"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" | ||||
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Single by Marilyn Manson and Sneaker Pimps | ||||
from the album Spawn: The Album | ||||
Released | July 22, 1997 | |||
Recorded | 1997 at Unique Studios, New York City | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:21 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
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Marilyn Manson singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" on YouTube |
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and British trip hop band Sneaker Pimps. It was released as a single from the soundtrack to the 1997 motion picture Spawn . An arena rock and gothic rock song, "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was written by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez and produced by Manson and Sean Beavan. Its lyrics are about self-loathing and its title is derived from John Milton's Paradise Lost (1667). After the track was written, the Sneaker Pimps' Kelli Ali was recruited to perform background vocals on it, as the Spawn soundtrack featured collaborations between hard rock artists and electronic music artists. The Sneaker Pimps were dissatisfied with the final track and wanted a remix of it to be released as a single instead; conversely, Manson deemed it a personal favorite.
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" received mixed reviews from music critics; some found it heartfelt while others felt it was too indistinct from other Marilyn Manson songs. Commentators noted that the track encapsulated the evolution of the band's sound from the industrial music of Antichrist Superstar (1996) to the glam rock of Mechanical Animals (1998). Manson initially approached Jonathan Glazer to direct the video for the track, but rejected his concept for it; Glazer later used his concept for the video for Radiohead's "Karma Police" (1997). The music video for "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was directed by Matthew Rolston. It depicts Manson in a dress and a group of models who initially appear to be female but are revealed to be male. The clip garnered acclaim from critics for its imagery.
Marilyn Manson's eponymous vocalist told the Phoenix New Times that he wrote "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" "while on the road." He said that the song "changes someone's singing and writing at the same time, the rhythm of your vocal." [1] Though it was not written for the film, [1] the song was released on the soundtrack album for Spawn (1997), a film based on the comic book character of the same name; the soundtrack was curated by Happy Walters. [2] Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn, told Billboard : "If any artist epitomizes my anti-hero Spawn, it's Marilyn Manson." [3]
Similar to the Judgment Night soundtrack, another Walters project which featured a fusion of hip hop music and rock music, the Spawn soundtrack consisted of collaborations between hard rock or heavy metal bands and electronic music acts. [2] "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" features backing vocals from Kelli Ali, the front-woman of British trip hop band Sneaker Pimps. Neither Ali or her band-mate Liam Howe felt that the rock bands featured on the soundtrack were very good, but thought that collaborating with one of the bands would give them the chance to, in Howe's words, "polish a turd." [4] Manson would recall that while recording the song, "The guitar player of the Sneaker Pimps had just got hit in the foreskin and he told me about it, which is a dumb as fuck thing to do, because the first thing I did was hit him in the dick, and I'm sure that probably added to the tension in the room." [1]
The two bands became engaged in a brief dispute soon after the song's release. Ali complained that the Sneaker Pimps were not present during the song's final mixing, and that they were never issued a master tape. She went on to call the song "crap." [4] Manson responded by calling the Sneaker Pimps' involvement "a bit of a favor, in a sense, because we had already written the song, and I was interested in finding a girl to sing back-up vocals on it, and [they] were asking to be involved. I wasn't that familiar with them. I thought the girl's voice was great. When we worked on the song, I think they were a little upset because there wasn't much for them to do. The song was already done." He also refuted claims that the Sneaker Pimps were never issued with a master recording, suggesting that they had created a remix for the song, but had refused permission for it to appear on the single when they were informed it would appear as a b-side, instead of being released as the main single version. [5]
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was released as a single alongside its instrumental, a remix of the song called the "Critter Remix" and the instrumental mix of "Kick the PA" (1997) by Korn and the Dust Brothers. [6] Manson has called "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" "one of my favorites". [1] The track shares its title with Manson's autobiography, The Long Hard Road Out of Hell (1998), [7] and was included on the band's greatest hits album, Lest We Forget: The Best Of (2004). [8]
"Long Hard Road Out of Hell" was written by Marilyn Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, and produced by Manson with Sean Beavan. [9] The track is an arena rock and gothic rock song [2] with a length of four minutes and twenty-one seconds. [10] The title of the song is a reference to John Milton's epic poem Paradise Lost (1667), [11] wherein Satan says: "long is the way/ And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light." [12] The song's lyrics are about self-loathing. [2]
According to A.A. Dowd of The A.V. Club , "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" resembles the music of Marilyn Manson, particularly songs from Antichrist Superstar (1996), far more than the music of the Sneaker Pimps, though its "clicking beat" and background vocals do separate the track from Marilyn Manson's usual shock rock. Dowd also found the song reminiscent of the kind of music played at Ozzfest. [2] Alec Chillingworth of Metal Hammer saw the track as similar to the singles from Antichrist Superstar only more subdued, in the vein of the band's subsequent album Mechanical Animals (1998). [13]
PopMatters 's Lance Teegarden felt that the tracks' "layered buzzsaw guitar riffs" and Manson's shout-like vocal performance on the chorus made "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" sound like "Rock Is Dead" (1998) and "The Love Song" (2000). [8] Dowd also noted that the lyrics of the song could be seen as referring to the life of the film's title character – an assassin who is murdered, brought back to life, and given super-powers through a Faustian bargain – as Spawn's "road out of hell [was] long and hard". Dowd viewed the track as one of the few songs on the soundtrack which "feel[s] specifically catered...to the Spawn mythos." [2]
In his review of Lest We Forget: The Best Of, The Chicago Maroon 's Matt Zakosek wrote that "every time you're ready to write him off as the obligatory recording artist of the moment to piss off the religious right, Manson comes out of left field with a surprisingly heartfelt, poetic track like 'The Reflecting God' or 'Long Hard Road Out of Hell.'" [7] Jim Louvau of the Phoenix New Times deemed it one of his favorite songs by the band, alongside "Get Your Gunn" (1994). [1] Chillingworth of Metal Hammer ranked the song sixth on his list of "The 10 most underrated Marilyn Manson songs", saying "'Long Hard Road Out Of Hell' is more than your standard Manson banger. It served as a weird body of water in which Manson tested some of his tricks". [13] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the song for being "a good bridge between the goth-industrial Antichrist Superstar and the electronically tweaked glam of Mechanical Animals." [6]
MetalSucks' Axl Rosenberg said that "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" is "fine" and "basically sounds like Antichrist Superstar-era Manson with female backing vocals." Rosenberg found the track superior to other cuts from Spawn: The Album such as the DJ Spooky remix of Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1985) and "Satan" (1998) by Kirk Hammett and Orbital. [14] Dowd of The A.V. Club said that, while he initially cared for the song, it "is basically just a Manson anthem with some very casual bells and whistles attached". [2] Teegarden of PopMatters said that the track "adhere[s] to standard-issue, industrial shock-rock formulas" and fails to distinguish itself from other Marilyn Manson songs. [8] Thrillist's Dan Jackson did not see "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" as one of Spawn: The Album's "standout tracks". [15]
MTV News reported in 1997 that the Sneaker Pimps would not be involved in the song's music video. [5] Manson initially approached Jonathan Glazer to direct the video and asked him to watch David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997) for inspiration. [16] Glazer watched the film's opening credits, which feature images of a "road rushing beneath the camera" before falling asleep. As the film's opening credits had entered his mind, Glazer proposed that the video center on a man being chased down a dark, desolate road by an old car. Manson was unimpressed by this idea and decided not to use it; Glazer would use his rejected concept for his video for "Karma Police" (1997) by Radiohead. [16] [17] Upon seeing the "Karma Police" video for the first time, Manson was reportedly upset. [18]
The music video for the song was directed by Matthew Rolston, [19] and was filmed at the site of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, [1] the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. [20] The video features examples of tableaux vivants , images composed of people holding poses. [21] It also features perverted Christian iconography, with the Virgin Mary depicted as being soaked in blood. [22] In the clip, Manson is androgynous, [21] and is shown wearing a dress and posing like a pin-up model. [19] A group of models who strike sexualized poses in the clip initially appear to be female, but are revealed to be male. [19] [21] One of the models transforms into a figure who resembles Aleister Crowley, a Victorian era occultist [21] whose writings have influenced Manson. [23] According to Mike Rampton of Kerrang! , the video got little airplay on television due to contemporary attitudes toward gender and blasphemy. [24] Manson has said that he likes the video because "it's one part sexy and one part dark." [1]
The video was featured in the 1997 MTV special "Beavis and Butt-Head Do Thanksgiving". [25]
Jonathan Barkan of Bloody Disgusting opined: "The video, which plays out almost like a dream, is an absolute visual treat. It's incredibly polished and shiny, makes beautiful use of color, and strongly challenges gender norms". [19] Noisecreep 's Chris Ford ranked the clip sixth on his list of the "10 Best Marilyn Manson Videos", adding that its use of tableaux vivants is "especially effective". [21] Writing for Noisey , Alexandra Serio wrote that the depiction of the Virgin Mary in the clip is part of the band's history of "pissing off Jesus Christ". [22] In Kerrang!, Mike Rampton praised Manson's "extraordinarily beautiful" hair in the video, adding "Clad in the cymbal-like bustier of an ectomorphic Brunhilde or an Amanda Lepore-esque striking sexual Valkyrie, his glorious locks are a sight to behold. Or maybe it's a wig." [24]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" |
| 4:21 |
2. | "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" (Critter Remix) |
| 4:16 |
3. | "Long Hard Road Out of Hell" (Instrumental) | Ramirez | 4:48 |
4. | "Kick the P.A." (by Korn and the Dust Brothers) |
| 3:18 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Lest We Forget: The Best Of . [9]
Marilyn Manson is an American rock band formed by namesake lead singer Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1989. Originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, they gained a local cult following in South Florida in the early 1990s with their theatrical live performances. In 1993, they were the first act signed to Trent Reznor's Nothing Records label. Until 1996, the name of each member was created by combining the first name of a female sex symbol and the last name of a male serial killer—for example, Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Their lineup has changed between many of their album releases; the eponymous lead singer is the only remaining original member.
Antichrist Superstar is the second studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on October 8, 1996, by Nothing and Interscope Records. It was recorded at Nothing Studios in New Orleans and produced by the band's eponymous vocalist along with Sean Beavan, former Skinny Puppy producer Dave Ogilvie and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. The recording of the album was marred by excessive drug use, which provoked a high level of antagonism between band members. Consequently, it was their last release to feature contributions from founding guitarist Daisy Berkowitz, who was acrimoniously fired partway through recording.
Mechanical Animals is the third studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on September 15, 1998, by Interscope Records. The album marked a major shift from the industrial metal and alternative metal styles of the band's earlier efforts, into an experimentation with 1970s glam rock with industrial rock and electronic rock styles. As their first release following the success of their breakthrough album, 1996's Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals' themes primarily deals with the trappings of fame and drug abuse.
Smells Like Children is an EP by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on October 24, 1995, by Nothing and Interscope Records. Produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, it represents an era of the band full of drugs, abuses, tours, sound experiments, and references to the Child Catcher, a villain from the 1968 musical film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Jeordie Osbourne White, better known Twiggy Ramirez or simply Twiggy, is an American musician, mostly known as the former bassist and guitarist of the rock band Marilyn Manson. Previously, he was the bassist for A Perfect Circle and a touring member of Nine Inch Nails, and is currently the vocalist for Goon Moon. He left Marilyn Manson in 2002, later rejoined the band in 2008, and was dismissed in 2017. He has been a principal songwriter for the band and has also contributed to some of the Desert Sessions recordings. He also hosted the Hour of Goon podcast with fellow musician Fred Sablan, on the Starburns Audio network.
Brian Hugh Warner, known professionally as Marilyn Manson, is an American rock musician. He came to prominence as the lead singer of the band that shares his name, of which he remains the only constant member since its formation in 1989. Known for his controversial stage personality, his stage name was formed by combining the names of two opposing American cultural icons: actress Marilyn Monroe and cult leader Charles Manson.
Kelli Ali, also known as Kelli Dayton, is a British vocalist, who was formerly the lead singer of the trip hop group Sneaker Pimps before going on to a solo career.
Becoming X is the debut studio album by English electronic band Sneaker Pimps. It was released on 19 August 1996 in the United Kingdom by Clean Up Records and on 25 February 1997 in the United States by Virgin Records. The album marked the only appearance of Kelli Dayton as lead singer before she was asked to leave the band; Chris Corner replaced her for the band's subsequent albums.
American rock band Marilyn Manson has released eleven studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, two extended plays, 35 singles, nine promotional singles, six video albums, and 46 music videos.
"The Beautiful People" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Antichrist Superstar, in September 1996. Classified as industrial metal, the song was written by frontman Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez, and was produced by Trent Reznor, Dave Ogilvie and Manson.
"Coma White" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson and the last track from the album Mechanical Animals. It is a hard rock ballad written by Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Zim Zum and produced by Manson and Michael Beinhorn. It was inspired by Manson's relationship with Rose McGowan and the numbness that his drug use caused him to feel. The track features a snare drum, cymbals, guitar, piano and keyboard bass in its instrumentation. Critics offered varied interpretations of its meaning, ranging from a song about a drug-addicted woman to a critique of celebrity culture. The song garnered a mostly positive response from music critics, with some critics deeming it one of the greatest songs of the band's career.
"Lunchbox" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second single from their debut album, Portrait of an American Family (1994). A heavy metal song that features elements of death metal, industrial music and punk rock, "Lunchbox" was written by the band's eponymous vocalist, Daisy Berkowitz, and Gidget Gein, and produced by Manson with Trent Reznor. According to Berkowitz, the track was written as the frontman's plea to be left alone; it was also inspired by a time where Manson defended himself from bullies with a Kiss lunchbox. The track features elements of "Fire" (1968) performed by Arthur Brown, a musician who influenced the band.
The Long Hard Road Out of Hell is the autobiography of Marilyn Manson, leader of the American rock band of the same name. The book was released on February 14, 1998 and co-authored by Neil Strauss.
God Is in the T.V. is the second live video album by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on November 2, 1999, on VHS, documenting the Mechanical Animals Tour, Beautiful Monsters Tour and Rock Is Dead Tour. It features all 13 music videos the band spawned between July 1994 and November 1999 in reverse chronology, including uncensored bonus footage from the production of "The Dope Show" music video, as well as footage culled from various concerts around the world alongside backstage and behind-the-scenes clips.
"This Is the New Shit" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson, written by Marilyn Manson, John 5 and Tim Sköld, produced by Manson and Sköld. It is the second track on and second single from the band's fifth studio album, The Golden Age of Grotesque, following "mOBSCENE", and had the most success.
"Get Your Gunn" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on June 9, 1994 as the band's debut single and is from their debut studio album, Portrait of an American Family (1994). The song was written by the band's eponymous vocalist along with original guitarist and bassist Daisy Berkowitz and Gidget Gein, respectively, and was produced by Manson with Trent Reznor. "Get Your Gunn" was inspired by the murder of abortion provider David Gunn by an anti-abortion activist, an event which angered Manson. The song also took influence from Manson's lifelong fascination with abortion and an interaction he had with an anti-abortion protester.
"Rock Is Dead" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the third single from their third studio album, Mechanical Animals (1998). It was written by the band's eponymous frontman, along with bassist Twiggy Ramirez and keyboardist Madonna Wayne Gacy, and was produced by Manson, Michael Beinhorn and Sean Beavan. A glam rock and heavy metal track with elements of electronic music and grunge, the song features electric and bass guitars, keyboards, and live drums in its instrumentation. The song was featured on the soundtrack of the Wachowskis' film The Matrix (1999).
"Man That You Fear" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released as the second promotional single from their second studio album, Antichrist Superstar, and is the final song on the album.
The Dead to the World Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the American rock band Marilyn Manson. Staged in support of their 1996 album Antichrist Superstar, the tour visited theaters, nightclubs, arenas and stadiums from 1996 to 1997. The Dead to the World Tour was the band's fifth tour, counting their early independent touring and their supporting roles for Nine Inch Nails' Self Destruct Tour and Danzig's Danzig 4p Tour. It is also their first tour to span over several legs, eight in total, that alternated between multiple venues both in North America and internationally.
"Apple of Sodom" is a song by American rock band Marilyn Manson. The track was recorded for the soundtrack to David Lynch's 1997 film Lost Highway. It was written by the band's eponymous vocalist and produced by Manson with Sean Beavan. Lynch personally chose the band to contribute music to the soundtrack as he found Manson inspiring, and because of the band's commercial viability. An industrial song about obsession, it was inspired by Manson's feelings about singer Fiona Apple; the eponymous apple of Sodom is a toxic plant. The song was followed by multiple collaborations between Manson and Lynch.
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