In the past , band members dressed in outlandish makeup and costumes , and engaged in intentionally shocking behavior both onstage and off . Their lyrics often received criticism for their anti-religious sentiment and references to sex , violence and drugs , while their live performances were frequently called offensive and obscene . On several occasions , protests and petitions led to the group being blocked from performing , with at least three US states passing legislation banning the group from performing at state-owned venues . They released a number of platinum-selling albums , including '' Antichrist Superstar '' ( 1996 ) and '' Mechanical Animals '' ( 1998 ) . These albums , along with their highly stylized music videos and worldwide touring , brought public recognition to Marilyn Manson . In 1999 , news media falsely blamed the band for influencing Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold , the Columbine shooters . As this controversy began to wane throughout the 2000s , so did the band 's mainstream popularity . Despite this , Jon Wiederhorn of MTV , in June 2003 , referred to Marilyn Manson as " the only true artist today " . Marilyn Manson is widely regarded as being one of the most iconic and controversial figures in rock music , with the band and its lead singer influencing numerous other groups and musicians , both in metal-associated acts and also in wider popular culture . VH1 ranked Marilyn Manson as the seventy-eighth best rock band on their '' 100 Great Artists of Hard Rock '' . They were inducted into the '' Kerrang ! '' Hall of Fame in 2000 , and have been nominated for four Grammy Awards . In the U.S. , the band has seen eight of its releases debut in the top ten , including two number-one albums . Marilyn Manson have sold in excess of 50 million records worldwide
Columbine shooters
Columbine High School massacre
Marilyn Manson (band)