MARILYN MANSON GUNS, GOD AND GOVERNMENT WORLD TOUR LIVE DVD EAGLE, BMG RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2002 (NORTH AMERICA), NOVEMBER 18, 2002 (SCANDINAVIA) REVIEW: NOVEMBER 22, 2002

Think what thou wilt (to use Mansonesque language) of the music; Marilyn Manson has built an exquisite visual imagery around himself. One that no one with a penchant for horror and dark fantasy is likely to be able to resist. A number of great video directors - most notably the incredible Floria Sigismundi with "Tourniquet" and "The Beautiful People" - together created a rich, demented fairytale landscape for Manson to dwell in, and the effect was stunning. What nu metal band has not, unsuccessfully, tried to achieve the same twisted, monstrous qualities in its videos?
The careful visual planning of that era stands in stark contrast to this bland concert video with attached cheap shockumentary. Filming was conducted between 1999 and 2001, and the best pieces of numerous concerts have been edited together to form this 17-song gig. The music video editing somewhat disturbs the feeling of a live recording. With shots plainly from different appearances during the same song, one starts wondering at which one the sound was actually recorded. Manson lolls around on stilts, transforms into a pope and then into a führer, but the stage show is mostly disappointingly non-theatrical.
Instead we get the "shocking" Marilyn Manson. Editors have made a point of finding every shot of Manson groping his band member's groins, dry humping fans onstage and pissing himself. In the 30-minute tour collage bonus feature, religious fanatics protesting outside concert halls are shown before we get to see all of the exciting "sins" of the band and its reckless fans.
Now, anyone who has seen Stelarc swallow a stomach probe the size of a fist to broadcast his digestion live has a hard time following why someone would get excited about Manson sticking objects up his ass. He may preach about free speech and take the mistreated youth of America under his wing (a few sermons around the themes of Christian evil and fuck everything can be heard on this recording), but why does he need to resort to these third rate shock tactics, turning into some kind of poor man's Genesis P-Orridge? Is Marilyn Manson really such a boring band that the boobs of audience chicks must be flashed every ten minutes to keep people watching?
I should add here, that sound quality is excellent, the photo is good and a couple of the songs are very well performed. I just thought that there would be something more to it.

MATTIAS HUSS