In a recent interview on the ‘Interviewing with the Legends’ YouTube channel, John Corabi shared his candid thoughts on Marilyn Manson’s artistic style — and according to the Dead Daisies frontman, Manson’s work may not be as original as some fans believe.
Corabi recalled a moment from the early 2000s when his then-wife was raving about Manson’s creativity. “I was married for a minute to this girl that was just raving about Marilyn Manson, who I actually like. This is not a slag towards Marilyn Manson. But she was like, ‘Oh my God! He’s so original and ra ra ra ra,’ and I kind of sat there for a minute, and I’m like, ‘Not really,’” he said.
Breaking Down Down Manson’s Influences
Corabi elaborated on his stance by pointing out the clear influences in Manson’s music and image. “Okay, let me just explain to you what Marilyn Manson has done here. Marilyn Manson is taking elements of Alice Cooper, and he’s mixing it with elements from David Bowie, and then he [is taking] elements of Nine Inch Nails, and he’s putting it in a stew, and he’s doing his own thing.”
He went on to illustrate his point with a specific observation from David Bowie’s final performance as Ziggy Stardust, which aired on the Independent Film Channel. Corabi noticed a striking similarity between Bowie’s stage design and one of Manson’s most recognizable symbols.
“You know that giant circle with the broken arrow pointing down that Manson had as his logo? That was David Bowie’s backdrop in that video,” Corabi noted.
He then showed his wife the performance, asking her to identify what she saw. “She goes, ‘That’s Marilyn Manson’s logo.’ I go, ‘No, that’s David Bowie’s logo. Marilyn Manson just re-did it again.’”
The Singer’s Inspirations Have Never Been A Secret
Marilyn Manson has never been shy about his admiration for David Bowie. After Bowie’s death, he even wrote a heartfelt tribute in Rolling Stone, acknowledging the profound influence the late singer had on his life and music.
Manson’s 1998 album ‘Mechanical Animals’ drew heavily from 1970s glam rock, adopting both musical and visual elements reminiscent of Bowie’s style. In 2016, Manson paid further homage by recording a cover of Bowie’s ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’ with Shooter Jennings.
Beyond Bowie, Manson has cited a diverse range of influences including Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Alice Cooper, and Smashing Pumpkins, all of whom have played a role in shaping his creative identity.
