Marilyn Manson has been left off the bill for the Rochester, New York date of this summer’s OzzFest tour, reports the Democrat And Chronicle newspaper. A spokesperson at the Six Flags Darien Lake in Rochester, Laura Spallone, told the publication, “Several people in the area expressed an uncomfortable feeling about having that artist in our area.”
Tour promoters Clear Channel chose to not back Manson and preferred to stay out of the controversy surrounding the August 11 date at the Darien Center. The company said in a statement, “It’s Six Flags decision…” And it stressed that Manson is welcome to play in Buffalo venues as he previously has, added the Democrat And Chronicle.
The fact that Six Flags doesn’t want Manson on the bill doesn’t come as a surprise to the shock rocker. In a previous interview, he said that he’s not exactly the darling of concert venues and sponsors. “It’s always difficult to find a building to let us play in,” Manson said. “All the building owners don’t want to deal with Marilyn Manson or their stockholders will protest, there’s always that. It comes down to everything. A hotel is hard to get. People don’t want anything to do with me.”
Marilyn Manson came up against something similar in 1997 when venues in New Jersey and Louisiana refused to let him perform his OzzFest set. He threatened legal action against the venues, who eventually gave in and let him play.
Manson and his management were in Europe and couldn’t be reached for comment. His publicist and the OzzFest spokespeople also couldn’t be reached for comment at press time.