Columbine Not Manson's Fault

Marilyn Manson recently told Kerrang! magazine that he is not (!) responsible for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

Thanks for sharing that, Marilyn.

Over his controversial career, the anemic shock rocker has been called a bad influence on children and society at large, a devil-worshiper and was accused of buying a child's skeleton and masks made of human skin (with his band's money, goshdarnit!).

So when it was discovered that Columbine High School killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were fans of the Antichrist Superstar, Manson was the obvious scapegoat. Ten years later, Manson says having America's finger pointed at him has had a negative impact on his career.

"Blaming me for [Columbine] was ridiculous," he said.

"I essentially lost everything because of Columbine but, if it happened now, it just wouldn't have the same impact," Manson continued. "There has to be that first person who takes the arrows in the back and I guess that was me."

In 2007, the man born Brian Hugh Warner was blamed again when 14-year-old Asa Coon — who was found wearing a t-shirt with Manson's face on it — killed two students and two teachers at Cleveland's SuccessTech Academy. Fifteen-year-old Justin Doucet, who fired at a teacher before shooting himself last month in Larose, La., was also a fan of Manson's and ordered the teacher to say "Hail Marilyn Manson" at gunpoint.

"If there was a Grammy Award for death toll, it would be mine," said Manson. "I don't think anyone has been blamed for as much violence as me."

On a related note, in a 2004 interview with CHARTattack, Manson told us... this.

The 40-year-old musician, artist and actor released his seventh studio album, The High End Of Low, on May 26. He's scheduled to play on the following dates:

June 17 Porto, Portugal @ Coliseo Do Porto
June 19 Bilbao, Spain @ Kobetamendi (Kobetasonik Festival)
June 20 Clisson, France @ Hellfest OpenAir
June 22 Vienne, France @ Antic Arena
June 23 Geneva, Switzerland @ Arena De Geneve
June 24 Linz, Austria @ Intersport Arena
June 27 Gothenburg, Sweden @ Frihamspiren (Metaltown Festival)
June 28 Dessel, Belgium @ Festivalpark Boeretang (Graspop Metal Meeting)
July 1 Kristiansand, Norway @ The Quart Festival
July 4 Sopron, Hungary @ Volt Festival
July 10 Sacramento, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 11 Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 12 San Bernardino, CA @ Glen Helen Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 14 Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 17 Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 18 Albuquerque, NM @ Journal Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 19 Denver, CO @ Fiddlers Green (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 21 Kansas City, KS @ Sandstone Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 22 St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 24 Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 25 Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 26 Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 29 Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
July 31 Cleveland, OH @ Blosson Music Center (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 1 Pittsburgh, PA @ Post Gazette Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 2 Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 4 Boston, MA @ Tweeter Center For The Performing Arts (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 6 Virginia Beach, VA @ Virginia Beach Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 7 Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 8 Hartford, CT @ New England Dodge Music Center (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 9 Bristow, VA @ Nissan Pavilion (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 11 Tampa, FL @ Ford Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 12 West Palm Beach, FL @ Sound Advice Amphitheater (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 14 San Antonio, TX @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)
Aug. 15 Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center (Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival)