There is a point in One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2 where the language of survival finally becomes the language of retaliation. “The Arsonist” is that point. The song is not simply about having survived an attempt to destroy you. It is about what happens afterward, when the person who has been burned decides that the fire did not finish him and that the scars it left behind have become part of his strength. Manson himself described the song as the moment when the narrative of the two chapters “crystallizes into a battle stance,” and, referring to the painting he created for it, said that the “burned scar tissue” had formed into armor. That description gets very close to the heart of the song. The fire has not disappeared. It has changed him. The title is important because Manson does not call the song The Survivor or The Victim . He calls it "The Arsonist." An arsonist deliberately starts a fire, and this changes the entire perspective of the song. The speaker is no...
%20Instagram.png)
Marilyn Manson announced on his Instagram page today (February 17, 2026) the return of Tim Skold to the band following last months departure of Tyler Bates. He did this with two photos of him and Skold together, captioning one with the anticipated announcement: "We are the things of shapes to come. MM + TS." According to the dictionary, "If you say that something is the shape of things to come, you mean that it is the start of a new trend or development, and in the future things will be like this." Tim Skold likewise posted the photo on his Instagram page, after wiping out everything else, including those who he follows, choosing to follow only Marilyn Manson. This indicates that he is all in on his return to the band.
Skold was a pivotal member of the band from 2002 to 2008, serving as producer, bassist, and guitarist. He was the primary collaborator on the albums The Golden Age of Grotesque and Eat Me, Drink Me.
Tim Skold has been one of Marilyn Manson's most vocal and consistent supporters, both personally and professionally. Their friendship was publicly reaffirmed following the 2021 abuse allegations against Manson. He also collaborated with Manson during the Donda sessions for Kanye West in 2021 and 2022. Most recently, on January 4, 2026, Skold attended Manson's birthday party in Los Angeles, appearing in photos with Manson and their respective partners.
While Skold does not appear on Manson’s 2024 album One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1, fans have speculated since the departure of Tyler Bates last month that he was a likely successor. It will be exciting to see him rejoin the band in live performances and contribute to this new era of Marilyn Manson.
Skold was a pivotal member of the band from 2002 to 2008, serving as producer, bassist, and guitarist. He was the primary collaborator on the albums The Golden Age of Grotesque and Eat Me, Drink Me.
Tim Skold has been one of Marilyn Manson's most vocal and consistent supporters, both personally and professionally. Their friendship was publicly reaffirmed following the 2021 abuse allegations against Manson. He also collaborated with Manson during the Donda sessions for Kanye West in 2021 and 2022. Most recently, on January 4, 2026, Skold attended Manson's birthday party in Los Angeles, appearing in photos with Manson and their respective partners.
While Skold does not appear on Manson’s 2024 album One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1, fans have speculated since the departure of Tyler Bates last month that he was a likely successor. It will be exciting to see him rejoin the band in live performances and contribute to this new era of Marilyn Manson.
