Since Marilyn Manson returned to the stage in the summer of 2024 with the One Assassination Under God tour, pulsating illuminated upside-down double crosses have been a consistent part of the stage design. The double cross itself is nothing new in Manson's work. It has been part of his imagery for many years and became particularly prominent again after the Heaven Upside Down era. What is new since 2024 is the way the symbol has been incorporated into the lighting of the performance. Rather than functioning simply as a static emblem, the crosses now pulsate and change as part of the stage itself, becoming one of the most noticeable elements of every concert. Manson's return to the stage has also involved bringing back many features and images from earlier periods of his career, which has naturally given the performances a nostalgic quality for longtime fans. What interests me for this analysis, however, is what has actually been added during this new period that has not be...
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It was announced today that Marilyn Manson is scheduled to perform at Machaca Rock Fest in Guadalupe, Nuevo León, in northern Mexico on November 30th. This will be his first festival show since 2019. His performance will be after a suprise band not yet announced, Houbastank and Simple Plan and before the headliner Limp Bizkit.
News of Marilyn Manson's appearance at Machaca Rock Fest leaked last week, and you could see on social media the great excitement of fans of Marilyn Manson in Mexico that he will be performing at Machaca Rock Fest.
News of Marilyn Manson's appearance at Machaca Rock Fest leaked last week, and you could see on social media the great excitement of fans of Marilyn Manson in Mexico that he will be performing at Machaca Rock Fest.
On top of this great news, though Fred Durst and Marilyn Manson are long time friends, one cannot overlook the fact that there is some awkwardness in the atmosphere as well. It has become well known that Limp Bizkit just ended their tour with Manson accuser Corey Feldman, with Fred Durst even directing one of his music videos for that tour. But an even bigger issue is that Limp Bizkit's guitarist is former Marilyn Manson guitarist (only for three shows in 2007) Wes Borland, who not only was fired by Manson but who bitterly came forward as a supporter of Evan Rachel Wood in 2021 and insisted that people believe her and all of his accusers, because Manson, he said, "is a bad fucking guy."
I'm sure Manson is well prepared for such awkward encounters, since they are inevitable, but one person does bear the burden with a response, and that would be Wes Borland. Some people and some media sources have called out Five Finger Death Punch and Slaughter to Prevail and tried to expose them as evil people for supporting an alleged rapist and abuser make his comeback by sharing the stage with him. Now how will these same people respond to Limp Bizkit and especially to Wes Borland, one of Manson's accusers, sharing a stage with him on the same night at the same festival? If Wes Borland is to be consistent with what he has stated publicly several times about Manson, and he really believes what he said, what excuse will he have for going forward and appearing at this festival and sharing the same stage with Manson in Mexico on November 30th, especially after he said "that guy is canceled. Goodbye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out"?
At the same time, it is Manson who reaps the benefits of his appearance at this festival, and it is a victory for him and his fans that he would appear anywhere near his accuser and show everyone that nothing can stop him, especially one who tried to drag his name through the mud as much as he could. And any awkwardness and shame about this whole matter should only belong to Wes Borland.
I'm sure Manson is well prepared for such awkward encounters, since they are inevitable, but one person does bear the burden with a response, and that would be Wes Borland. Some people and some media sources have called out Five Finger Death Punch and Slaughter to Prevail and tried to expose them as evil people for supporting an alleged rapist and abuser make his comeback by sharing the stage with him. Now how will these same people respond to Limp Bizkit and especially to Wes Borland, one of Manson's accusers, sharing a stage with him on the same night at the same festival? If Wes Borland is to be consistent with what he has stated publicly several times about Manson, and he really believes what he said, what excuse will he have for going forward and appearing at this festival and sharing the same stage with Manson in Mexico on November 30th, especially after he said "that guy is canceled. Goodbye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out"?
At the same time, it is Manson who reaps the benefits of his appearance at this festival, and it is a victory for him and his fans that he would appear anywhere near his accuser and show everyone that nothing can stop him, especially one who tried to drag his name through the mud as much as he could. And any awkwardness and shame about this whole matter should only belong to Wes Borland.
Say what you will, but this just adds all the more excitement to this festival. You can purchase tickets here.