The Marilyn Manson Issue

Yep, another band people often think looks goth. Non-goth music that does actually get played in "goth" clubs. I have also talked about this before but it seems yet again no one is listening. One of the main culprits is Marilyn Manson so I will focus on that.

Yes, I did discuss Marilyn Manson being an influence on modern goth subculture before (over here) and I talk about how his music is not goth as part of that.

A common argument people make is "Hurr hurr I listen to Manson, he is played in goth clubs and I'm a goth so screw you!" and they completely miss the point goths make about Marilyn Manson musically.

One - "goth" clubs don't just play goth music, they play a mix of dark alternative genres, maybe even a little mainstream stuff. Depends on the crowd and the DJs. Marilyn Manson is non-goth music, lots of alternative people like him so it could be played. Hell at one point for a couple of years WWE's Smackdown show played The Beautiful People in its opening credits so they have some mainstream appeal too.

Two - Goths can like Marilyn Manson. I know - it sounds too good to be true! But it is. You can like whatever you like and if people hang shit on you for it then they are the jerks. But...

Three - if your basis for being goth is because you are a Marilyn Manson fan, you are not goth.Goths are fans of goth music and he does not make goth music. I believe the collective term for Manson fans is "Spooky Kids". Possibly "Mansonites" too but I have only heard Mansonite used in a derogatory way. A Mansonite could be a goth who defines themselves being goth by being a Marilyn Manson fan?