Known for his shocking antics and controversial lyrics, Marilyn Manson recently collapsed on stage during a performance of ‘Beautiful People’ at a concert in Canada last week. While some people probably thought the rocker was incorporating his trademark theatrics into the show, representatives have released a statement that he is now recovering from a bout with the flu. This isn’t the first time the musician has hit the headlines in recent years for something notorious.
While concert-goers were in attendance of a performance in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in Canada, Manson doubled over and passed out in front of the crowd. When fans finally realized that the musician was not acting, they feared that he had actually died. After being helped off of the stage, Manson returned to his hotel room to recover. It was reported that he was not hospitalized.
With elaborate costume changes to tossing a birthday cake into the crowd, the performance was described as entertaining and memorable ”“ even before the collapse. One reviewer called the show ‘dark and creepy.’
At the time of his collapse, Manson was performing an encore of his song, ‘Beautiful People’ ”“ with lyrics that incorporate religion and his views pertaining to what he sees as the ‘weaker’ and ‘stronger’ people within society. As one of his most well-known and most successful original songs, the lyrics highlighted some of the themes of Friedrich Nietzsche’s theory regarding master-slave morality, as well as the ‘culture of beauty.’ Before the song kicks off, a few seconds of backwards-guitar feedback and electronic noise is heard, which contains a heavily-distorted spoken sample of Tex Watson [We would] swoop down on the town. . . [and] kill everyone that wasn’t beautiful.”
The song has a history of delivering a controversial tone, and Manson has repeatedly made derogatory remarks concerning religion.
For example, during a performance of ‘Beautiful People’ during the MTV Video Music Awards, Manson addressed the crowd by saying: “My fellow Americans: We will no longer be oppressed by the fascism of Christianity! And we will no longer be oppressed by the fascism of beauty. As I see you all sittin’ out there trying your hardest not to be ugly, trying your hardest not to fit in, trying your hardest to earn your way into Heaven, but let me ask you: Do you want to be in a place that’s filled with a bunch of a******?” The musician then followed up by stripping away his costume to reveal a wardrobe consisting of a leather corset, leather G-string and fishnet stockings.
This isn’t the first time that the aging rocker has made headlines in recent years for something other than his music or lyrics. Last year, Manson received a letter from infamous serial killer Charles Manson, which is who the rocker paid homage to when he chose his own stage name ”“ a combination of Charles Manson and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. The former cult leader wrote an open letter to the musician in an attempt to most likely gain a bit of publicity for the nonprofit he established from inside prison walls.
On a handwritten card, the serial killer penned:
“To Marilyn Manson ”“ It’s taken me a long time to get there from where I could touch M. Manson. Now I got a card to play ”“ you may look into my non-profit, ATWA, and give Manson what you think he’s got coming for Air, Trees, Water, and you. Or I will pay Manson what you think Manson got coming ”“ the music has make Manson into Abraxas Devil, and I’m SURE you would want some of what I got from what I got. It’s a far out balance. Beyond good and bad, right, wrong. What you don’t do is what I will do ”“ what you did a sing-along, and let it roll and said how you saved me a lot of steps ”“ I don’t need, it’s not a need or a want. Couped ”“ coup. Ghost dancers slay together and you’re just in my grave Sunstroker Corona-coronas-coronae ”“ you seen me from under with it all standing on me. That’s 2 dump trucks ”“ doing the same as CMF 000007. Charles Manson”