Interview:1997/05/08 Folha de São Paulo (Brazilian Newspaper)

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Folha de São Paulo (Brazilian Newspaper) (1997)
Interview with Marilyn Manson
Date 05/08/1997
Source Mechanical Christ BR
Interviewer (unknown)

This interview by the Brazilian newspaper Folha de São Paulo was translated and posted by Mechanical Christ Brazil. If you have more information on it's source, please leave a comment at the talk page.


Folha de São Paulo: How should I call you? Brian Warner, your real name, or Marilyn Manson? Does Brian Warner still exist?

Marilyn Manson:The only people who call me Brian Warner are those who make me hang up on. Even my mom calls me Manson, but I don’t care... You choose.


FDSP: Your latest album, “Antichrist Svperstar” (1996) was released in Brazil only a few months ago. How would you describe this album for brazilians who don’t know your work very well and see the album in stores?

MM: It’s an album that talks about going through a transformation in life. It also deals with things that no one would ever believe. It’s about diving in hell in order to mold the individual. In a way, it’s the story of my life.


FDSP: How would you define yourself?

MM: I consider myself to be an artist, because I try to use my mind to express myself, through my music, my performance on stage, taking pictures or acting in videoclips.


FDSP: What do you think about the discussion that the Rock is dying, and the future (or already the present of music) is Techno?

MM: People used to say the same thing in 1989 when the Industrial Rock was made. But I admire those who embody the best elements of electronic to their music, like Drum n’ bass, the keyboards... And also take elements from the 80’s, from Bowie, who took from Brian Eno. I’m not a fan, but I think that there will always be some electronic elements in everything from now on.


FDSP: Your band belongs to a scene called “end of century metal”, that include bands like Nine Inch Nails and Tool. Do you feel good alongside these names?

I think my band shares the same aggressive spirit with these bands. But, particularly, with our last record I think we prove people that we’re not only creating heavy music; instead, we’re adding feeling to it, our fears, something deeper that make people think.


FDSP: Which bands have influenced Marilyn Manson the most?

MM: Over the years: Bauhaus, Stooges, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath. Lately, Jane’s Addiction, Nirvana, Radiohead.


FDSP: About popular bands today, which ones do you like?

MM: I like Radiohead a lot. And, in a strange way, I admire Oasis. They have attitude. They know what they’re doing, know who they are. It’s a band that doesn’t try to be anything other than themselves. They have my respect.


FDSP: Where did the inspiration for the way you dress come from?

MM: Probably from the movies I’ve watched, books I’ve read. I’ve always been a fan of Stanley Kubrick, Terry Gilliam, David Lynch movies, “A Clockwork Orange”. My inspiration came from all of these things. I’ve always felt like I was a character out of each of these directors’ works.


FDSP: How was it to make David Lynch’s “Lost Highway”? Did you like the movie?

MM: I’d like to have a larger participation in the movie, actually, but the band’s schedule wouldn’t allow us to do that. And I was only able to make a small appearance. The movie is really good.


FDSP: Back to Rock n’ roll. With “Antichrist Svperstar” and your recent controversial tours, you became notorious. Along with notoriety came the rumours about things you’d have done. How do you deal with it?

MM: I think that it doesn’t matter what’s true or not, when it comes to all these things people talk about me. If many people believe, the rumours will become true, anyway. People are curious about our show and hear a lot of stories about them. I think they should see for themselves.


FDSP: Is it true that your most bizarre experience with drugs was crunch human bones that you got from an old graveyard, put the powder in a tobacco pipe and smoke?

MM: Yes. It was really weird. It was at the same night that we did other drugs.


FDSP: You show a certain androgyny on stage, pictures and videos. Is there a defined sexual orientation?

MM: I always tried to experiment different kind of things, but I think I prefer women predominantly.


FDSP: You’re not the first to bring references to heaven and hell in lyrics. Why do you think that your music and style bother so many people in USA?

MM: Because our music raises controversy. Anyone can come up and say whatever they want about my music, but if nobody has enough arguments to go up against it, nobody will care about it.


FDSP: Your coming to Brazil will be fast. For what was released, you arrive in São Paulo on Sunday night, do the soundcheck on Monday afternoon, play at night and will leave the next morning. Did your band come just because of some obligation? How was the country included in your tour?

MM: What I can say is that I’m not the one in charge of these things. I decide about the places we’re going to perform, but as for the schedules... I try to focus on my performance and do what I know to do. That’s what I can say.


FDSP: Can we announce the arrival of the Antichrist, or is this just to sell records?

MM: Tell people to go to the concert. The answer will be there.