Massacre on the Tip of Rocker’s Tongue, Supervisor Says

Marilyn Manson, the ghoulish-looking shock rocker whose macabre music has made him a whipping boy for moralizing politicians everywhere, recently added a new name to his ever-growing enemies’ list: county Supervisor Mike Antonovich.

But whether Antonovich’s anger at Manson--based on reports that the shooters in the Littleton, Colo., high school massacre liked his music--is justified may now be an open question.

Besieged by criticism that his violence-jammed lyrics might have helped trigger the shooting rampage, Manson last week canceled the remaining dates on his U.S. tour, including a Saturday show at the Universal Amphitheatre.

In doing so, however, Manson took on those who had demonized him and his legion of dark-clothed, doom-obsessed fans, who are often linked to so-called Goth youth subculture.

“The media has unfairly scapegoated the music industry and so-called Goth kids and has speculated--with no basis in fact--that artists like myself are somehow to blame,” Manson said in his announcement. “This tragedy was a product of ignorance, hatred and an access to guns.”

That did not sit well with Antonovich, a strong gun-rights advocate who represents Burbank, Glendale, Santa Clarita and north Los Angeles County. He said Manson needs to take some responsibility for the blood bath.

In a lengthy news release titled “Manson Speaks With Forked Tongue,” Antonovich blasted the androgynous rocker.

He pointed out that Manson had lifted his name from suicide victim Marilyn Monroe and murderer Charles Manson. He argued that he had made a career of selling death, sacrilege and dark thoughts to impressionable young people. And he also noted that Manson’s all-male bandmates have named themselves after female celebrities and infamous murderers, and proceeded to detail the origin of stage names such as Zsa Zsa Speck and Olivia Newton Bundy.

“He ignores the message of his own lyrics and the products he sells,” Antonovich stated. “He has written and performed, ‘let’s just kill everyone and let your God sort them out.’ ”

But were the Littleton killers listening?

According to recent articles in the Rocky Mountain News, attackers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris were not really part of the much ballyhooed “Trenchcoat Mafia” clique and the Goth scene--and were not Manson fans, contrary to many initial news reports. In fact, fellow students say the two outcasts hated Manson’s music.

That’s not what Antonovich was led to believe, said his spokesman, Cam Currier.

“The reports we saw said they were fans of Marilyn Manson,” Currier said. “But what troubled us the most were the lyrics to his music. It was just the influence that the Manson music seems to have had on the Trenchcoat Mafia.”

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MORE THAN THEY CAN CHEW: Fresh from winning the Big Sky Conference title, the Cal State Northridge women’s basketball team was challenged to a game by an unlikely group Wednesday.

In a ceremony at City Hall to honor the team, Mayor Richard Riordan and Councilman Hal Bernson suggested that the title holders take on the mayor and council in a game.

Assigning council members their positions, Riordan said, “Hal Bernson will be the point guard, Mike Hernandez will be the shooting guard, John Ferraro will be the power forward and Mark Ridley-Thomas will be the coach.”

Council members made it sound like such a pickup game would require them to literally be picked up, off the ground, by ambulance attendants.

“You think we can beat this team?” Riordan asked the council.

“Noooo,” came the chorus of responses.

Northridge center Keisha Harris Jr., who stands nearly a foot over Riordan, was unconcerned.

“Would you like to play against the mayor and council?” Riordan asked.

“No problem,” Harris responded.

“Who would you like to guard?” Riordan pressed.

“You,” she said, smiling broadly.

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EARLY BIRD: Assemblyman Wally Knox is moving quickly to sew up key endorsements for his run for state Sen. Tom Hayden’s seat, when Hayden is forced out by term limits.

The early start may be important, considering that popular Assemblywoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) has announced she will run for the same seat.

Knox has won the endorsement of Council President Ferraro, he said this week.

“It is gratifying to know I have earned their trust,” Knox said.

Ferraro, whose district overlaps the Senate district, was reelected last month with 70% of the vote.

Riordan also received 70% of the vote in the district.

It might be worth noting that Riordan and Ferraro also led the supporters of Proposition 1, the police-fire bond measure that failed to win the two-thirds vote needed for passage.

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FOLLOW THE LEADER? For months, Valley secessionists have acted like helpful big brothers to their smaller counterparts in San Pedro and Wilmington, offering advice and encouragement to those who are also hoping to pursue municipal divorce from Los Angeles.

Now the little brothers may be growing up.

Harbor Vote, the group behind the San Pedro-Wilmington secession effort, recently wrapped up its petition drive to force a study on breaking away from the city--a step recently reached by Valley secessionists.

Leaders of the breakup drive are still gathering the petitions from activists in the two communities, but believe they have amassed 18,000 signatures. The group needs to collect signatures from one-fourth of the area’s registered voters, about 13,300, to trigger the study.

San Pedro activist Andrew Mardesich said they expect to turn the petitions over to the Local Agency Formation Commission, the panel overseeing the secession process, by early next month. He predicts success.

“It looks like we’ll be at the bargaining table at the same time as the Valley,” Mardesich said. “The numbers look good.”