Well what can i say. It was quite an odd experience. David is a big ol' manson fan, and i've been forced to respect him (although, i really do) over the past few years, mainly due to Carlos's influence in the 11th grade. David found out that Marilyn was going to be doing a book signing tour for his new biography, a few weeks back. We were that cool. i would say, that most of the people at the signing had only found out the day before, when it was announced on KROQ.
So we find out the night before that, even though the signing begins at 6 p.m., wristbands are being handed out at 8 a.m. So the exhausted two of us haul our asses out of bed at 5 and 6 a.m. and get to Tower, shortly before eight. Even though it was early, im glad it was wristbands. It secured our place in line, and ceased cutting..and made us able to LEAVE and go otherplaces most of the day, rather than hang out in line starving tired and bored. We were 335 and 336 in line. So it takes about a half an hour or so for them to get to us, and they hand us a nifty yellow paper with all the rules, most of which we already knew.
I was *actually* quite surprised that camera's weren't allowed. That was the ..well, only dissapointment. Since 1,000 wristbands were being handed out, we were quite certain that we would indeed, get the meet Manson. Tired and happy we went off to eat, shop...and do what we could to kill time. Oh and trust me, it was a LONG ass day. So at 4:30 we returned to tower, and a long ass line of people. The people over in the Tower parking lot was only the first 200. So we all gathered in the second parking lot, and it seemed VERY unorganized and scary. However, we amused ourselves by watching all the stupid people. These manson fans were NOT intimidating. They were too stupid to be intimidating. David and i were using the "ner" scale for the day. Some of them just rattled it. Let me list those i can remember.
1. The *tragic* boy in black and manson shirt with the running eye make up. He wasn't so bad until he re-appeared wearing the American Flag as a cape with part of a Manson poster cut out and taped on the back of it. That just shook the scale.
2. A girl that i assume is one of those Manson/NIN/Tori amos fans. She had on this fucked up outfit, with leopard skin faerie wings, and um..her face was covered in green and pink make up. Yeah okay.
3. A 9 year old boy in leather pants, eye make up and chains.
4. A guy dressed up in a dress with a really really bad short black wig and barettes.
5. A 12 year old girl in shorts that barely covered her underwear (if she was wearing any) and a sheer bra top.
6. A frail 14 year old boy in glittery vinyl pants with a sheer leopard skin top.
7. The guy behind us. Was SO stupid. I wanted to smack him. At one point he told the people behind us, out of nowhere..'you know what? Manson fans say they'e screwed up. But i'm REALLY screwed up. I could tell you stories.." hah. and the guy responded with "wow..." in the (get away from me you freak tone)
You know what? I could go on...and on. But they all kinda blur together.
hah. we were lucky. We were actually in the *normal* part of the line. Kinda cool. So la la its a few minutes till 6 and we hear screams. (Mind you we're lined up at the light across the street) and there is this huge long white limo. And a whole bunch of people run over...and the next thing ya know..i see a huge flamboyant cowboy-ish hat. Its manson! hehe. He's so tall. And he just walks into the store....and haha..david wasnt paying attention. nerd. So la la la with achy feet we just wait as people walk out screaming to themselves hugging the book. And about 20 feet away is a HUGE man in the iron mask billboard, that i was able to amuse myself with for a little while.
Then, finally..the christian's showed up! That was what we were really looking forward to. It was only two however. The frumpy white trash woman held a small sign that said "trust jesus" and the man held a large one that said something like "god hates arrogant sinners" on one side and..dude i dont even recall on the other. I'll never forget the way this girl like FLOCKED over to them and just let them have it. She would not leave them alone. All of a sudden stuff started flying. Then it got slightly scary. As much as i wanted to see the christians, i didnt think they deserved the harassment that they got. With a police escort, they crossed the street where all the people that had already met manson flocked to harass and yell "manson" at them. Oh yeah, this is where another stupid person came from. This girl was crossing the street and she yelled "YOUR GOD IS DEAD AND NO ONE CARES"...it was a ner moment for all the people in line. haha
My shirt. hee
Blah blah blah, we quickly get closer and closer..and we're finally at the first security check point. Our guy was cool. Told me my camera was okay as long as i didnt take it out. "so they dont jump you" heh. Oh yeah. I was wearing my REAL gay morrissey t-shirt, kind of hoping for a response out of manson, due to the whole "gay lists" in his book. ( page 134 if you have it..). I had many of the fans comment on it. blah blah 2 security check points and minus one camera battery (i bought at titanic premire..wahh) i was in the store. We went in the through the stock room. It was odd. I bounce in and what do i hear? But this charming man! The Smiths! eee..i was all giddy. But security had kept david..so i talked to the guy working in there and they let me hang back to wait for him. Aren't i such a good friend?
Now its How soon is now? and five minutes later david comes in all flustered, and minus a backpack. Heh. So we're standing there in the center aisle, where the listening stations usually are. And in the center this like, tent of black plactic is up.."housing manson" hee. While waiting to enter the tent, some tower employees crack up at my shirt and tell me i have guts wearing it. Um, okay...finally we make it into the first section of the tent. Luckily i got to go with david. And then im 2 people away from the 2nd part of the tent. I look over..and there is manson. Talking to a 9 year old. It was So freaky. At that point i thought i was going to die. I'm like oh my GOD its marilyn Manson.
The room was completley dark. He was basically sitting in front of the listening stations. He was on a platform with a folding table covered with a black cloth, and it was really dark with..a flourescent or red light. I can't recall. There was like black and red netting behind him. And he was just sitting there. All huge. In a glittery shirt, rings and a brownish hat with matching makeup. Its kind of a blurred memory. Oh yeah, he had a half drunk glass of red wine to his left. So i walk up..and hand him my book and say "hi!"..he kinda looks me up and down and gives me a slight either glare or smirk. I couldn't tell. I tried to rest my arms on the table but they were shaking so hard i had to take them down. I spent more time concentrating on my arms than him. HAH! He extended his arm and shook my hand. Hell he has a TIGHT grip. Our rings kinda smushed together and it was slightly painful. Hee. I got to look directly into his eyes. It was so neat. (this experience is ALL i want from moz. just to have him LOOK at me). I remember how loudly his sharpie hit my page. Then i said thank you, he nodded ....and i walked out...i looked behind at david who had this "im going to puke look" on his face..but i had to walk out towards the door. I opened up my book, and ...squealed.
My autograph...
David walks out and im just like, totally shaken, excited and ...naseous. I didn't realize how nervous i got. I was soooooooo shaky for about 5 minutes. David and i compared our near identical autographs and exchanged some "ahhhhhhh he touched us" moments. heh. he got his backpack...and we left. It was so surreal. It was awesome. It was sick that if he did everyone he said he would, he wasn't even half way done yet....it was quite an experience. I'm extremley glad that i went. Manson is just the coolest guy. He really didn't have to do all that signing just to sell his book. Zowie.
