Marilyn Manson: Mechanical Animals
Posted by Ash on 25 August, 2007
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It’s not often an album cover gets so much publicity but I guess Marilyn Manson is used to this. I remember reading about this cover everywhere when it was released in 1998. Now it was the album cover that was scaring the grannies not just the music.
Wal Mart wouldn’t stock it and it was actually altered for Japan, not because of the naked alien like figure of Marilyn Manson but because he has six fingers. The Japanese don’t like physical deformities it seems. Funny, only the offensive hand was altered for the Japanese cover.
The breasts are prosthetic and manufactured by George Lucas’ ILM. MM was actually in full body latex for the shoot no photo shop work done here. There’s also a slight scar on MM’s right side, is this meant to resemble the one Jesus gets on the cross?
Wikipedia reports that Johnny Depp is the proud owner of the fake breasts right now. Weird.
The cover was originally shot with nipples and it was Paul Brown (the same designer who worked with MM on Antichrist Superstar and subsequent albums) who suggested it would look more alien and androgynous to remove them. Good call as the nipples just look wrong.
Hidden Messages:
The 1 & 5 are reference to MM’s birthday Jan 15 and also the albums release date Sept 15 and the Devils Tarot Card XV.
Quoted from the Wiki entry: The double vinyl featured opaque white and transparent blue colored vinyl. When viewed through the original blue CD packaging or the transparent blue LP, one can read hidden messages in yellow text in the booklet, which becomes green (such as “www.comawhite.com,” “I no longer knew if Coma White was real or just a side effect,” and “now children it’s time for recess, please roll up your sleeves”).
Omega:
This reminds me of Bjork’s or David Bowie’s approach to making albums. They adopt a character for their albums and each cover. Marilyn Manson in this instance created the character Omega (a Ziggy Stardust like character) who features on the alternate cover for the second vinyl and on the flip side of the CD booklet.
The photographer Joseph Cultice, who seems to have photographed every major pop star, also shot these extra promo photos.
Check the feet out, finding shoes must be a pain.
A cover that only a handful of musical artists around today could pull off.
Marilyn Manson: Mechanical Animals
taotechuck:
Losing the nipples was absolutely a good decision; it looks much better without them. In my book, MM never got the right proportion of shock to substance, but this was an interesting approach to cover art.
You’ve got a nice site. Some friends and I also do an album cover blog, and it’s nice to see what you’re doing over here compared to what we’re doing. Keep up the good work.
# 26 Aug 07 at 4:59 pm
Amy:
I just wanna say thanks, your site is great and has really helped me while doing my coursework, which involves researching classic album covers.
Thanks =]
# 28 Aug 07 at 3:39 am
matt:
nipples are scary.
great site!
# 12 Nov 07 at 7:37 am
DRXV:
One of the best blogs I’ve seen in a while and I absolutely hate blogs.
# 02 Dec 07 at 3:24 pm
D Raja+:
more work more action. wicked.. some blood on that would have looked so cool.
# 19 Dec 07 at 4:09 am
CandleJack:
Manson’s birthday is Jan. 5th, 1969 not Jan. 15th.
# 07 Jan 08 at 3:28 am
Mandy:
Mr. Manson is messed up.
I will speak for many when I say that Manson needs to go.
You are a mechanical animal Marilyn because you have no heart.
# 05 Mar 08 at 4:06 am
Brandon Blessed:
Mandy, kill yourself.
We respect your opinion,
We just don’t respect
You for voicing it.
If you don’t agree on something,
Keep it to yourself.
Because if you post one bad thing
On a blog where you’re outnumbered
By people saying good things,
You look like somewhat of an idiot.
And for the record,
That’s the EXACT REASON he uses
The term ‘Mechanical Animal.’
Don’t try and look smart. You
Just make yourself look dumb.
And it was a good idea to get rid
Of the nipples on the suit.
It looks way better without ‘em :)
Love ya Manson, and keep up
The insanely good work :)
-brandon-
http://www.myspace.com/159148793
# 05 Apr 08 at 1:00 pm
kelly:
were you going to have sex with that body?
# 13 Apr 08 at 5:55 am
Matt:
I didnt notice at first about the blue box. It also reads “Even machines can se we are dead”.
This cd version booklet I have has half pages up ond the other half in the other way.
# 24 Apr 08 at 11:28 am
aidan:
lol i love mm so much i thing it looks good without the nippels lol
# 02 May 08 at 11:16 pm
chanty say anythhing:
i think its creative(maybe a little more,besides i was not expecting this,i seen some weird soft..), i mean what if we look like that… hmm.. that will be sweet.. people(haters) why do you care about him if you hate him so much…!!!
# 18 May 08 at 1:20 am
Xinia:
eww
# 15 Jun 08 at 2:03 pm
roxanne:
this is so totally gross
# 22 Jun 08 at 9:28 am
cody:
Anyone who bring manson down will get shot in the fucking head good work manson
# 17 Jul 08 at 12:58 am
emily:
i want some of that :)
# 28 Jul 08 at 8:05 am
XXX-123:
Well, I’m not a real fan of his music, but he does looks fascinating.
# 12 Aug 08 at 2:39 am
Peter:
This is really beautiful, a true classic.
Thank Krishna there’s still artists in the mainstream who are prepared to face reactions like those above in the name of their art, their message and the passion for that.
Also, did you notice the 5 syringes on the wall behind Omega, also the song title “New Model No.15″, loves his numerology. He takes it even further on the HolyWood album, the song “President Dead” is exactly 3mins 3secs long, which is the precise time into the Zapruder film that Kenneddys head explodes.
You’ve got to love that attention to detail haven’t you? There are so many layers of meaning, references and synchronicities and possibilities of interpretation that these albums are almost interactive media experiences. And it’s always extended to the artwork and packaging too.
Thanks alot, great site. I’d never noticed the Jesus spear-scar before, thats excellent.
Px
# 21 Aug 08 at 3:48 am
Clare:
Hmm I like a few of Mansons songs. I dont know his music that well though. But I do have alot of respect for him. In interviews he seems like a very smart and interesting guy who knows a hell of a lot more about the world than most bleached blonde pop dickheads around these days.
Good for him for challenging peoples ideas and opinions. People are too close-minded these days.
# 02 Oct 08 at 5:03 pm
Jeremy Ricketts:
Agreed. This IS totally gross.
And awesome.
Perfect image for the personality and music. Disturbing, dark, confusing, loud, rebellious, wrong, mixed up.
It’s well executed, intentional mayhem.
# 02 Nov 08 at 3:54 am
Anon:
Mandy you got owned bitch.
This cover is awesome. As are most of his covers.
# 04 Dec 08 at 11:21 pm
Steve:
It sucks that P.R. hasn’t done much work with Manson lately. That would be awesome if he shot a Manson video. It’s kind of weird that he hasn’t yet.
# 04 Mar 09 at 2:31 pm
madeline:
i wont question your beliefs and interests but i will say, what has this world come to…
# 23 Mar 09 at 10:51 am
MansonFan:
The whole getting rid of the nipples thing was a good descion but i still think he looks hot with them and im completley straight, weird huh?
# 10 May 09 at 12:08 pm