Gidget Gein
Gidget Gein | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Bradley Mark Stewart |
Born |
Hollywood, Florida, U.S. | September 11, 1969
Died |
October 8, 2008 39) Burbank, California, U.S. | (aged
Genres | Alternative metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, artist |
Instruments | Bass guitar, guitar |
Years active | 1990–2008 |
Labels | Nothing, Interscope |
Associated acts |
Marilyn Manson Dali Gaggers |
Website | http://www.gidgetgein.com/ |
Bradley Mark "Brad" Stewart (September 11, 1969 – October 8, 2008), known by his stage name Gidget Gein, was an American musician and artist. He was the second bassist and co-founder of the alternative metal band Marilyn Manson. His stage name references and dichotomies serial killer Ed Gein and the fictional 1960s surfer girl Gidget.[1]
Early life
Gein was born in Hollywood, Florida, to a Roman Catholic school teacher mother and police officer father.
Career
Stewart joined the band, Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, in 1990.[2] The band eventually gained the attention of Trent Reznor who signed them to his label Nothing Records.[3] As the band became more famous after dropping the "Spooky Kids" title in 1992, Gein's personality was becoming more chaotic through extensive drug use and other various acts of debauchery. In October 1993, Reznor agreed to rework the production on Marilyn Manson's album, taking them and their tapes to The Record Plant in Los Angeles. On Christmas Eve of 1993, Gein was hospitalized after overdosing on heroin. While still hospitalized, he received a message from Marilyn Manson's lawyer via FedEx that he was fired due to his drug use.[2] Gein was replaced by Jeordie White, known as Twiggy Ramirez.[4]
After being fired from Marilyn Manson, Gein moved to New York in 1999. He formed a group called Gidget Gein and the Dali Gaggers with vocalist Anthony Toboada a.k.a. Alistarr and guitarist Al B. Romano which featured various displays of degenerate art, ideas, and post-punk styled songwriting. Before the release of the Dali Gaggers only album, Confessions of a Spooky Kid, Gein relapsed and began shooting heroin. He headed back to Florida in order to kick his drug addiction for good.
Once back in Florida, Gein began work for the south Florida medical examiner as a "Bag Boy". Over years of retrieving and cleaning up after the deceased. His experiences at the medical examiner's office have been documented in various international magazines and spurred early production of a motion picture based on this period of his life.[4] Over time his arsenal of art and ideas began to outweigh his position as a Bag Boy and Gidget found a friendship with the freshly announced UNPOP art movement and, surprisingly, a collaboration with Marilyn Manson and Asia Argento in a music video for the song "(s)AINT",[2] which was later banned by Manson's record label Interscope Records.
Gein returned to Los Angeles in 2004 where he continued to execute art and fashion shows under the organized name GOLLYWOOD.
Death
On October 8, 2008, Stewart died of a heroin overdose at his home in Burbank, California.[1][5] His body was discovered on October 9. Shortly before his death, Gein had completed another stint in rehab and was reportedly recording an album with record producer Dave Jerden. He had been contracted to publish his art in a show scheduled for February 2009.[1][4]
Aftermath
On December 8, 2008, a memorial benefit for Gein was held at the Dragonfly in Los Angeles. It featured Gein’s art and an array of friends and fans performing in his honor. The guest list included Ego Plum, Kim Fowley, ex Courtney Love, guitarist Lisa Leveridge, Jessicka, Allen Wrench, Lenora Claire, Courtney Cruz, Ramzi Abed, Brian Clark (co-founder of UnPop art movement to which Gein belonged), Bill Shafer of Hyaena Gallery(his art representative), Damian Crowley, Giddle Partridge, Hollie Stevens, and drag queens Squeaky Blonde and Fade-Dra.[5] Funds raised from the gathering were used to purchase a memorial plaque in Gein's honor that was placed at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Gein's mother retains possession of his cremains in Florida.[6]
A commemorative tribute was filmed on October 9, 2010 at the horror convention 'Spooky Empire', based in Orlando, Florida. Participants included Al B. Romano, Billy Baker, Parris Mayhew, Mike Merryfield, CC Manded and Petey Mongelli. The 9-part compendium was filmed by the Film Director/Artist/Musician Cynosure and is respectively owned by Cynosure Enterprises. The film closes with Gein's memorial plaque, embellished with the slogan, 'Luv is GG'.
Discography
With Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids
- Grist-O-Line (1990)
- Big Black Bus (1990)
- After School Special (1991)
- Lunchbox (1992)
- Lunch Boxes & Choklit Cows (2004)
With Marilyn Manson
With the Dali Gaggers
- Dali Gaggers, Just AdNauseam (1998)
Confessions Of A Spooky Kids (1999)
Solo
- Suspension of Disbelief (2007)
- Law of Diminishing Return (2007)
- Rig Demos (2007)
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | God Is in the T.V. | Himself | Direct-to-video release |
2000 | Demystifying the Devil: Biography Marilyn Manson | Himself | |
2006 | The Three Trials | Diner | |
2007 | The Devil's Muse (2007) | Detective Jeffrey Mourir | |
2008 | In a Spiral State | Avi | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kaufman, Gil (October 13, 2008). "Former Marilyn Manson Bassist Gidget Gein Dead At 39 Gein (born Bradley Stewart) performed on band's 1994 debut LP, Portrait of an American Family.". mtv.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 MacDonald, Les. The Day the Music Died. Xlibris Corporation. p. 380. ISBN 1-453-52267-0.
- ↑ Edmondson, Jacqueline, ed. (2013). Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 683. ISBN 0-313-39348-6.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lecaro, Lina (October 10, 2008). "RIP GIDGET GEIN- Local artist & former Marilyn Manson bassist found dead". laweekly.com.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lecaro, Lina (December 10, 2008). "Nightranger Attends the Gidget Gein Memorial". laweekly.com.
- ↑ Lecaro, Lina (September 30, 2011). "Happy Johnny Ramone Weekend! The Top Five Musicians Buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (At Least In Spirit)". laweekly.com.
External links
- Gidget Gein's official site, now maintained by Nancy Marzulli
- Gidget Gein at the Internet Movie Database
- Gidget Gein at Find a Grave
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