Remember when: The Gold Coast City Council attempted to ban Marilyn Manson from visiting

IT’S pretty rare a music act or person is banned from entering Australia, but in 1998 the Gold Coast City Council tried make the city a Marylin Manson-free zone.

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday October 23, 1998

IT’S pretty rare a music act or person is banned from entering Australia, but in 1998 the Gold Coast City Council tried make the city a Marylin Manson-free zone.

US shock rocker Marilyn Manson, mistakenly described as “transgender”, faced a ban from setting foot on stage at the Big Day Out concert on the Gold Coast.

Then mayor of the Gold Coast Gary Baildon vowed to stop the “freakish” Manson, described as a “contrived rock demon” and his notorious self-named band from performing on the tourist strip.

The band was one of several international headline acts in the line-up for Australia’s premier alternative music tour, which was held at Parklands in January 1999.

Cr Baildon said he had grave concerns over the Manson’s stage act and claimed if the band was allowed to perform it would threaten the city’s family image.

“Their track record of cancelled concerts and controversial performances speaks for itself,” he said.

“The lyrics of their songs make reference to murder, suicide, hate and violence.

“I believe the majority of parents would not want their children exposed to these themes.

“The band’s reputation hardly compliments the family image of the Gold Coast,” he said.

Cr Baildon’s push to ban Manson failed to get traction and the shock rocker went on stage as scheduled at the festival.

Meanwhile, concern grew for the future of the Gold Coast Chargers after three members of the NRL club’s board were sacked.

The team was axed to cut down on the number of teams in the competition.