Matt Montgomery, also known as Piggy D., the seasoned bassist formerly of Rob Zombie‘s band, has openly discussed his seamless transition into Marilyn Manson‘s current lineup. In a recent interview with Radioactive MikeZ on 96.7 KCAL-FM‘s “Wired In The Empire” program, Montgomery provided insights into how he landed the coveted gig and the positive atmosphere within the revitalized group.
Montgomery revealed that his entry into Manson‘s band was facilitated through industry connections, a common occurrence in the close-knit music world. He noted the serendipitous nature of the opportunity, stating (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“Referral. It’s a small, small community. Yeah, the timing worked out. Things are meant to be. I guess that’s the universe working the way it should.”
Since joining, Montgomery has embraced what he describes as a “rebirth” for the band, highlighting the positive energy and successful performances.
“It’s been really cool to be along for the ride for this rebirth. And the band is killer, and we have a great time, and the shows have been rad. And, yeah, I can’t say or feel any better about it.”
A significant point of discussion revolved around Manson‘s newly achieved sobriety, a topic Montgomery addressed with heartfelt admiration. Having personally navigated paths of sobriety, Montgomery expressed profound respect for Manson‘s journey.
“Yeah, he’s amazing. His focus is sharp and he is an inspiration to people; he really is. And I’m proud to stand next to him, because I think he’s representing hard. And as somebody that’s been in and out of sobriety over the years, it’s amazing to see somebody turn their life around. It’s always an amazing story. It doesn’t matter who they are. It’s always an amazing story. The miracle is never lost on me. You put a microphone in front of it, you can do some good. And it’s cool.”
Montgomery also lauded the addition of guitarist Reba Meyers, known for her work with the Grammy-nominated act Code Orange, to the Manson ensemble. He praised Meyers‘s distinct contributions to the band’s sound:
“It’s great to have a female voice doing the female vocal parts. It’s really cool. And she adds so much color and texture to the songs. Yeah, she’s awesome. She’s a joy.”
Regarding the band’s approach to crafting their live setlists, Montgomery explained the thoughtful balance between new material and fan expectations. He acknowledged the recent release of Manson‘s new record, One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1, and his cover of Phil Collins‘s “In The Air Tonight.”
“I wouldn’t say it writes itself. There’s a new [Manson] record [out, One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1], and [Manson‘s cover of Phil Collins‘s seminal song] ‘In The Air Tonight‘ just came out. So there’s an agenda, obviously, ’cause there’s a want to play this new material, but there’s also songs you probably should play. And then there’s been some interesting curveballs. On the last tour, we did ‘Long Hard Road Out Of Hell‘ [from the soundtrack to the 1997 motion picture Spawn], which was a nice addition. So it’s cool. It’s cool. There’s a wealth of material to pull from, if you wanna get weird and do weird stuff. He knows what he’s doing. And personally, what do I love? I love the hard stuff. But that’s just because it makes me think it’s 1996 again, which was a good time — nostalgic for different reasons. But I enjoy all of it, honestly. It’s all very musical and fun stuff to play, and I’m honored to be able to play it.”
Matt Montgomery first joined Manson on stage last August, performing at the kick-off concert of Five Finger Death Punch‘s summer 2024 arena tour.
Piggy D. has had a prolific career beyond his well-known role as Rob Zombie‘s bassist. He laid down basslines on Zombie‘s studio albums: Hellbilly Deluxe 2 (2010), Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor (2013), The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Or*y Celebration Dispenser (2016), and The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (2021).
Outside of his work with Zombie and Marilyn Manson, Montgomery has collaborated with a diverse range of artists including Alice Cooper, John 5, and Wednesday 13. He also releases solo music and is a member of The Haxans with New Years Day singer Ash Costello.
