The Pale Emperor

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The Pale Emperor
The Pale Emperor cover
Studio album by Marilyn Manson
Released January 16, 2015 (9 years ago)
January 20, 2015 (US)
Recorded 2013–2014 at Igloo Music Studios in Los Angeles, California
Genre Electric blues, alternative rock, hard rock, dance-rock, gothic rock
Length 51:40
Label Cooking Vinyl, Hell, etc., Dine Alone, Loma Vista
Producer Marilyn Manson, Tyler Bates
Discogs Discogs-logo.jpg View at Discogs
Marilyn Manson chronology
Born Villain
(2012)
The Pale Emperor
(2015)
Heaven Upside Down
(2017)

The Pale Emperor is the ninth studio album by Marilyn Manson. It was released on January 20, 2015 by Marilyn Manson's Hell, etc. vanity label. The Pale Emperor is the band's shortest-running studio album. Its title is a reference to the moniker bestowed on Constantius I, the 54th Emperor of the Roman Empire, by his people.[1]

Conception[edit]

The first description of the Pale Emperor sessions came in May 2013, when Manson compared a song written the night before to Prince, and others to Revolting Cocks.[2] He later described the material as "still personal but different," and that touring with Alice Cooper triggered nostalgia for his Portrait of an American Family days.[3] After the band's previous album Born Villain, Manson began a chain of television cameos in Californication and Sons of Anarchy, meeting Pale Emperor co-producer Tyler Bates while working on the former. Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter announced his lyrics for an unused Shooter Jennings song were given to Manson, who expressed interest in using them on the album.[4] Sutter, who heard demos of the new songs, spoke positively of the lyrics and music, which felt "more personal and raw and less theatrical."[4] Drummer Gil Sharone confirmed his role in an Instagram photo, replacing Jason Sutter who played his last show with the band on July 21, 2013.

After recording The Pale Emperor, Manson rediscovered a book about Roman emperor Elagabalus, entitled Heliogabalus; or, the Crowned Anarchist,[5] given as a gift from Johnny Depp in 2000.[6] Manson referred to the identity of the historical Pale Emperor as Elagabalus in early interviews for the album,[6] though it was not Elagabalus but instead Constantius I, who was given the name Constantius the Pale.[1] Manson described him as earning the Pale Emperor moniker because of his complexion and thought it was an appropriate title for the album.[6]

The first song heard by the public was "Cupid Carries a Gun," shortened for the opening titles of the television series Salem.[7] Ironically, "Cupid Carries a Gun" was the last song completed for The Pale Emperor. Bates elaborated by saying he and Manson began writing the song before Bates started scoring Salem.[7] Bates later showed Manson the Salem opening, which inspired the two to complete the song.[7] Finally, Bates played "Cupid Carries a Gun" for Salem showrunner Brannon Braga, who called it the "perfect tone and attitude" for the show's opening.[7]

While promoting the band's June 27 and June 29, 2014 performances in Russia, Manson told Russia's Radio RockFM station that Bates had imbued the new songs with "the spirit of rock 'n' roll," particularly the Doors, and that his background in film soundtrack scores resulted in an album that "sounds like a movie."[8] He also confirmed the large presence of references to Greek mythology in the lyrics.[8] Eventually both of these Russia concerts were cancelled by a bomb threat and Christian Orthodox protest respectively.

As the months progressed, it became apparent in interviews that the album sounded inspired by or related to blues music.[5] Manson compared the sound not directly to "the Black Keys and Jack White" but to the heart and soul of the blues.[9] Manson mused that even after covering Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You" and living in New Orleans, he could never identify with how to play genuine blues music previously.[5] He admitted that The Pale Emperor did explore the blues, though "there was no point where I said, I'm going to make a blues record."[5]

The next song and first to be revealed in its entirety was "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge." Confirmed as a single, this song was available to download online for free between October 26 and November 9, after which it was sold on iTunes in anticipation of The Pale Emperor, which was also confirmed as the album's title on November 9. In addition to its standard release, a limited Definitive Box edition will also contain the album in vinyl, CD and MP3 formats with collector packaging, lithographs and a shirt. The last song released before the complete album was "Deep Six," which received the first music video of the Pale Emperor era.

Singles[edit]


The album started being propelled by the single Third Day of a Seven Day Binge. On October 26, 2014 a promotional disc containing the album and radio version was issued by Cooking Vinyl. On December 23, 2014, a limited edition commercial disc backed "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" with "Deep Six" in the form of two A-sides. On July 9, 2015 "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" received a music video.



Deep Six is the second single of the 2015 album The Pale Emperor by Marilyn Manson, released on December 15, 2014. Besides its presence in streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody, the single is also being sold as a digital single. Those who pre-ordered the deluxe box edition of the album, also got a copy of this single as soon as it was released. The only known physical CD single of Deep Six is promotional only.



Cupid Carries a Gun is the third single of the 2015 album The Pale Emperor by Marilyn Manson, released on January 7, 2015. Besides its presence in streaming services like Spotify and Rhapsody, the single is also being sold as a digital single.

The Hell Not Hallelujah Tour[edit]


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To support the release of The Pale Emperor, Marilyn Manson staged their seventeenth world tour, Three songs from The Pale Emperor premiered prior to the Hell Not Hallelujah Tour on October 29, October 31 and November 1. the The Hell Not Hallelujah Tour. On August 19, 2014, Marilyn Manson was announced for Soundwave Festival XV. [10]. Manson announced the tour's title in a video on his official website's During the first performance of the promotional tour on the 21st of January, Manson played seven of the ten songs on the album, a radical departure from his usual performances that relied heavily on previous hits.


Track listing[edit]

  1. "Killing Strangers" – 5:36
  2. "Deep Six" – 5:02
  3. "Third Day of a Seven Day Binge" – 4:26
  4. "The Mephistopheles of Los Angeles" – 4:57
  5. "Warship My Wreck" – 5:57
  6. "Slave Only Dreams to Be King" – 5:20
  7. "The Devil Beneath My Feet" – 4:16
  8. "Birds of Hell Awaiting" – 5:05
  9. "Cupid Carries a Gun" – 4:59
  10. "Odds of Even" – 6:22

Deluxe Edition (formerly named Narcissus Edition)[edit]

  1. "Day 3" – 4:11
  2. "Fated, Faithful, Fatal" – 4:41
  3. "Fall of the House of Death" – 4:30

Album credits[edit]

PRODUCED BY MARILYN MANSON AND TYLER BATES

RECORDED AT ABATTOIR STUDIOS, STUDIO CITY, CA / DRUMS RECORDED BY GUSTAVO BORNER AT IGLOO STUDIOS, BURBANK, CA / MIXED BY ROBERT CARRANZA AND WOLFGANG MATTHES AT SPPP, LOS ANGELES, CA / PRO TOOLS EDITING: JOANNE HIGGINBOTTOM / ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING: DYLAN EILAND, WOLFGANG MATTHES / MASTERED BY BRIAN LUCEY AT MAGIC GARDEN MASTERING, LOS ANGELES, CA

MARILYN MANSON - VOCALS, PERCUSSION
TYLER BATES - GUITARS, GUITARVIOL, BASS, KEYBOARDS, PROGRAMMING

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:
GIL SHARONE - DRUMS / ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR. - PIANO ON "SLAVE ONLY DREAMS TO BE KING" / FRANK MACCHIA - TENOR AND BARITONE SAXOPHONE ON "BIRDS OF HELL AWAITING" / WALTON GOGGINS, JR. STARRING AS THE PREACHERMAN

LYRICS BY MARILYN MANSON           MUSIC BY TYLER BATES
PUBLISHED BY SONGS OF GOLGOTHA (BMI) / TYLES BATES MUSIC, INC. (BMI)

PHOTOGRAPHY: NICHOLAS COPE / CREATIVE DIRECTION: WILLO PERRON
ART DIRECTION: HASSAN RAHIM

MANAGEMENT: TONY CIULLA AT CIULLA MANAGEMENT / BOOKING AGENT: RICK ROSKIN FOR CAA / EX NORTH AMERICA AGENT: EMMA BANKS AND CHRIS DALTSON FOR CAA / LEGAL: LAURIE SORIANO AT KING, HOLMES, PATERNO & BERLINER

THIS RECORD IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER. -MARILYN MANSON

TYLER BATES WISHES TO THANK TONY CIULLA, TOM WHALLEY, TOM (AKA GROVER) BIERY, TOM KAPINOS, MICHAEL CIRAVOLO AT SCHECTER GUITAR RESEARCH, LISA BATES, LOLA BATES, SAMI BATES, JOHN HOULIHAN, PAUL WILEY, DAN CLEARY, RYAN BROWN.

EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO TWIGGY RAMIREZ

℗ & © 2015 HELL, ETC UNDER EXCLUSIVE LICENSE TO COOKING VINYL LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS OF THE PRODUCER AND OWNER OF THE RECORDED WORK RESERVED. UNAUTHORIZED COPYING, HIRING, RENTING, PUBLIC PERFORMANCE AND BROADCASTING OF THIS RECORD IS PROHIBITED.
MADE IN THE EU   LC:7180

MARILYNMANSON.COM             COOKINGVINYL.COM

Personnel[edit]

  • Marilyn Manson – vocals, lyrics, percussion, production
  • Tyler Bates – guitar, guitarviol, bass, keyboards, programming, compositions, production
  • Gil Sharone – drums, percussion
  • Roger Joseph Manning Jr. - piano on "Slave Only Dreams to Be King"
  • Frank Macchia - tenor and baritone saxophone on "Birds of Hell Awaiting"
  • Walton Goggins, Jr. - starring as the preacherman
  • Gustavo Borner - drums recording
  • Robert Carranza - mixing
  • Wolfgang Matthes - mixing, additional programming
  • Joanne Higgingbotton - pro tools editing
  • Dylan Eiland - additional programming
  • Brian Lucey - mastering
  • Nicholas Cope - photography
  • Willo Perron - creative direction
  • Hassan Rahim - art direction
  • Tony Ciulla - management
  • Rick Roskin - booking agent
  • Emma Banks - ex North America agent
  • Laurie Soriano - legal

Release history[edit]

Region Date Label Format Catalog
Flag-de.png Germany January 16, 2015 Hell, etc. 237619
Flag-ie.png Ireland January 16, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-it.png Italy January 16, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-fr.png France January 19, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-nl.png Netherlands January 19, 2015 Hell, etc. 0711297510256
Flag-se.png Sweden January 19, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-uk.png United Kingdom January 19, 2015 Hell, etc. B00PCMXQ9I
Flag-ca.png Canada January 20, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-us.png USA January 20, 2015 Hell, etc. B00PEJG1K0
Flag-us.png USA January 20, 2015 Loma Vista Standard; jewel case LVR-36380-02
Flag-us.png USA January 20, 2015 Loma Vista Limited Edition; digipak LVR-36856-02
Flag-jp.png Japan January 21, 2015 Hell, etc. VICP-65261
Flag-au.png Australia January 23, 2015 Hell, etc. COOKCD602
Flag-nz.png New Zealand January 23, 2015 Hell, etc.
Flag-jp.png Japan July 29, 2015 Hell, etc. CD/DVD ("Tour Edition") VIZP-138


Cover Gallery[edit]

Chart Positions[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 A new and general biographical dictionary. William Tooke. 1798. pp. 69
  2. Marilyn Manson: "I Like To Smoke and Hang Out With The Gangsta Rappers". Jim Louvau. Phoenix New Times. May 30, 2013.
  3. Worn Villain: Marilyn Manson discusses life, love and what it's like to play the villain. Drew Ailes. Riverfront Times. June 20, 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 WTF Sutter 2_1_14. Kurt Sutter. YouTube. February 1, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Marilyn Manson KROQ Interview. Kevin and Bean. KROQ. December 15, 2014.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Marilyn Manson Talks 'The Pale Emperor' + 'Sons of Anarchy'. Full Metal Jackie. Loudwire. December 19, 2014.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 WGN America's 'Salem' Enlists Marilyn Manson for Opening Titles (Video). Michael O'Connell. The Hollywood Reporter. April 24, 2014.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Marilyn Manson talks about Russia and a new album. Radio RockFM. June 1, 2014. (Russian)
  9. Marilyn Manson: Cítím povinnost pobuřovat. Šárka Hellerová. Novinzky.cz. July 25, 2014. (Czech)
  10. soundwavefestival.com
  11. 'Marilyn Manson's The Pale Emperor (Cooking Vinyl) debuted at No. 16.' billboard.com January 26, 2015 article
  12. 'Both Marilyn Manson and the Decemberists notched big sales weeks for their debuts. Portland's Pitchfork darlings debuted at No. 7, followed by the '90s shock-rock king at No. 8. (The Decemberists' What a Terrible World, What a Wonderful World just barely outsold Manson's The Pale Emperor; both moved about 51,000 apiece.)' billboard.com January 28, 2015 article
  13. hitparader.com