Madonna Wayne Gacy

Stephen Bier
Madonna Wayne Gacy performing live in 1995
Background information
Birth name	Stephen Gregory Bier Jr
Also known as	Madonna Wayne Gacy, Pogo
Born	(1964-03-06) March 6, 1964 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Industrial metal, industrial rock, alternative metal, alternative rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Synthesizer, electronic drums, keytar, piano, electronic organ, vocals
Years active	1989–2007
Labels	Nothing, Interscope
Associated acts	Marilyn Manson, Mrs. Scabtree, MMII
Notable instruments
Yamaha CBX K2 Roland AX-1 Sequential Circuits Inc Pro One

Stephen Gregory Bier Jr. (born March 6, 1964, Fort Lauderdale, Florida), formerly known by his stage name Madonna Wayne Gacy and by the nickname Pogo (John Wayne Gacy's clown name), is the former keyboard player for Marilyn Manson, 1989-2007. His stage name came from the names of the singer Madonna and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy.

Personal life

Stephen Bier was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to a Jewish father and Catholic mother. His parents were both school teachers. Bier attended college for six years, achieving a degree in industrial engineering. After completing college, Bier applied for a job at NASA, but said it was not the job he wanted. Bier has a fascination with all things German, Japanese, and Kabbalah.

Career

Stephen Bier joined Marilyn Manson in late 1989 (though subjugating the keyboardist position due to a lack of a keyboard) when Zsa Zsa Speck left the band after only playing two shows. Bier had not bought a keyboard yet, so he played with toy soldiers on stage until he bought himself a keyboard. Bier has played the following instruments or sound-shaping techniques on Marilyn Manson's albums: calliope, Hammond organ, saxophone, theremin, various brass instruments, overdubs, loops, bassoon, drums, electronic drums, keytar, piano, sampling, mellotron, shaker, and synthesizer. He is responsible for much of the Kabbalic and numerological meanings behind Manson's albums.^[1]

Bier did not contribute to Marilyn Manson's album Eat Me, Drink Me. Manson has stated in interviews that Bier is now a photographer. Chris Vrenna has been confirmed as his replacement.

On August 2, 2007, it was reported that Bier filed a lawsuit against Manson for unpaid "partnership proceeds". Bier claims Manson spent the band's earnings on "sick and disturbing purchases of Nazi memorabilia and taxidermy (including the skeleton of a young Chinese girl)" and on various other luxurious items. Bier claimed that Manson "devised a campaign to drive Bier out of the band and rob him of his entitlement".^[2] On December 19, 2007, Manson filed a counter suit against Bier, accusing him of breach of contract.^[3]
According to metalunderground.com, the lawsuit was settled for a sum far less than what was originally sought by Bier with the total being $380,000. $175,000 was paid out by Marilyn Manson while the rest was ordered to be paid by Stephen Bier's former Business Managers.^[4] He now is involved in a music project called MMII, with Brian Diemar, and Hoss. Bier recently purchased a Blockbuster video store in Land O'Lakes, Florida.^[5]

Discography

• Portrait of an American Family (Marilyn Manson, 1994)
• The Hearts Filthy Lesson single (US) (David Bowie, 1995) (uncredited)
• Smells Like Children (Marilyn Manson, 1995)
• Antichrist Superstar (Marilyn Manson, 1996)
• Remix & Repent (Marilyn Manson, 1997)
• Lost Highway Soundtrack - Apple of Sodom (uncredited, 1997)
• Mechanical Animals (Marilyn Manson, 1998)
• Dead Man on Campus Soundtrack (Marilyn Manson's cover of David Bowie's "Golden Years", 1999)
• Detroit Rock City (Marilyn Manson's cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell", 1999)
• The Last Tour on Earth (Marilyn Manson, 1999)
• Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (Marilyn Manson, 2000)
• Guns, God and Government (Marilyn Manson, 2000)
• The Golden Age of Grotesque (Marilyn Manson, 2003)
• Lest We Forget: The Best of Marilyn Manson (Marilyn Manson, 2004)
• Lost & Found (Marilyn Manson, 2008)

References