Can I get a tldr of the history between Trent Reznor and Marilyn Manson?

Question

Here's what (I think) I know: they used to be cool and now they're not. Reznor produced at least one of Manson's albums in the 90's and then they broke up and stopped talking.

Since then I've seen Reznor mention it once in an interview, where he said he wouldn't mind talking to Manson again, and that's it. I've heard something about a book Manson wrote, but I don't know what secrets it holds.

I've only listened to a handful of Manson's songs, probably all the obvious ones, and know very little about him. I'm just interested in what appears to be another brief but bright collaboration between Reznor and a fellow musician.

Edit: Thanks dudes, you were all very helpful! I knew bits and pieces but now I've got a much bigger picture, and the main thing I've learnt is how sad this is, and how much of a goober Manson seems to be.

strictly-no-fires · Accepted Answer

Their relationship was pretty significant. Manson features in a couple NIN videos like starfuckers inc. and gave up.

Also Manson opened for NIN a whole bunch of times.

Plus he produced Antichrist Superstar which is Marilyn Manson's magnum opus in my opinion.

The book is mostly made up or exaggerated stuff designed primarily to shock. It mainly involves the band doing some really awful stuff that they probably didn't do in real life, and the bit involving Trent almost certainly didn't happen either. It does involve trent a lot though since he was pretty much Manson's mentor during the whole thing.

So basically I think they fell out after recording Antichrist Superstar due to Manson being hard to work with and be around, but eventually made up in time for the starfuckers video in 1999. Since then they haven't really talked or done anything, but havent been particularly hostile.

In an interview I read a couple of years ago, Trent called Manson a genius, but the fact that he hasn't sobered up yet like Trent has is very concerning, and he said something about Manson being an asshole and they wouldn't work together again until he does sober up (which he hasn't lol).

Kinda irrelevant but Trent did make a post about the Antichrist Superstar album on its anniversary, and I think he said something about how he still thinks it's a great record.

But then as you probably know, Trent was asked about the allegations and the book excerpt was brought up and he did say he's been called Manson an asshole for years (which is true).

Normally I'd definitely recommend listening to Antichrist Superstar as it's one of my favourite records (or used to be I guess)... but now's probably the worst time. In my opinion, Manson changed fundamentally as a person around 2004-2007 after he divorced Dita Von Teese. Before that, I think he was still an asshole but he was a genuinely clever guy that had his principles and made great records that actually have a fair bit of depth and meaning. I think since then, the Manson side of his persona has now become completely indistinguishable from the real him. He hates being called anything other than Manson by even his closest friends. The dudes gone psycho in my opinion.