Anton LaVey
Howard Stanton Levey (born April 11, 1930, died October 29, 1997), better known as Anton Szandor LaVey was the founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan as well as a writer, occultist, musician, and actor. He is the author of The Satanic Bible and the founder of LaVeyan Satanism, a synthesized system of his understanding of human nature and the insights of philosophers who advocated materialism and individualism, for which he claimed no "supernatural inspiration". LaVey viewed "Satan" not as a literal deity or entity, but as a historic and literary figure symbolic of Earthly values.
irs as part of a settlement, on the assumption that they possess occult potency, and can be used for acts of Satanic ritual magic.
Controversy
On February 2, 1998, daughter Zeena LaVey and her husband Nikolas Schreck compiled and released Anton LaVey: Legend and Reality [1] which accused Anton LaVey of allowing for the sexual assault of Zeena's son Stanton LaVey (which Stanton denies having happened), falsifying information about his career and family life, and plagiarism. Zeena also contributed to an article on by D. Shawn Bosler titled The Devil in Disguise about the rumors of her father's release of organ music albums under the name "George Montalba." In response, Blanche Barton, Anton LaVey's biographer, released The Georges Montalba Mystery [2] countering these claims.
In The Book of Satan, "LaVey relied on a work called Might Is Right by Ragnar Redbeard to such an extent that it is clear that without so much as a footnote or bibliographic reference that LaVey plagiarized a significant portion of Ragnar Redbeard." [3]. LaVey acknowledged the influence of Might Is Right by mentioning both it and Ragnar Redbeard in his dedication page of The Satanic Bible (only early prints of The Satanic Bible have this page), as well as in an introduction to a later edition of Might Is Right. In an interview with LaVey a question regarding the book arose. LaVey responded by stating, "Might Is Right by Ragnar Redbeard is probably one of the most inflammatory books ever written, so who better to write an introduction? It was only natural that I excerpted a few pages of it for The Satanic Bible." LaVey went on to state that, "The book has been so indelibly linked with me, it was felt that any new edition should have my name on it."
John Smulo, a known critic of Anton LaVey, has stated that, "Though LaVey justly charges that many Christians are guilty of hypocrisy, LaVey falls short himself. The sixth of LaVey's Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth says, "Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he cries out to be relieved." Unfortunately, when it came to writing The Satanic Bible, LaVey hypocritically fell short of following his own rules. Smulo further claimed LaVey's most well known written work, The Satanic Bible relied heavily on many writers of a philosophical nature, most notably Ayn Rand, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Aleister Crowley. LaVey has stated that, "His religion was "just Ayn Rand's philosophy, with ceremony and ritual added.", though many say that 'he should be given credit for his creative synthesis of the thought of others into what has become the most influential statement of modern Satanism.' LaVey has denied claims of plagiarism in The Satanic Bible.
Trivia
- Although LaVey casually claimed to be the model for the title character in director Robert Fuest's films The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again there is no evidence to support this. Fuest was a known associate who also collaborated with LaVey on the film The Devil's Rain.
- An eclectic individual, LaVey was fond of music, painting, antique automobiles, firearms, and animals. His pets included a Nubian Lion (Togare) and a Doberman Pinscher (Loki). He was an accomplished musician and made recordings of traditional music on which he played all the instruments on his keyboard synthesizers. LaVey also painted as a hobby throughout his life.
- LaVey did not play the role of Satan during the rape scene of Rosemary's Baby (in fact it was actor Clay Tanner) and no technical advisor was used, the rumor also went unmentioned by Blanche Barton in The Georges Montalba Mystery.
- LaVey has claimed to have dated or slept with actress, Marilyn Monroe.
- LaVey regarded his development as being heavily influenced by dark literature and legends,horror and science fiction pulp magazines, the works of Jack London, film noir, German Expressionism, and historical figures such as Cagliostro, Rasputin and Basil Zaharoff. He also cited his eastern European grandmother's stories and folktales as influential.
- LaVey was known by many as "doctor" (sometimes spelled "doktor"). This "doctorate" was in the tradition of calling whorehouse piano players "Doc" and was not a claim of academic standing. Current Church of Satan representatives say that the Church's fifth degree, Magus, merits the title of doctor and that LaVey was awarded it from the Church's ruling body, the Council of Nine. When asked for a dissertation, The Satanic Witch is quoted as being the equivalent, due to the extensive research done and references given.
- Over the years, LaVey attracted a number of notable allies and associates, including celebrities such as Jayne Mansfield, Sammy Davis Jr., King Diamond, Robert Fuest, Jacques Vallee, Marc Almond, Aime Michel, Boyd Rice, and Marilyn Manson, who is an honorary reverend for the Church of Satan.
- Marilyn Manson gave the foreword in LaVey's last, brief autobiography, Satan Speaks!.
