# Guns, God and Government Tour

Guns, God and Government was a worldwide arena tour by American rock band Marilyn Manson. It was the eighth tour the band embarked upon and the fourth to span over multiple legs. It was launched 17 days ahead in support of their fourth full-length studio album, Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death), which was released on November 14, 2000, in the US and Australia. Beginning on October 27, 2000, and lasting until September 2, 2001, the tour included six legs spanning Eurasia, Japan and North America with a total of 107 completed shows out of 109 planned.
The show began in Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre. The shows drew numerous protesters and resistance from civic and church leaders as well as other elements of local communities. The contentious Denver show, during the Ozzfest leg of the Guns, God and Government Tour, was also featured during Marilyn Manson's interview in Michael Moore's 2002 documentary film Bowling for Columbine.

## Performance and show themes

Typical of the band, the concerts were extremely theatrical. An average show lasted for 1 hour and 40 minutes and the sets were designed with Cold War, religious and "Celebritarian" imagery in mind.
Manson has several costume changes throughout the sets ranging from a Bishop's dalmatic and mitre (often confused for Papal regalia), a costume made from taxidermied animal anatomies (i.e. an epaulette made from a horse's tail, a shirt made from skinned goat heads and ostrich spines), an elaborate Roman legionary-style Imperial galea, an Allgemeine SS-style peaked police cap, his signature black leather corset, g-string and garter stocking ensemble, a black-and-white fur coat and a giant rising conical skirt that lifts the singer 12 meters (40 feet) into the air.
When being introduced, Manson was pulled onstage on a steampunk variation of a Roman chariot by two naked girls, in a bigae formation, wearing stylized Roman horse masks. After dismounting from the chariot wearing a skirted version of his signature black leather bondage ensemble, replete with the Imperial gallic, a burst of heavy fireworks would signal the beginning of the first song.
During performances of "The Love Song", Manson would wear the Bishop's outfit, which would then be discarded to reveal his signature black leather bondage ensemble. During performances of "Valentine's Day", Manson would perform, wearing the same Bishop's attire, kneeled behind a prayer kneeler that is bookended with two severed heads bearing his own likeness.
During some shows, there would be two dancers onstage. The rostrum that was used in previous tours during performances of "Antichrist Superstar" also returned, this time sporting a new design of a crucifix made of guns, instead of the lightning bolt symbol previously used. During the February 24, 2001 show in Moscow, Russia, two Russian military guards were asked to stand on each side of the podium as Manson sang "The Love Song", replete with his Allgemeine SS-style peaked police cap.
In performances of "Cruci-Fiction in Space", Manson would be lifted 12 meters (40 feet) into the air on a platform hidden by the giant conical skirt, much like in the "Disposable Teens" video. Images would often be displayed in the stage backdrop, including a parody of the Hollywood Sign rewritten as "Holy Wood", the cover for the "Disposable Teens" single, and a scorched American flag.

## Incidents

The inaugural North American leg of the Guns, God and Government Tour suffered two separate cancellations. On November 25, 2000, during the band's performance at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish suffered a broken collarbone after falling from his drum riser during the band's stage-trashing finale. The drummer was escorted to hospital by the band's manager where he was treated and released. According to an Interscope spokesperson, the band is not expected to miss any dates due to the injury and that Fish will play with his injured arm in a sling. However, on December 5, 2000, the band cancelled their scheduled performance, at the Toledo Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio, ten minutes before the doors opened due to Fish reaggravating his injured collarbone.
The band was also forced to cancel their scheduled performance at the Omaha Civic Auditorium on December 12, 2000, after a storm inundated Peoria, Illinois, where the band performed on December 11, 2000, at the Peoria Civic Center, with 9 inches (23 cm) of snow and blizzard-condition winds, preventing the band from being able to travel.

### Protests and controversy

On November 19, 2000, Christian activists unsuccessfully attempted to have the band's performance at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York cancelled. Thus, the show was attended by demonstrators who harassed concert-goers waiting in line by shouting and chanting "Why do you follow the devil?" The city was forced to send a number of policemen, some on horseback, to monitor the situation. Clips from the show were made available on the band's official website (though it is no longer present).
Marilyn Manson's performance in Denver, Colorado on June 22, 2001, at the Mile High Stadium also drew attention from the national news media. The event was part of their commitments with the heavy metal festival tour Ozzfest and marked the band's first performance in the state since the Columbine High School massacre in nearby Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. The band was initially blamed for inciting shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold into killing their classmates, though these reports would later be proven to be false. The band initially pulled out due to scheduling conflicts, however, the group later altered their plans in order to accommodate the Denver date. The band met heavy resistance from conservative groups and the performer received numerous death threats and calls to skip the date. A group of church leaders and families related to the Columbine tragedy formed an organization specifically to oppose their show called 'Citizens for Peace and Respect', which drew the support of Colorado governor Bill Owens (R-Colo) and representative Tom Tancredo (R-Colo). The group held a rally outside the Mile High Stadium where organizer, youth pastor Jason Janz, delivered a speech stating, "If Marilyn Manson can walk into our town, promote hate, violence, suicide, death, drug use and Columbine-like behavior, I can say, 'Not without a fight you can't.'" Janz further said, "We don't think Manson caused Columbine, but he encourages and legitimizes Columbine-like behavior." Marilyn Manson responded to the assertions of 'Citizens for Peace and Respect' by issuing a statement saying,
   I am truly amazed that after all this time, religious groups still need to attack entertainment and use these tragedies as a pitiful excuse for their own self-serving publicity. In response to their protests, I will provide a show where I balance my songs with a wholesome Bible reading. This way, fans will not only hear my so-called, 'violent' point of view, but we can also examine the virtues of wonderful 'Christian' stories of disease, murder, adultery, suicide and child sacrifice. Now that seems like 'entertainment' to me.
A group of Marilyn Manson supporters also responded to 'Citizens for Peace and Respect' by forming an organization called 'Citizens for the Protection of the Right to Free Speech'. The group held a rally in front of the Colorado State Capitol where organizer Carrieanne Andrews, a mother of three, stated that "We just wanted to show that Jason Janz does not speak for our entire community" and that they resented "being told how to be good parents." The Denver show would later provide the backdrop for Manson's landmark interview on America's climate of fear and culture of gun violence in Michael Moore's 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine. When Moore asked what he would have said if he had the opportunity to speak to the students at Columbine, he replied, "I wouldn't say a single word. I would listen to what they have to say and that's what no one did."
Another incident took place leading up to The Gig On The Green festival on August 25, 2001, in Glasgow, Scotland. Members of the Glasgow community were calling for Marilyn Manson's performance at the festival to be boycotted. Beth Nimmo, the mother of the Columbine killer's first victim, Rachel Scott, joined in the protests and told Scottish tabloid newspaper Daily Record on August 8, 2001, "I don't doubt that his kind of music definitely affects young people and can desensitize them. People need to be strong enough not to listen to it. There is nothing entertaining about real violence. It has real consequences and brings nothing but destruction and pain." In a separate incident, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal group protested in early August 2001 at the Glasgow city centre, where the Glasgow City Council were deciding on the final licensing application for Gig On The Green. This was due to the inclusion of both Eminem and Marilyn Manson on the bill. Both attempts failed.

### Lawsuits

In a civil battery suit, David Diaz, a security officer from a concert in Minneapolis, on October 27, 2000, sued for $75,000 in a Minneapolis federal court. The federal court jury found in Manson's favor.
In a civil suit presented by Oakland County, Michigan, Manson was charged with sexual misconduct against another security officer, Joshua Keasler, during a concert in Clarkston, Michigan, on July 30, 2001. Oakland County originally filed assault and battery and criminal sexual misconduct charges, but the judge reduced the latter charge to misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Manson pleaded no contest to the reduced charges, paid a $4,000 fine, and later settled the lawsuit under undisclosed terms.

### Arrests

On February 5, 2001, Marilyn Manson was arrested by the Italian police following the band's performance at the Palaghiaccio in Marino, Italy in relation to the controversy surrounding the Milan court case of the stabbing death of a nun by two girls. Following a police raid on the home of the two suspects, Italian police uncovered images of crucifixes, pentagrams and Marilyn Manson lyrics. The band leader, however, was let go due to a lack of evidence that the perpetrators were inspired by the group's music to carry out their actions.
The next day, Manson was arrested again following the group's show at the Palamalaguti in Bologna, Italy. This time, the singer was charged with public indecency relating to the group's June 20, 1999 performance at the Heineken Jammin' Festival in Imola, Italy during their Rock Is Dead Tour two years prior.

## Setlist

Though minor changes were made to the setlist throughout the tour, these were the typical setlists for headline shows and festivals (where the band had less time to play) respectively.
Count to Six and Die (Intro)
* "Irresponsible Hate Anthem"
* "The Death Song"
* "Disposable Teens"
* "Great Big White World"
* "Tourniquet"
* "The Fight Song"
* "The Nobodies"
* "My Monkey"
* "Lunchbox"
* "Rock is Dead"
* "The Dope Show"
* "Cruci-Fiction in Space"
* "Burning Flag"
* "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
* "Valentine's Day"
* "The Love Song"
* "The Beautiful People"
* "1996"
God Bless America (Intro)
* "Irresponsible Hate Anthem"
* "The Reflecting God"
* "Disposable Teens"
* "The Fight Song"
* "The Nobodies"
* "Rock is Dead"
* "The Dope Show"
* "Cruci-Fiction in Space"
* "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
* "The Love Song"
* "Rock n Roll Nigger"
* "Antichrist Superstar"
* "The Beautiful People"

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Los Angeles Times | |
UK magazine Kerrang! praised "[the Guns, God and Government Tour,] honed by the best part of four months playing the enormodromes of America, is the greatest spectacle this side of a New Year's fireworks display [...] this is rock n' roll reinvented as grand theatre." Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times, however, found himself unimpressed with the "tired sound and cheap theatrics" of this tour, commenting, "Manson can go on teasing his fan base with his Grand Guignol circus show, but it's hard to imagine in the age of Eminem and other hard-core rappers that he is still even in the Top 10 on parents' most-feared list. That makes him seem severely dated—and he doesn't do much to correct the impression. For someone with the ambition and possibly the talent to be the new David Bowie, Manson appears resolved to settling for the new Alice Cooper. Manson is a smart, articulate, likable guy. He's too talented to be wasting his time chasing the ghost of Alice Cooper."

## Broadcasts & Recordings

Two concert films depicting the worldwide tour were recorded. The Guns, God and Government DVD was released on October 29, 2002, by Eagle Rock Entertainment and features live concert footage culled from performances in Los Angeles, Europe, Russia and Japan. It also includes a 30-minute behind-the-scenes featurette titled The Death Parade with guest appearances from Ozzy Osbourne and Eminem. Seven years later it was followed by Guns, God and Government – Live in L.A. Released in Blu-ray format by Eagle Rock Entertainment division Eagle Records on November 17, 2009, it depicts the sixteen song set of the Los Angeles, but does not include 'The Death Song'.

## Tour dates

List of concerts, showing date, city, country, and venue :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) | Attendance | Revenue |
| North America |||||||
| October 27, 2000 | Minneapolis | United States | Orpheum Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| October 28, 2000 | Milwaukee | United States | Eagles Ballroom | n/a | — | — |
| October 30, 2000 | St. Louis | United States | Fox Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| October 31, 2000 | Kansas City | United States | Kansas International Raceway | n/a | — | — |
| November 2, 2000 | Tulsa | United States | Brady Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| November 3, 2000 | Houston | United States | Aerial Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| November 4, 2000 | New Orleans | United States | State Palace Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| November 6, 2000 | Charlotte | United States | Independence Arena | n/a | — | — |
| November 7, 2000 | Atlanta | United States | Tabernacle | n/a | — | — |
| November 9, 2000 | Orlando | United States | Hard Rock Live | n/a | — | — |
| November 10, 2000 | Tampa | United States | USF Sundome | n/a | — | — |
| November 11, 2000 | Sunrise | United States | Sunrise Musical Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| November 13, 2000 | Greensboro | United States | War Memorial Auditorium | n/a | — | — |
| November 15, 2000 | Philadelphia | United States | Electric Factory Ballroom | n/a | — | — |
| November 16, 2000 | Philadelphia | United States | Electric Factory Ballroom | n/a | — | — |
| November 18, 2000 | Toronto | Canada | Massey Hall | n/a | — | — |
| November 19, 2000 | Rochester | United States | Blue Cross Arena | n/a | — | — |
| November 21, 2000 | Fairfax | United States | Patriot Center | n/a | — | — |
| November 22, 2000 | Lowell | United States | Tsongas Arena | n/a | — | — |
| November 24, 2000 | New York City | United States | Hammerstein Ballroom | n/a | — | — |
| November 25, 2000 | New York City | United States | Hammerstein Ballroom | n/a | — | — |
| November 28, 2000 | Detroit | United States | State Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| November 29, 2000 | Detroit | United States | Cobo Arena | n/a | — | — |
| December 1, 2000 | Madison | United States | Dane County Expo | n/a | — | — |
| December 2, 2000 | Chicago | United States | UIC Pavilion | n/a | — | — |
| December 4, 2000 | Indianapolis | United States | Murat Center | n/a | — | — |
| December 5, 2000 | Toledo | United States | Toledo Sports Arena (Cancelled) | n/a | — | — |
| December 7, 2000 | Columbus | United States | Veterans Memorial Auditorium | n/a | — | — |
| December 8, 2000 | Cleveland | United States | CSU Convocation Center | n/a | — | — |
| December 9, 2000 | Pittsburgh | United States | Mellon Arena | n/a | — | — |
| December 11, 2000 | Peoria | United States | Peoria Civic Center | n/a | — | — |
| December 12, 2000 | Omaha | United States | Omaha Civic Auditorium (Cancelled) | n/a | — | — |
| December 13, 2000 | Valley Center | United States | Kansas Coliseum | n/a | — | — |
| December 15, 2000 | San Antonio | United States | Freeman Coliseum | n/a | — | — |
| December 16, 2000 | Dallas | United States | Bronco Bowl | n/a | — | — |
| January 3, 2001 | Vancouver | Canada | Queen Elizabeth Theatre | n/a | — | — |
| January 5, 2001 | Portland | United States | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | n/a | — | — |
| January 6, 2001 | Seattle | United States | Mercer Arena | n/a | — | — |
| January 10, 2001 | San Jose | United States | Event Center Arena | n/a | — | — |
| January 11, 2001 | Santa Barbara | United States | Arlington Theater | n/a | — | — |
| January 13, 2001 | Los Angeles | United States | Universal Amphitheatre | n/a | — | — |
| Europe (Spring) |||||||
| January 21, 2001 | Birmingham | England | National Exhibition Centre | n/a | — | — |
| January 22, 2001 | Manchester | England | Evening News Arena | n/a | — | — |
| January 24, 2001 | London | England | Docklands Arena | n/a | — | — |
| January 25, 2001 | Paris | France | Zénith de Paris | n/a | — | — |
| January 27, 2001 | Bilbao | Spain | Pabellón de La Casilla | n/a | — | — |
| January 28, 2001 | Barcelona | Spain | Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron | n/a | — | — |
| January 31, 2001 | Hamburg | Germany | Alsterdorfer Sporthalle | n/a | — | — |
| February 1, 2001 | Cologne | Germany | Palladium | n/a | — | — |
| February 3, 2001 | Milan | Italy | Fila Forum | n/a | — | — |
| February 5, 2001 | Marino | Italy | Palaghiaccio di Marino | n/a | — | — |
| February 6, 2001 | Bologna | Italy | PalaMalaguti | n/a | — | — |
| February 8, 2001 | Zürich | Switzerland | Hallenstadion | n/a | — | — |
| February 10, 2001 | Vienna | Austria | Libro Music Hall | n/a | — | — |
| February 11, 2001 | Prague | Czech Republic | Paegas Arena | n/a | — | — |
| February 13, 2001 | Warsaw | Poland | Torwar Hall | n/a | — | — |
| February 15, 2001 | Berlin | Germany | Velodrom | n/a | — | — |
| February 16, 2001 | Copenhagen | Denmark | Forum Copenhagen | n/a | — | — |
| February 17, 2001 | Oslo | Norway | Oslo Spektrum | n/a | — | — |
| February 19, 2001 | Stockholm | Sweden | Ice Stadium | n/a | — | — |
| February 21, 2001 | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki Ice Hall | n/a | — | — |
| February 24, 2001 | Moscow | Russia | Olympic Stadium (Rescheduled from February 23, 2001) | n/a | — | — |
| Asia (Spring) |||||||
| March 11, 2001 | Tokyo | Japan | Tokyo International Forum | n/a | — | — |
| March 13, 2001 | Osaka | Japan | Osaka Castle Hall | n/a | — | — |
| March 14, 2001 | Nagoya | Japan | Nagoya Century Hall | n/a | — | — |
| March 15, 2001 | Fukuoka | Japan | Fukuoka Sun Place | n/a | — | — |
| March 17, 2001 | Hiroshima | Japan | Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall | n/a | — | — |
| March 19, 2001 | Tokyo | Japan | NK Hall | n/a | — | — |
| March 20, 2001 | Tokyo | Japan | NK Hall | n/a | — | — |
| March 22, 2001 | Nagoya | Japan | Nagoya Century Hall | n/a | — | — |
| Ozzfest |||||||
| June 8, 2001 | Tinley Park | United States | New World Music Theatre | none | — | — |
| June 9, 2001 | East Troy | United States | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | none | — | — |
| June 12, 2001 | Noblesville | United States | Verizon Wireless Music Center | none | — | — |
| June 13, 2001 | Noblesville | United States | Verizon Wireless Music Center | none | — | — |
| June 18, 2001 | Maryland Heights | United States | Riverport Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| June 19, 2001 | Bonner Springs | United States | Sandstone Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| June 22, 2001 | Denver | United States | Mile High Stadium | none | — | — |
| June 25, 2001 | George | United States | The Gorge Amphitheatre | none | — | — |
| June 27, 2001 | Wheatland | United States | Sacramento Valley Amphitheatre | none | — | — |
| June 30, 2001 | Devore | United States | G.H. Blockbuster Pavilion | none | — | — |
| July 3, 2001 | Selma | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| July 5, 2001 | Dallas | United States | Smirnoff Music Center | none | — | — |
| July 7, 2001 | Atlanta | United States | HiFi Buys Amphitheatre | none | — | — |
| July 13, 2001 | West Palm Beach | United States | Mars Music Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| July 14, 2001 | St. Petersburg | United States | Tropicana Field | none | — | — |
| July 17, 2001 | Charlotte | United States | Verizon Wireless Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| July 20, 2001 | Bristow | United States | Nissan Pavilion | none | — | — |
| July 21, 2001 | Camden | United States | Blockbuster Sony-E Center | none | — | — |
| July 24, 2001 | Toronto | Canada | The Docks | none | — | — |
| July 26, 2001 | Cuyahoga Falls | United States | Blossom Music Center | none | — | — |
| July 28, 2001 | Burgettstown | United States | Post-Gazette Pavilion | none | — | — |
| July 30, 2001 | Clarkston | United States | DTE Energy Music Theatre | none | — | — |
| July 31, 2001 | Clarkston | United States | DTE Energy Music Theatre | none | — | — |
| August 3, 2001 | Columbus | United States | Polaris Amphitheater | none | — | — |
| August 5, 2001 | Hartford | United States | Meadows Music Theatre | none | — | — |
| August 7, 2001 | Mansfield | United States | Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts | none | — | — |
| August 8, 2001 | Mansfield | United States | Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts | none | — | — |
| August 11, 2001 | Holmdel Township | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center | none | — | — |
| August 12, 2001 | Holmdel Township | United States | PNC Bank Arts Center | none | — | — |
| Asia (Autumn) |||||||
| August 18, 2001 | Osaka | Japan | Summer Sonic Festival | n/a | — | — |
| August 19, 2001 | Tokyo | Japan | Summer Sonic Festival | n/a | — | — |
| Europe (Autumn) |||||||
| August 22, 2001 | Porto | Portugal | Ilha do Ermal Festival | n/a | — | — |
| August 24, 2001 | Leeds | England | Carling Weekender | n/a | — | — |
| August 25, 2001 | Glasgow | Scotland | The Gig on the Green | n/a | — | — |
| August 26, 2001 | Reading | England | Reading Festival | n/a | — | — |
| August 29, 2001 | Ljubljana | Slovenia | Rock Festival | n/a | — | — |
| August 30, 2001 | Vienna | Austria | 2 Days a Week | n/a | — | — |
| September 1, 2001 | Konstanz | Germany | Rock am See | n/a | — | — |
| September 2, 2001 | Hildesheim | Germany | M'era Luna Festival | n/a | — | — |