Rock is not dead. Rock will NEVER be dead. So was proven a few nights ago by Marilyn Manson. My experience at the show started off at on a downside. First we had to wait about 1 1/2 hours by the will call box to pick up my backstage pass. They arrived 5 minutes before the show. While waiting I saw people walking back to their cars with bags, I had called the NCRC earlier and they said I would be allowed to check in a bag at the door. They gave me wrong information on the phone and my parents had to come get my bag. I was a ble to save one poster small enough to fit in my pocket to be hopefully signed by the band later.

Finally I got in and onto the floor. I stood next to some of my friends for opening act, Jack Off Jill. JOJ were very bad. Not only did every song sound the same but they were totally boring and devoid of life. The only fun part from their set came when the lead singer told someone standing in front of the stage that she would kill him after the show. JOJ is an almost all girl act and is the only band I can think of with a female lead singer who screams more than a death metal band. Their final song, my Cat, came up, thankfully, after only 25 minutes.

The next act was Monster Magnet. Magnet looks like an 80's band only they play 90's style hard rock. Their set was very good and caused almost a dozen mosh pits. Lead singer Dave Wyndorf knows how to make the most with his only prop, a handheld flashlight with a very intense beam. Halfway into their set they talked about why HOLE left the tour. Wyndorf said she left because she felt their was too much negativity on the tour. He then shined the light onto his face and screamed, Do I look like a negative person to you?, right before going into a stirring performance of POWERTRIP.

After a 45 minute wait the lights went out and the opening music came on. The glittery curtain fell and the band was on stage. A cross rised out of the stage with Manson on it crucifix style. They went right into a powerful new version of 'Reflecting God'. They bounced back and forthe between old songs and new songs, playing classics like 'Lunchbox', 'Get Your Gunn', and 'Cake and Sodomy', to playing newer things like 'Mechanical Animals' and 'Great Big White World'. Manson had several costumes changes but always keot the same makeup on; it looked like he had a blue zorro style mask on. For the 'Mechanical Animals' number Manson strutted around the stage on stilts. For the song 'I don't like the drugs but the drugs like me' a huge flasing sign that said DRUGS rised from the stage. Manson even has a very pretty woman onstage to sing backup on his newer songs. The crowd went crazy for things like 'Dope Show', 'Rock is Dead', and 'Irresponsible hate anthem'. Manson talked briefly about how he came from this area, (the prodigal son RETURNS!!!). The end of the show was very similar to the last tour, with flags unfurling in the back and Manson ''preaching'' from a pulpit while performing 'Antichrist Superstar'. Right after that he asked the audience "How does it feel it be one of the beautiful people" before going into the song 'Beautiful People'. They left briefly before coming back for the encore which consisted of 1 and a half songs because the drum set was destroyed by the middle of the second song.

After the show I was told to sit in a certain area. My name was called and me and several others were escorted downstairs. While we were waiting we kept seeing band members from all three bands walking around. Manson member John 5 came close to us to use a payphone. I won a backstage pass from Manson himself for being a part of the Radio Revolution, which is a group of people who call radio stations and Mtv and try to get them to play more Manson. The passes were a way of saying thanks. After about 20 minutes of waiting we were told we had to go quickly. We were taken into a dressing room and their on a couch was Marilyn Manson. Him and the rest of the band was sitting on a long couch. We filed in and walk past each band member, introduced ourselfs, and got them to sign something. I felt a little foolish asking the other band members to sign a picture that was a Manson solo shot but they didn't mind at all; John 5 actually smiled at me. I just wish we had had more time with the band because I would have really liked to have talked with Marilyn and told him how much his music means to me.

More and more people now a days are taking up the call of Rock is Dead. As long as bands like Monster Magnet, Korn, Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and many others (to many to mention here) keep playing music Rock and Roll will never die. It's here too stay so just lighten up, put on some toons and rock and roll all night and party every day.

- Robert Weber