'' Mechanical Animals '' was released on September 14 , 1998 on Nothing / Interscope Records . The cover art depicted an androgynous Manson , naked with breasts , six fingers and airbrushed genitalia , which stirred up more controversy for the band . One month before the album 's release , the three largest retailers in the United States at the time &mdash; K-Mart , Wal-Mart and Target &mdash; refused to stock the album , citing the cover artwork and its Parental Advisory sticker . In spite of this , the album debuted at number one on the '' Billboard '' 200 , with first-week sales of 223,000 units , making it the first Marilyn Manson album to top the charts . The album was led by the single " The Dope Show " , which received heavy video and radio airplay and would go on to become the band 's most commercially successful song . The music video was inspired by Alejandro Jodorowsky 's film '' The Holy Mountain '' , as well as the David Bowie starring film '' The Man Who Fell to Earth . '' The band launched a series of tours to promote the album , the first being the Mechanical Animals Tour . Prior to the tour , guitarist Zim Zum opted to part ways with the band , leaving under amicable terms in order to pursue outside projects . He was replaced by Nothing Records label-mate John Lowery , who was fresh off his run with Rob Halford 's 2wo project . After joining Marilyn Manson , Lowery assumed the stage name of John 5 . The U.S. leg of the tour featured Nothing Records label-mates 12 Rounds performing as openers . The band then announced a co-headlining tour with Hole , called the Beautiful Monsters Tour . The tour would be ill-fated , however , due to conflicts between Manson and Hole singer Courtney Love . This led to Hole departing the tour after just nine dates . Manson subsequently enlisted Jack Off Jill and Nashville Pussy to take over select opening slots . Monster Magnet , who were already opening for Manson , assumed Hole 's place on the tour 's playbill , with the tour being renamed the Rock Is Dead Tour . The final four dates of the tour were canceled out of respect for the victims of the Columbine High School massacre , which brought Manson arguably the greatest controversy of his career , as the media mistakenly accused him of influencing the shooters
Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
Nothing Records