I. The Backlash: When Social Media Becomes the Story When Slipknot announced their 2027 (sic)est Stadium Tour , with Marilyn Manson opening the Wembley Stadium show and joining them for the South American dates, including The Town in São Paulo, the reaction was almost immediate. Thousands of comments appeared beneath the announcement, many from people saying they would no longer attend. Some described the decision as disappointing, others said they would not spend money on a concert that included Manson, and some presented the booking as a betrayal of what they believed Slipknot represented. The reaction was real, and there is no reason to pretend otherwise. What interests me, however, is what happens after that initial reaction: how it is collected, amplified, repeated by music publications, and gradually transformed from a collection of individual responses into something that can begin to look like a universal verdict from “the fans.” The current coverage makes that process fairly e...
Few figures in modern rock stir the pot quite like Falling in Reverse frontman Ronnie Radke, and his latest appearance on the Rock Feed podcast (September 15) proves he has no intention of toning it down. Amid discussing his band's massive new music, Radke pulled zero punches when the conversation shifted to his rock icon Marilyn Manson (at the 51:38 mark in the video below).
While much of the music industry actively sprinted away from Manson following severe public controversies and abuse allegations, Radke chose to stand firmly by his side, doubling down on his support by flatly declaring, "He's a legend."
Radke’s defense isn't just about preserving rock history; it's intensely personal. The frontman openly admitted that he sees a reflection of his own turbulent past in Manson’s struggles, specifically pointing to the maddening experience of being publicly accused of things he says he didn’t do. Beyond the personal empathy, Radke took a broader aim at the fickle nature of culture and the music industry. He pointed out the hypocrisy of a public that profits off creating a counter-culture icon only to orchestrate their erasure later, noting that America built the monster of Marilyn Manson and can’t just easily decide to tear it down.
Radke reminded critics that Manson struggled with severe drug addiction, has put in the work to get clean, and is now sober. In Radke's eyes, the relentless public trial needs to end, arguing that the industry needs to leave him alone and let him move forward. By choosing to collaborate with Manson on stage and record when he was deemed radioactive by the mainstream, Radke proved he's willing to absorb the blowback to defend someone he views as an irreplaceable pillar of the rock genre.
While much of the music industry actively sprinted away from Manson following severe public controversies and abuse allegations, Radke chose to stand firmly by his side, doubling down on his support by flatly declaring, "He's a legend."
Radke’s defense isn't just about preserving rock history; it's intensely personal. The frontman openly admitted that he sees a reflection of his own turbulent past in Manson’s struggles, specifically pointing to the maddening experience of being publicly accused of things he says he didn’t do. Beyond the personal empathy, Radke took a broader aim at the fickle nature of culture and the music industry. He pointed out the hypocrisy of a public that profits off creating a counter-culture icon only to orchestrate their erasure later, noting that America built the monster of Marilyn Manson and can’t just easily decide to tear it down.
Radke reminded critics that Manson struggled with severe drug addiction, has put in the work to get clean, and is now sober. In Radke's eyes, the relentless public trial needs to end, arguing that the industry needs to leave him alone and let him move forward. By choosing to collaborate with Manson on stage and record when he was deemed radioactive by the mainstream, Radke proved he's willing to absorb the blowback to defend someone he views as an irreplaceable pillar of the rock genre.