Marilyn
Manson Barred from Cologne Cathedral
Shock
rocker Marilyn Manson got turned away from Cologne cathedral during a visit to
the city. The Goth idol thought maybe it's because he was wearing lipstick.
Any
self-respecting American tourist visiting the German city of Cologne would want
to pop into the cathedral, surely. But those wishing to visit Germany's largest
Gothic cathedral would be better advised to don Hawaiian shirt and shorts than
rock the Gothic look, if Marilyn Manson's experience is anything to go by.
The
American shock rocker wasn't allowed into the cathedral when he tried to visit
it during his current stay in Germany. "Unfortunately they didn't let me
in, probably because I was wearing lipstick," Manson told reporters Wednesday
in Cologne.
The
38-year-old rock star, whose real name is Brian Warner, is notorious for his use
of dramatic white make-up and outrageous outfits. He has been strongly criticized
by some conservative Christian groups in the United States, who object to the
anti-religious sentiment evident on albums such as 1996's "Antichrist Superstar"
and consider him to be a pawn of Satan.
However
the controversial rocker did not seem particularly bothered by not being allowed
in. He described the cathedral, which is one of Germany's top tourist attractions,
as "one of the most beautiful places that I've ever seen."
Manson
was in Cologne for the opening of an exhibition of his watercolor paintings at
a gallery in the city. Thirty-three somber works are on display. Their subjects
include the late actor and friend of Manson, Christopher Reeve, and Adolf Hitler,
who is depicted as a transsexual creature with breasts.
"Either
you like them or you don't," Manson commented laconically. He said that Germany,
the homeland of the oft-gloomy art movement Expressionism, was a great source
of inspiration for him.
Other
aspects of German culture clearly appeal to him too. He has flirted with Nazi
imagery in the past, and has recently incorporated elements of Weimar-era cabaret
into his performances.
dgs/dpa
