that at any time someone from their past could make an allegation and they will spend the next 30 years in prison with no chance to leave.
Thank you, I have a hard time writing how I think lol. I also don’t love to have strangers attack and I tend to get defensive and sarastic which doesn’t help me lol. I just watched the video of them and he explains it all perfectly. I appreciate both him and Jess being so open and encouraging speaking up.
Hey, thanks for sharing! So I wonder, did you ever say "NO"? I think that would be the difference between making a bad decision and being violated, in any situation. The problem is that when you are having wild sex, regularly, with the same person, or people it is hard to see the difference. You know each other. And you do all kinds of stuff. And then one day, you don't feel it anymore, and you say "NO". He carries on. Do you feel violated, 100% yes. Did they violate you, 100% yes. But did he hear you say no, did he know it was for real, maybe you role played... The issue is the boundaries we set, which we often don't think of setting until post facto. The issue also is our perception of the situation. The actions we take immediately after the violation. And the definition of rape itself. I agree more must be done, discussed and clarified. Children should have it hammered in by their parents. Young girls should be assured and encouraged to report those things. It should be easy to do so. No means no, and it is a violation when it is disregarded. I appreciate our society is not ready to make a clear cut and so the circumstances may be the most important factor to establish if the violator is also a rapist. That said no person who was violated should ever take the blame. There were two or more people in that situation, at the very least they should have stopped to clarify.
I started following this case after the Johnny Depp trial when I realized they were such good friends. The wheels started turning in my head how easy it would be to make MM into an evil guy when in reality is a persona. I agree with Shane that ERW has trauma that she probably never addressed and instead of fixing it, she uses it to play victim because she’s been so used to a camera in her face. I believe there was also rumors ERW and AH were in communication 👀
Completely agree with this. Thank you, Jess for continuing to share information with us that the mainstream media hides and twists. Praying for your peace and protection, as I know sharing what you share puts a target on your back! May you always feel the support of those of us who appreciate you!
I agree with Shane. I’m not a hardcore fan of MM but I do enjoy his music and I’ve never had an issue with him whatsoever and what kind of person he is and what he does offstage is his business. when I first heard about these allegations against him my initial thought was “A shock value musician who built his career on that persona is now being accused of rape, abuse, etc.? I’m not convinced. Seems too easy and convenient...” ever since the Amber/Johnny case, I’m forever skeptical. I had the exact same response to the allegations against Till Lindemann of Rammstein. “Oh, the frontman of a shock value German metal band is being accused of drugging and raping women? Hmmm...don’t know that I buy that, either.” Then it came out that the allegations were false and/or exaggerated later. I just think ERW is using her past relationship with Manson as a way to cash in on the Me Too movement, that’s all I’ve ever thought. There’s just something about all of this that doesn’t sit quite right with me. And of course, MM is an easy target and “looks the part” but that doesn’t mean I believe the allegations because the fact of the matter is, I don’t know the man behind the onstage persona and let’s face it, I and most others never will. I don’t think it’s fair to judge someone on their appearance/music/art because they might and could be someone entirely different behind closed doors. And even if MM, Till Lindemann, whoever else is into some freaky stuff in the bedroom or what have you, that doesn’t mean that they’re abusers or rapists. 🤷🏽♀️ Just my two cents.
Some of Manson’s exes have said that he was never a freak in bed and that he was actually very vanilla and loving... 🤷🏻♀️ people unfortunately cannot separate his public image from his personal life... it’s sad.
Evan Rachel Wood said that herself! She said this to Manzin, one of MM's friends and fans, "sorry to disappoint, but he's very vanilla!" when they were together. 🤷🏼♀️
Yes, exactly!! Just because his music/art is explicit doesn’t mean that’s who he is offstage. People would be shocked to find out that a lot of these artists are just normal, ordinary people like us. 😏
The strangest thing about that documentary (which itself is very strange) is that Amy Berg also directed a documentary about the West Memphis 3. She’s well aware of the power of moral panics, yet 100% hopped on this Manson case while the documentary provides really no proof of anything.
I love that you’re doing a podcast! I’ve always had a bad feeling about Evan Rachel Wood. Something wasn’t adding up. Shane confirmed some of those feelings for me.
Thank you so much Jessica👏🏻 you’re one of the few who are reporting on the Manson case and this case is one of the biggest hoaxes (imo) of the “me too movement”!
I am not a Manson fan but am a fan of truth and innocence before proven guilty. I worry about our world and appreciate your focusing on these controversial topics. Especially in protection of our boys and men. This can happen to any of them, our husbands, brothers, and sons.
(I have literally been checking substack constantly for several days waiting for my fix to come in. And knowing you were working on something good. Did not disappoint! Thank you!)
A decade ago, Wood was reported in a story by Jezebel to have left Bell because he wasn't into "very edgy" things like she was. What does "very edgy" mean to her? What she did with Manson? Back then she didn't accuse Manson of anything. It appears later when she began to feel "embarrassed" by what she had done before, she had to make excuses for herself by blaming Manson for it.
This interview is a joke. He has absolutely nothing to offer except his self-admitted biased fan opinion of Manson. Is Manson too easy of a target? No. He was given an honorary priesthood in the Church of Satan by the founder himself, Anton LeVay. Now, I’ve never been to that church, but I’m guessing you got to be a little more than “vanilla” to receive that achievement. Evan Rachel Wood, on the other hand, had a law passed to help victims of domestic abuse. That is not an easy task, and would be a really pointless retaliatory move against an alleged accuser. Also, she was 18 years old when they started dating. So if anybody is an easy target, it was her. Very surprised to see your angle on this, Jess. I know you like to question the accusers in these situations, and usually a lot of your suspicions track, but this one feels unwarranted. Even Rose McGowan (another former Manson ex) has stated her support for Evan Rachel Wood very publicly. And I know you give weight to her opinion because you used it in your stories when Russell Brand was accused. Hopefully you have more evidence to support Manson than just Shane Cashman. 🧡
And then it gets really complicated because here Rose defends Manson to Eliza Bleu, who was supposedly a sex-traffic survivor, a grifter who turned out to be apparently making the whole thing up, but was also interviewed by Shane Cashman on TimCast 😵💫
Rose had to support ERW when the allegations first came out certainly to keep the me too movement credible and with a good image... now in 2023 after shocking evidence against ERW and Illma Gore and testimony that points to Evan pressuring people to lie, Rose is acknowledging that “everyone will be telling the truth”. All the facts point that ERW and the other accusers have lied, some of their claims have been debunked, they have not provided a single evidence, MM has provided evidence of a possible hoax... this a very complex case bc not everyone is interested in it and a lot of people go to mainstream media to know more abt it... MSM is clearly not reporting everything... so far they have reported the accusers sides, no mention of the fake FBI letter, no mention of important testimony in favor of Manson, no mention of the debunked claims, no mention of LEGAL documents. MSM especially RS magazine is a biased clickbait platform covering unverified claims and as always taking things out of context, not reporting FACTS. Unfortunately many ppl don’t know that.
To add to the conversation, there are many interviews in the past where Marilyn Manson literally says he is not a Satanist. If I spent less than an hour of my time, I could find them as easily as anyone else could.
Moreover, these are serious allegations regardless if a law was created. Many of the accusers were friends with Evan Rachel Wood for years, and even actively participated in the now defunct The Phoenix Act nonprofit, and bill. Bad people can do good things. That's why there is an allegation of this planning going on for at least two years in Manson's lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood and her ex-girlfriend.
Meanwhile, several accusers lawsuits claim "discovery" only occurred during a October 2020 "survivors meeting" seen in Phoenix Rising - without a counselor to present it as such. Or repressed memories after the news broke.
That's a huge discrepancy if, on one hand, they created a bill into a law knowing for years Manson was their abuser. While on the other hand, claiming in their own lawsuits that it was not until this "survivors meeting" that they "discovered" their abuse. Many of these women being long time friends, some who worked with Evan Rachel Wood on The Phoenix Act nonprofit and bill years prior.
It makes no sense.
Or, the fact several women claim in their lawsuits to be living with Manson at the very same time. He lived in a small one bedroom apartment and never run into each other? Or the fact Manson was very publicly dating other women at various points in these timelines?
This type of common sense discrepancies is deserving of factual and accurate reporting, cautious skepticism despite any perceived stances. Allegations span from attempted murder, actual torture, pedophilia, human trafficking, ritualistic sex, whippings that should show visible physical long term scars, and more.
It's now been years since the allegations with a documentary that really showed no evidence of anything, and the conclusion of the LADA investigation can be any day now.
My overall point is, much like most people, very few have done the digging and research to know any one of the little factual details. You presented a few of them that are not factual or can be easily fact checked to say otherwise.
I tried to easily find the denials you mentioned but what I found was that, actually, Manson originally bragged that he was given the honor of being ordained as a minister of the church by Anton LeVay, but then the actual church of Satan sent out a tweet clarifying that he was never really ordained, just given an honorary priesthood.
I don't have too much time right now for a full substantive reply, but here are some other quick sources I had already saved:
1) "Manson is used to being misunderstood, especially where his religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are concerned. For the record, Manson is a Satanist, not a devil worshiper."
2) "He has openly sought alternative religions and spirituality, and his search brought vicious rumors and criticism from religious zealots -- such as accusations that he is a Satanist, which emerged after he met Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey. If anything, Manson is still searching for religion and understanding of his own mortality."
And more recent years in a Reddit AMA from June 25, 2015 with Marilyn Manson:
3) "Are you truly a satanist? What's your view on that?"
I've never considered myself a Satanist. I was a part of the Church of Satan, with an honorary position, simply because it was one philosophy - because I've never looked at it as a religion. Anton LaVey (who wrote the book THE SATANIC BIBLE) taught me a lot of things about life. You know, I've been a scholar - self-taught, self-read - I wouldn't want to limit my view on the possibilities of what there is out there in the spiritual realm to just one thing. Because there's always something new to open your mind. To let you see things from a different angle. I do believe in the power of the mind, and the power of certain things. I think that music definitely has to have some element that back in the beginning - and I'm not talking about once Christianity took over America, blaming Rock n' Roll for bad things - I mean back in the times when music was first invented, and the chords that were used in most rock n' roll music, they were considered evil - because I think when you put those notes together, they have the ability to disrupt or distract the brain from whatever sort of "virus" of language that religion is, in a sense. If you have things like a Bible from any different religion - it does have a powerful reign over people's minds. And music does as well. So there had to be something - if we go by religion's view of "good vs. evil" - that would be evil, meaning it didn't agree with those views."
I’m not even a fan of MM. I could give a rip. But, Doe is offended that Manson attended her deposition? Women are so ridiculous. He has every right to be there and face his accuser. It also speaks volumes that he could look her in the face. The fact that she was uncomfortable is her problem as well as a tell.
You changed my mind! When this podcast popped up I thought ‘Manson? Weirdo, he deserves whatever is coming to, but it’s Jess so I’ll listen.’ Completely mind blown and now it’s like the Depo trial, I believed Amber until she completely jumped the shark. I hope it does go to trial and one day I hope false accusers face the same punishment the accused would have gotten if found guilty.
This was such a fascinating conversation and I paused it in the middle to go watch the Larry King/Manson interview. Wow. I haven't ever known much about him or the latest controversies but found myself curious. I love that OPEN DIALOGUE and scrutinizing narratives can bring so much entertainment and joy! Shane and Jess -- well done :)
We live in a weird timeline in which women are treated like children and children are treated like women.
I did too. I was intrigued by the fact that they are such close friends. Yes to all of this!
I have a lot to say but sometimes it’s hard to articulate all of it in this forum. It’s difficult to not get jumped on by people who feel differently. I hope what I’m about to say will make sense but if it doesn’t I apologize in advance.
I had wild nights of sex in my 20’s. I had sex when I didn’t really “feel” it. I agreed to things I didn’t really want to or maybe just didn’t actually feel comfortable with but did it anyway. I’ve woken up without clothes and bruised with my boyfriend laying there, and twice with a friend of mine. I’ve slept with ppl I wish I hadn’t bc I was under the influence and felt like it was a good idea in the moment.
The regret and shame afterwards can create all kinds of victims and falsehoods when you make bad decisions in your early adult life. All of those decisions, when I look back, I shutter and feel like thank God I made it through that. However, I think sometimes people, #metoo, are taking the shame and embarrassment and instead of owning responsibility and being accountable for these poor choices and growing from them we make victims. Because it’s easier to not take responsibility and be a victim or point the finger then it is to say wow I really effed that up and hopefully I don’t act like that again. Or fear of being labeled a whore when telling the story some kind of dance around truth and it can appear to others as rape.
I think a deeper conversation needs to occur. Women aren’t angels. Men aren’t devils. All women aren’t truth tellers and all men aren’t lying scum. I fear for my little nephew, my husband, my brother, and any other male in my life that at any time someone from their past could make an allegation and they will spend the next 30 years in prison with no chance to leave.
This! This is exactly how I feel. You couldn't have said it better.
Thank you, I have a hard time writing how I think lol. I also don’t love to have strangers attack and I tend to get defensive and sarastic which doesn’t help me lol. I just watched the video of them and he explains it all perfectly. I appreciate both him and Jess being so open and encouraging speaking up.
Hey, thanks for sharing! So I wonder, did you ever say "NO"? I think that would be the difference between making a bad decision and being violated, in any situation. The problem is that when you are having wild sex, regularly, with the same person, or people it is hard to see the difference. You know each other. And you do all kinds of stuff. And then one day, you don't feel it anymore, and you say "NO". He carries on. Do you feel violated, 100% yes. Did they violate you, 100% yes. But did he hear you say no, did he know it was for real, maybe you role played... The issue is the boundaries we set, which we often don't think of setting until post facto. The issue also is our perception of the situation. The actions we take immediately after the violation. And the definition of rape itself. I agree more must be done, discussed and clarified. Children should have it hammered in by their parents. Young girls should be assured and encouraged to report those things. It should be easy to do so. No means no, and it is a violation when it is disregarded. I appreciate our society is not ready to make a clear cut and so the circumstances may be the most important factor to establish if the violator is also a rapist. That said no person who was violated should ever take the blame. There were two or more people in that situation, at the very least they should have stopped to clarify.
This was so clearly explained! I totally agree. I have small nephews and I worry about the world they are growing into.
Thanks for covering the Marilyn Manson allegations. I hope more people start to pay attention.
I started following this case after the Johnny Depp trial when I realized they were such good friends. The wheels started turning in my head how easy it would be to make MM into an evil guy when in reality is a persona. I agree with Shane that ERW has trauma that she probably never addressed and instead of fixing it, she uses it to play victim because she’s been so used to a camera in her face. I believe there was also rumors ERW and AH were in communication 👀
Completely agree with this. Thank you, Jess for continuing to share information with us that the mainstream media hides and twists. Praying for your peace and protection, as I know sharing what you share puts a target on your back! May you always feel the support of those of us who appreciate you!
I agree with Shane. I’m not a hardcore fan of MM but I do enjoy his music and I’ve never had an issue with him whatsoever and what kind of person he is and what he does offstage is his business. when I first heard about these allegations against him my initial thought was “A shock value musician who built his career on that persona is now being accused of rape, abuse, etc.? I’m not convinced. Seems too easy and convenient...” ever since the Amber/Johnny case, I’m forever skeptical. I had the exact same response to the allegations against Till Lindemann of Rammstein. “Oh, the frontman of a shock value German metal band is being accused of drugging and raping women? Hmmm...don’t know that I buy that, either.” Then it came out that the allegations were false and/or exaggerated later. I just think ERW is using her past relationship with Manson as a way to cash in on the Me Too movement, that’s all I’ve ever thought. There’s just something about all of this that doesn’t sit quite right with me. And of course, MM is an easy target and “looks the part” but that doesn’t mean I believe the allegations because the fact of the matter is, I don’t know the man behind the onstage persona and let’s face it, I and most others never will. I don’t think it’s fair to judge someone on their appearance/music/art because they might and could be someone entirely different behind closed doors. And even if MM, Till Lindemann, whoever else is into some freaky stuff in the bedroom or what have you, that doesn’t mean that they’re abusers or rapists. 🤷🏽♀️ Just my two cents.
Some of Manson’s exes have said that he was never a freak in bed and that he was actually very vanilla and loving... 🤷🏻♀️ people unfortunately cannot separate his public image from his personal life... it’s sad.
Evan Rachel Wood said that herself! She said this to Manzin, one of MM's friends and fans, "sorry to disappoint, but he's very vanilla!" when they were together. 🤷🏼♀️
Yes, exactly!! Just because his music/art is explicit doesn’t mean that’s who he is offstage. People would be shocked to find out that a lot of these artists are just normal, ordinary people like us. 😏
The strangest thing about that documentary (which itself is very strange) is that Amy Berg also directed a documentary about the West Memphis 3. She’s well aware of the power of moral panics, yet 100% hopped on this Manson case while the documentary provides really no proof of anything.
I didn’t know this. Thanks for this detail, Jack.
100%
I love that you’re doing a podcast! I’ve always had a bad feeling about Evan Rachel Wood. Something wasn’t adding up. Shane confirmed some of those feelings for me.
Thank you so much Jessica👏🏻 you’re one of the few who are reporting on the Manson case and this case is one of the biggest hoaxes (imo) of the “me too movement”!
I am not a Manson fan but am a fan of truth and innocence before proven guilty. I worry about our world and appreciate your focusing on these controversial topics. Especially in protection of our boys and men. This can happen to any of them, our husbands, brothers, and sons.
(I have literally been checking substack constantly for several days waiting for my fix to come in. And knowing you were working on something good. Did not disappoint! Thank you!)
Oooh I like that, "[...] a fan of truth and innocence before proven guilty." well said!
A decade ago, Wood was reported in a story by Jezebel to have left Bell because he wasn't into "very edgy" things like she was. What does "very edgy" mean to her? What she did with Manson? Back then she didn't accuse Manson of anything. It appears later when she began to feel "embarrassed" by what she had done before, she had to make excuses for herself by blaming Manson for it.
This interview is a joke. He has absolutely nothing to offer except his self-admitted biased fan opinion of Manson. Is Manson too easy of a target? No. He was given an honorary priesthood in the Church of Satan by the founder himself, Anton LeVay. Now, I’ve never been to that church, but I’m guessing you got to be a little more than “vanilla” to receive that achievement. Evan Rachel Wood, on the other hand, had a law passed to help victims of domestic abuse. That is not an easy task, and would be a really pointless retaliatory move against an alleged accuser. Also, she was 18 years old when they started dating. So if anybody is an easy target, it was her. Very surprised to see your angle on this, Jess. I know you like to question the accusers in these situations, and usually a lot of your suspicions track, but this one feels unwarranted. Even Rose McGowan (another former Manson ex) has stated her support for Evan Rachel Wood very publicly. And I know you give weight to her opinion because you used it in your stories when Russell Brand was accused. Hopefully you have more evidence to support Manson than just Shane Cashman. 🧡
Savannah,
Thank you for writing. I do t really have a stance on this one. I was here to listen ti Shane’s take on it.
But I have only read Rose’s support for MM. so please send any link if you have it? I’d love to read what you’re referencing.
https://loudwire.com/marilyn-manson-rose-mcgowan-evan-rachel-wood-abuse-allegations/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rose-mcgowan-marilyn-manson-abuse-allegations-1122681/
https://people.com/tv/rose-mcgowan-supports-evan-rachel-wood-following-marilyn-manson-allegations/
Mainstream media is your source for the case? Wow 😂 ppl never learn...
https://radaronline.com/p/marilyn-manson-ex-rose-mcgowan-accuses-evan-rachel-wood-bullying-her/
And then it gets really complicated because here Rose defends Manson to Eliza Bleu, who was supposedly a sex-traffic survivor, a grifter who turned out to be apparently making the whole thing up, but was also interviewed by Shane Cashman on TimCast 😵💫
Rose had to support ERW when the allegations first came out certainly to keep the me too movement credible and with a good image... now in 2023 after shocking evidence against ERW and Illma Gore and testimony that points to Evan pressuring people to lie, Rose is acknowledging that “everyone will be telling the truth”. All the facts point that ERW and the other accusers have lied, some of their claims have been debunked, they have not provided a single evidence, MM has provided evidence of a possible hoax... this a very complex case bc not everyone is interested in it and a lot of people go to mainstream media to know more abt it... MSM is clearly not reporting everything... so far they have reported the accusers sides, no mention of the fake FBI letter, no mention of important testimony in favor of Manson, no mention of the debunked claims, no mention of LEGAL documents. MSM especially RS magazine is a biased clickbait platform covering unverified claims and as always taking things out of context, not reporting FACTS. Unfortunately many ppl don’t know that.
Notice this person providing articles also didn't provide any info on this or how rose said she was bullied by Evans fans
* “NOT everyone will be telling the truth”
To add to the conversation, there are many interviews in the past where Marilyn Manson literally says he is not a Satanist. If I spent less than an hour of my time, I could find them as easily as anyone else could.
Moreover, these are serious allegations regardless if a law was created. Many of the accusers were friends with Evan Rachel Wood for years, and even actively participated in the now defunct The Phoenix Act nonprofit, and bill. Bad people can do good things. That's why there is an allegation of this planning going on for at least two years in Manson's lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood and her ex-girlfriend.
Meanwhile, several accusers lawsuits claim "discovery" only occurred during a October 2020 "survivors meeting" seen in Phoenix Rising - without a counselor to present it as such. Or repressed memories after the news broke.
That's a huge discrepancy if, on one hand, they created a bill into a law knowing for years Manson was their abuser. While on the other hand, claiming in their own lawsuits that it was not until this "survivors meeting" that they "discovered" their abuse. Many of these women being long time friends, some who worked with Evan Rachel Wood on The Phoenix Act nonprofit and bill years prior.
It makes no sense.
Or, the fact several women claim in their lawsuits to be living with Manson at the very same time. He lived in a small one bedroom apartment and never run into each other? Or the fact Manson was very publicly dating other women at various points in these timelines?
This type of common sense discrepancies is deserving of factual and accurate reporting, cautious skepticism despite any perceived stances. Allegations span from attempted murder, actual torture, pedophilia, human trafficking, ritualistic sex, whippings that should show visible physical long term scars, and more.
It's now been years since the allegations with a documentary that really showed no evidence of anything, and the conclusion of the LADA investigation can be any day now.
My overall point is, much like most people, very few have done the digging and research to know any one of the little factual details. You presented a few of them that are not factual or can be easily fact checked to say otherwise.
I tried to easily find the denials you mentioned but what I found was that, actually, Manson originally bragged that he was given the honor of being ordained as a minister of the church by Anton LeVay, but then the actual church of Satan sent out a tweet clarifying that he was never really ordained, just given an honorary priesthood.
https://www.nme.com/news/music/church-satan-clarifies-marilyn-mansons-role-2370035
Hi Savannah,
Thanks for the reply. Yes, that is true.
I don't have too much time right now for a full substantive reply, but here are some other quick sources I had already saved:
1) "Manson is used to being misunderstood, especially where his religious beliefs (or lack thereof) are concerned. For the record, Manson is a Satanist, not a devil worshiper."
Link: https://www.mansonwiki.com/wiki/Interview:1996/11_Access
2) "He has openly sought alternative religions and spirituality, and his search brought vicious rumors and criticism from religious zealots -- such as accusations that he is a Satanist, which emerged after he met Church of Satan founder Anton Szandor LaVey. If anything, Manson is still searching for religion and understanding of his own mortality."
And more recent years in a Reddit AMA from June 25, 2015 with Marilyn Manson:
3) "Are you truly a satanist? What's your view on that?"
I've never considered myself a Satanist. I was a part of the Church of Satan, with an honorary position, simply because it was one philosophy - because I've never looked at it as a religion. Anton LaVey (who wrote the book THE SATANIC BIBLE) taught me a lot of things about life. You know, I've been a scholar - self-taught, self-read - I wouldn't want to limit my view on the possibilities of what there is out there in the spiritual realm to just one thing. Because there's always something new to open your mind. To let you see things from a different angle. I do believe in the power of the mind, and the power of certain things. I think that music definitely has to have some element that back in the beginning - and I'm not talking about once Christianity took over America, blaming Rock n' Roll for bad things - I mean back in the times when music was first invented, and the chords that were used in most rock n' roll music, they were considered evil - because I think when you put those notes together, they have the ability to disrupt or distract the brain from whatever sort of "virus" of language that religion is, in a sense. If you have things like a Bible from any different religion - it does have a powerful reign over people's minds. And music does as well. So there had to be something - if we go by religion's view of "good vs. evil" - that would be evil, meaning it didn't agree with those views."
Link: https://www.mansonwiki.com/wiki/Interview:2015/06/25_Marilyn_Manson._AMA.
I’m not even a fan of MM. I could give a rip. But, Doe is offended that Manson attended her deposition? Women are so ridiculous. He has every right to be there and face his accuser. It also speaks volumes that he could look her in the face. The fact that she was uncomfortable is her problem as well as a tell.
Was hoping you would cover this.
You changed my mind! When this podcast popped up I thought ‘Manson? Weirdo, he deserves whatever is coming to, but it’s Jess so I’ll listen.’ Completely mind blown and now it’s like the Depo trial, I believed Amber until she completely jumped the shark. I hope it does go to trial and one day I hope false accusers face the same punishment the accused would have gotten if found guilty.
This was such a fascinating conversation and I paused it in the middle to go watch the Larry King/Manson interview. Wow. I haven't ever known much about him or the latest controversies but found myself curious. I love that OPEN DIALOGUE and scrutinizing narratives can bring so much entertainment and joy! Shane and Jess -- well done :)