Raise the Red Flag: Marilyn Manson’s controversial comeback w/ new music amidst legal battles

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As a long-time fan of Marilyn Manson, I’ve been through his highs and lows, his rebirths and fallouts, and even his controversial moments that have left many scratching their heads. But what keeps me coming back is the raw power and emotion in his music, and his undeniable talent for creating anthems that resonate with the disenchanted and misunderstood.

Toward the end of last month, Marilyn Manson released a new single titled “Raise The Red Flag.” This is his second piece of music in quick succession, following the debut of “As Sick As The Secrets Within” earlier that same month. To be honest, the video for this song isn’t exactly the most romantic music video out there.

In the song “Raise The Red Flag,” Manson sings bold lyrics such as “It’s time to fight back against the bullies/And remove the target from my back,” with the chorus declaring, “My red flag is your white one, stained with blood.” This new track maintains his trademark approach of creating provocative and contentious themes. Manson performed “As Sick As The Secrets Within” for the first time live on August 3 at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, during a headlining concert where he also played tracks like “Cruci-Fiction In Space” from Holy Wood.

His comeback concert signified his resumption to live performances after an extended break, with his last stage appearance happening in 2019. The day prior, on August 2nd, he made his official return at the Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which was part of Five Finger Death Punch’s summer arena tour; Manson served as their opening act for this tour.

The concert tour is his initial significant series of shows since the pandemic, happening after the culmination of his 2019 headlining tour. On August 3, the second new song titled “As Sick As The Secrets Within” was released, which he co-produced with his long-term collaborator Tyler Bates. This release also signifies his debut under a fresh agreement with Nuclear Blast Records, a prominent metal and rock label. This collaboration, officially announced in May, follows months of rumors suggesting that Manson had already completed recording a new album.

Marilyn Manson appears to be successfully rebuilding his career

Marilyn Manson hasn’t been selling many records in recent years, but that’s not to say he’s not successful. His latest album, “We Are Chaos,” released in 2020, achieved commercial success, landing at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and topping the Top Rock Albums chart with hits like “Don’t Chase the Dead.” For his current tour, Manson has reunited a number of his band members, including Tyler Bates on guitar, Gil Sharone on drums, Reba Meyers of Cod Orange on additional guitars, and Matt Montgomery (formerly known as Piggy D. from Rob Zombie) on bass.

This assemblage signifies a change in Manson’s live performance style, incorporating new musicians from diverse rock and metal backgrounds, resulting in a sound quite distinct from his “Spooky Kids” era. Yet, despite his musical comeback, Manson continues to be a contentious figure. Alongside ongoing debates about the impact of his music on today’s youth, there are accusations of past abuse levied against him.

Over the past few years, he’s found himself embroiled in numerous court cases, some involving actress Evan Rachel Wood and other women, who claim he abused them physically, emotionally, and sexually. Manson has firmly denied these allegations and has even filed lawsuits against several accusers, with many opting to no longer remain anonymous. Some of the lawsuits have been dropped by judges, but the accusations have taken a heavy toll on his career.

2022 saw Marlon part ways with Loma Vista Recordings and the talent agency CAA following the emergence of accusations against him. Loma Vista then declared they would no longer actively promote his current album, making this decision effective straight away.

Before that, Manson had been associated with Loma Vista Records since the launch of “The Pale Emperor” in 2015, an album that was widely regarded as a career resurgence for the musician.

How the court cases are going

In March 2022, Marilyn Manson filed a defamation lawsuit against Evan Rachel Wood, but the primary allegations were discarded in May 2023. There are still some aspects of the case left undecided, with a trial yet to take place. In January, Manson was mandated to cover Wood’s legal expenses, which amounted to approximately $326,000. Subsequently, in February, it was reported that Manson would also shoulder the legal fees of artist Illma Gore, another defendant in the lawsuit and referred to as Wood’s “on-again, off-again romantic partner.” It is said that Gore is owed more than $160,000, increasing Manson’s total legal expenses close to half a million dollars.

These refunds were given based on California’s anti-Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (anti-SLAPP) statute. This law permits defendants who are sued for exercising their right to free speech to have their court costs reimbursed by the plaintiff.

The new album

Manson’s 30-show tour with Five Finger Death Punch begins on September 19 in Houston, Texas, which is his largest tour since legal issues arose. For Manson, this tour signifies a comeback to his usual style and an opportunity to rekindle connections with his fanbase after being out of the limelight for almost three years.

Born as Brian Warner, Marilyn Manson is a long-standing influential figure in the realms of rock and industrial music. Famous for his shock-rock persona and dramatic stage acts, Manson has always been a divisive character within the industry. Though his music still strikes a chord with a loyal fan base, his legal troubles and personal scandals have tarnished his public reputation to some extent.

Despite the challenges he faces, Manson seems committed to advancing his career. He’s putting out fresh music and planning tours again. Interestingly, his upcoming album is titled “One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1” and there’s a new single, “Sacrilegious.

Of course, if you consider Manson innocent or choose to separate the art from the artist, you’re welcome to enjoy both his old and new music. It’s a personal decision, not everyone makes it, but ultimately it’s your choice. The new album will be distributed by the record label, Nuclear Blast.

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2024-09-27 19:01