Get Your Gunn
Encyclopedia
Released in 1994, "Get Your Gunn" is the first official single by alternative metal band Marilyn Manson
. "Snake Eyes and Sissies" was originally planned as the lead single but never released; "Get Your Gunn" was released instead. The track was released to support the album Portrait of an American Family
, and was the first release from Nothing Records
. A video was also released, but did not receive significant airplay. The boy on the single's cover is Wes Brown, half-brother of bassist Twiggy Ramirez
. The song charted in Canada.
The song was inspired by the 1993 murder of OB/GYN doctor
David Gunn
(hence the spelling) who was killed in Florida by anti-choice activist Michael Frederic Griffin
. Vocalist Marilyn Manson later described his murder as "the ultimate hypocrisy I witnessed growing up: that these people killed someone in the name of being 'pro-life'. The bridge of "Get Your Gunn" includes audio from the press conference at which American politician Budd Dwyer
shot himself, as well as the gunshot that killed him.
During the Columbine High School massacre
s aftermath, several news outlets (mistakenly) reported that the two shooters
were fans of Marylin Manson, and the song was blamed for inspiring the massacre. Marylin Manson replied in a letter published in Rolling Stone
. A PRS for Music survey conducted in 2010 revealed that the British public considered "Get Your Gunn" the 8th most controversial of all time.
The song is also included on Portrait Sessions (a bootleg tape), as well as the The Mansion Family Album (a prior version of Portrait of an American Family
, before Trent Reznor
got involved), the compilation album Lest We Forget: The Best Of and the live album The Last Tour on Earth
. The song was featured in the movie S.F.W.
.
"Misery Machine" is listed as the album version but does not include the hidden track on Portrait of an American Family. The version on the single is cross-faded into "Mother Inferior Got Her Gunn".
Marilyn Manson (band)
Marilyn Manson is an American metal band from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Formed in 1989 by Brian Warner and Scott Putesky, the group was originally named Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids with their uniquely theatrical performances gathering a local cult following in the early '90s. This attention...
. "Snake Eyes and Sissies" was originally planned as the lead single but never released; "Get Your Gunn" was released instead. The track was released to support the album Portrait of an American Family
Portrait of an American Family
Portrait of an American Family is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on July 19, 1994 in the US through Nothing and Interscope Records. It was produced by the band's frontman and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails...
, and was the first release from Nothing Records
Nothing Records
Nothing Records was an American record label, specializing in industrial rock and electronic music, founded by John Malm Jr. and Trent Reznor in 1992...
. A video was also released, but did not receive significant airplay. The boy on the single's cover is Wes Brown, half-brother of bassist Twiggy Ramirez
Jeordie White
Jeordie Osbourne White , better known by his pseudonym Twiggy Ramirez , is an American musician, who is best known for being the bassist and guitarist for Marilyn Manson. He was also the bassist for A Perfect Circle, and Nine Inch Nails...
. The song charted in Canada.
The song was inspired by the 1993 murder of OB/GYN doctor
Murder of David Gunn
On March 10, 1993, Michael Frederick Griffin murdered Dr. David Gunn in Pensacola, Florida in the United States. This was the first documented assassination of an OB-GYN, to prevent a doctor from performing abortions....
David Gunn
David Gunn (doctor)
David Gunn was an American physician. He received his bachelors degree from Vanderbilt University and earned his M.D. at the University of Kentucky. Gunn moved to Brewton, Alabama, after his residency, choosing to provide OB/GYN and abortion services in rural America.Gunn was murdered in...
(hence the spelling) who was killed in Florida by anti-choice activist Michael Frederic Griffin
Michael F. Griffin
On March 10, 1993, Michael Frederick Griffin murdered Dr. David Gunn in Pensacola, Florida in the United States. This was the first documented assassination of an OB-GYN, to prevent a doctor from performing abortions....
. Vocalist Marilyn Manson later described his murder as "the ultimate hypocrisy I witnessed growing up: that these people killed someone in the name of being 'pro-life'. The bridge of "Get Your Gunn" includes audio from the press conference at which American politician Budd Dwyer
Budd Dwyer
Robert Budd Dwyer was an American politician in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district...
shot himself, as well as the gunshot that killed him.
During the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
s aftermath, several news outlets (mistakenly) reported that the two shooters
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold were American high school seniors who committed the Columbine High School massacre. They killed 13 people—including teacher Dave Sanders—and injured 24 others, three of whom were injured as they escaped the attack...
were fans of Marylin Manson, and the song was blamed for inspiring the massacre. Marylin Manson replied in a letter published in Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
. A PRS for Music survey conducted in 2010 revealed that the British public considered "Get Your Gunn" the 8th most controversial of all time.
The song is also included on Portrait Sessions (a bootleg tape), as well as the The Mansion Family Album (a prior version of Portrait of an American Family
Portrait of an American Family
Portrait of an American Family is the debut full-length studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was released on July 19, 1994 in the US through Nothing and Interscope Records. It was produced by the band's frontman and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails...
, before Trent Reznor
Trent Reznor
Michael Trent Reznor is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, record producer, and leader of industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor is also a member of How to Destroy Angels alongside his wife, Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. He was previously associated with bands Option 30,...
got involved), the compilation album Lest We Forget: The Best Of and the live album The Last Tour on Earth
The Last Tour on Earth
The Last Tour on Earth is a live album comprising recordings from Marilyn Manson's Mechanical Animals and Rock is Dead tours. On the studio version of "The Dope Show", Manson says that drugs "are made in California", but in the live version, he says that "drugs, they say, are made right here in...
. The song was featured in the movie S.F.W.
S.F.W.
S.F.W. is a 1994 film directed by Jefery Levy. It is based on a novel by Andrew Wellman, and stars Stephen Dorff, Jake Busey and Reese Witherspoon, in one of her first lead roles.-Plot:...
.
"Misery Machine" is listed as the album version but does not include the hidden track on Portrait of an American Family. The version on the single is cross-faded into "Mother Inferior Got Her Gunn".
Music video
The music video, directed by Rod Chong, features Manson performing in a damp "attic-like" scene, intertwined by footage of band members and two feisty teenage girls. It received little video play. It is one of the three music videos featuring Manson without the white face makeup, mismatched contacts, and lip stick that would become his trademark.Track listings
CD single- "Get Your Gunn" (Album Version) - 3:18
- "Misery Machine" (Album Version) - 4:44
- "Mother Inferior Got Her Gunn" - 5:39
- "Revelation #9" - 12:57