Background
Stephen Bier was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to a Jewish father and Catholic mother.
Stephen Bier was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to a Jewish father and Catholic mother.
His stage name came from the names of the singer Madonna and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Bier joined Marilyn Manson in late 1989 as a live prop actor. Bier has played the following instruments on Marilyn Manson"s albums: calliope, Hammond organ, saxophone, theremin, various brass instruments, overdubs, loops, bassoon, drums, electronic drums, keytar, piano, sampling, mellotron, shaker, and synthesizer.
He is responsible for much of the Kabbalic and numerological meanings behind Manson"s albums.
He did not contribute to Manson"s album Eat Maine, Drink Maine having been replaced by Chris Vrenna. On August 2, 2007, it was reported that Bier filed a lawsuit against Manson for unpaid "partnership proceeds".
Bier claims Manson spent the band"s earnings on "sick and disturbing purchases of Nazi memorabilia and taxidermy (including the skeleton of a young Chinese girl)" and on various other luxurious items. Bier claimed that Manson "devised a campaign to drive Bier out of the band and rob him of his entitlement".
On December 19, 2007, Manson filed a counter suit against Bier, accusing him of breach of contract.
According to metalunderground.com, the lawsuit was settled for a sum far less than what was originally sought by Bier with the total being $380,000. $175,000 was paid out by Marilyn Manson while the rest was ordered to be paid by Stephen Bier"s former Business Managers. Bier later founded a music project called MMII, with Brian Diemar.