Marilyn Manson: Fight to ban shock rocker from the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast’s mayor declared plans to ban shock rocker Marilyn Manson from visiting the city and performing, citing his ‘disturbing’ lyrics. READ THE WILD TRUE STORY

“The Gold Coast’s mayor wants to ban shock rocker Marilyn Manson from visiting the city and performing”.

That was the message the headlines of newspapers carried across the nation 25 years ago when the controversial singer was booked to appear at the 1999 Big Day Out.

That demand, and the show, which was held at Parklands in January 1999, made worldwide headlines for all the reasons city leaders feared.

The announcement, made in late 1998, came as Manson became one of the most talked about performers in the world.

Marilyn Manson

In the US, retail giants Target, Kmart and Walmart had recently refused to stock his latest new album, Mechanical Animals, because of its cover art, “which features Manson looking nude, pale and sexless”.

Those opposed to the singer claimed his music promoted teen suicide, drugs and Satanism.

Gold Coast Mayor Gary Baildon told media he had grave concerns over the Manson’s stage act and claimed if his band was allowed to perform it would threaten the city’s family image.

He also mistakenly referred to Manson as “transgender”.

“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.

Gary Baildon during his term as Mayor.

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

Cr Baildon said he also feared residents living near the Gold Coast venue would be exposed, against their will, to the band’s “disturbing lyrics’’.

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

“My concerns are focused on this particular band, Marilyn Manson, which also would do nothing for the image and standing of the event within the Gold Coast community,’’ he said.

He said he had held preliminary discussions with event organisers, police and senior council staff “in an effort to ensure common sense prevails”.

Cr Baildon said his move to ban the controversial band was sparked by concerns from local residents and internet reports on the band.

“As a father of three children, I pride myself on being very accepting and tolerant of a wide range of views,” he said.

How the Bulletin broke the story 25 years ago this week

“However in this instance, the band members have chosen a pathway that has put them in a separate category.”

There were even calls for Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock to not grant Manson a visa to enter the country.

Cr Baildon was joined in his attack by Reverend Fred Nile who declared Manson to be a satanic priest and that his concerts were part of a conspiracy to attract new members.

Marilyn Manson on stage at the 1999 Big Day Out.

But the ban was unsuccessful and Manson arrived on the Gold Coast in mid-January 1999 for the show.

The big headlines also helped make that year’s concert one of the biggest in its history, with a sellout 38,000-strong crowd attending the event, to see performances from Manson and Courtney Love. During his set, Manson simulated masturbation in a red-sequined G-string while Love encouraged the crowed to scream out obscenities after claiming Manson had given her oral sex that day.

Crowds at the 1999 Big Day Out.

Manson also threatened to sodomise a member of the crowd for throwing something at the stage. Inspector Ken Fox told the Bulletin it was unlikely any obscenity charges would be laid against Manson.

“The kids these days use a lot of offensive words as common language so we have to give and take at this sort of event,” he said.