On tour to promote his new best-of album, Lest We Forget, Manson will be pulling all the skeletons out of his closet. A Marilyn Manson show is not just a rock concert; with all the stage antics and props it could more suitably be called a rock melodrama. Bible-shredding, stilt performances, burlesque dancers and, of course, transgendered costuming have all been part of Manson's shows in the past. In interviews Manson is calm and reserved, but once onstage he seems to slip into a possessed form of alter-ego. Nothing is sacred, which explains why protesters, particularly from religious groups, are a common presence outside his concerts.
Manson's antisocial behavior made him the most controversial musician of the '90s. Both his fan base and his critics have been downsized, which means that his show won't be plugged full of the colossal antics of the past. Instead the stage will be set for the blending of the best of Manson's old and new work, along with his latest smattering of covers (including "Personal Jesus"). For any longtime Manson fan, this promises to be a retrospective worth witnessing.
