Manson’s Modus

Robert Hilburn seems to be a bit confused when it comes to Marilyn Manson’s “potential” (“A Shock Wave From Spokane,” March 2). In his review, Hilburn writes, “the problem with these powerful images is that the personalities sometimes overshadow the music and obscure its quality.”

The exact same thing should be said about Alice Cooper, to whom Manson owes most of his image, and nearly all of his career marketing strategies. Yet Hilburn takes a cheap shot at Alice as being “kid stuff.” Oh, right; inventing theatricality and shock in rock is kid stuff, but copying it is brilliant. Makes sense to me.

Hilburn also laments, “Manson didn’t do anything personally to telegraph his growth.” How does Hilburn know for sure there is any growth? What growth? Is it growth because he is now recycling Bowie’s shtick instead of Cooper’s? I call it ongoing lack of originality.

Finally, Hilburn proclaims that “Manson needs to show us his passion, not his butt.” I would suggest that if there isn’t any passion (and Hilburn provides no evidence of any), then there is only a calculated, passionless imitator whose butt will have to do.

BRIAN NELSON, Los Angeles