Marilyn Manson’s upcoming Halloween concert in Bournemouth is facing mounting political pressure, as local authorities question the appropriateness of the controversial artist performing in the seaside town.
The shock rocker is set to appear at the Windsor Hall/Bournemouth International Centre (BIC) on October 31st, as part of his recently relaunched music career. However, BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council leader Millie Earl has spoken out against the booking, citing Manson’s history of sexual misconduct allegations.
Manson, born Brian Warner, was accused by more than a dozen women during the pandemic years of sexual assault and abuse — claims that span back decades. While authorities did investigate, no criminal charges were filed. The fallout nevertheless derailed Manson’s career: in 2021, he was dropped by his manager, record label, and talent agent.
The singer has consistently denied the allegations. He has settled two civil suits, seen one voluntarily dismissed, and continues to face two pending lawsuits — one from a former personal assistant and another from a woman alleging sexual assault in the mid to late 1990s. In a countersuit, Manson accused former partner Evan Rachel Wood and her associate Ilma Gore of orchestrating the allegations in a defamation campaign — a case he dropped in late 2023 after multiple legal setbacks.
Council leader Earl is now calling on BH Live, the operator of BIC, to reconsider hosting the concert. Although the BCP Council owns the venue, it does not control bookings due to its lease agreement with BH Live. Still, Earl has formally expressed her objection.
“Because of our lease arrangement with them, we don’t have any input into the decisions that are made, the acts that are appearing, although I have actually written to BH Live to express my concern,” she said. “I don’t feel Marilyn Manson reflects the values we have in BCP and we’ve been doing a lot of work around things like the White Ribbon accreditation scheme which helps men and boys change negative, damaging behaviours. So I have asked that BH Live reconsider hosting Marilyn Manson later this year.”
Earl added that allowing Manson to perform would undermine community efforts to combat violence against women and girls, stating that canceling the show would help “reinforce the message that violence against women and girls isn’t something that’s acceptable in our community.”
The Bournemouth performance is one of several UK and European dates on Manson’s 2024 tour — his first since 2019. The run marks his return to the stage and to recording after years out of the spotlight.
At the time of publication, BH Live has not issued a public response to the council leader’s request.
Writer and extreme metal devotee, Ialdagorth has spent over a decade covering the darkest corners of heavy music. A black metal lifer, he spends his free time wandering the Carpathian Mountains, likely humming blast beats to the trees.
