'Antichrist Superstar'

I can tell you the exact place and the precise context where I first learned about Marilyn Manson.

I was in first-period gym class, freshman year of high school on the top step of the basketball gym bleachers when a kid named Dusty (a noted drug dealer, who often brought his wares out in full view of everyone) brought in a copy of the EP Smells Like Children. On the cover, a ghoulish, grinning Manson greets an unknowing public.

A year later, Antichrist Superstar came out and it scared the shit out of every parent in the world. Mostly because Manson had zero qualms with pushing the so-called limits of decency and civil behavior as defined by those who do not blaspheme, obsess about sex or who are nihilistic.

The irony of Marilyn Manson, over his career, is that there's not a bigger cartoon character in rock music. His facade is so incredibly fake that it's not really funny.

However, the true rock star, the geeky Brian Warner, who may or may not be Paul from The Wonder Years,  is a pretty wild, disturbing guy with extreme destructive tendencies and a penchant for the macabre. Brian's the real weirdo. Manson's a money-making gimmick.

Despite not really liking the music, I take every opportunity to ready about Manson because he's pretty interesting and doesn't pretend to think that he's four parts KISS and one part Aleister Crowley.

He's been sued so many  times -- giving a girl cocaine, who later died in a car wreck, assault of journalists, ripping off ex-band mates, vandalizing hotel rooms -- it's easy to lose count. Along the way, he's collected a number items including a child's skeleton, Nazi memorabilia, items made of human skin and other ghastly artifacts.

Although a little John, he's also a lot of Paul. He's been sued a lot and fallen in love even more times. He's been engaged twice (Rose McGowan and Rachel Wood) and married once (Dita Von Teese). The nuptials with Von Teese deteriorated as Manson's alcohol intake became too overwhelming.

Marilyn Manson, our true modern rock star.