MADONNA WAYNE GACY

Basic Information:

Born: Stephen Biers Jnr
Instrument (s): Keyboards, percussion
D.O.B: March 6th, 1964
Birth Place: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Name Origin: Madonna + John Wayne Gacy (The Pogo nickname also stems from serial killer John Wayne Gacy)

 

 

EARLY YEARS

Stephen Biers Jnr was born on 6 March 1964 in Fort Lauderdale Florida. He is the oldest member of the band, having in 2007 celebrated his 43st birthday. However with Biers, you can not judge him by his age. Aside from Manson, Biers is probably seen as the most insane member of the group.

Biers was born to a Jewish father and Catholic mother – although his on stage imagery has been often times misjudged as Neo Nazi – something that Biers vehemently denies, and despite protests from protestors and denouncing groups and politicians, there is no evidence to this outlandish accusation. "People look at me and say ‘He’s got a bald head, he’s a Nazi. I saw it on Oprah, I know.’" (SECONDS 1994)

At an early age Biers was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), a ‘disease’ that makes him more hyperactive. As a child his parents had treated the disorder in their son with Ritalin, a drug commonly prescribed. On first meeting Biers, Manson pointed out "he often turned into a babbling blur that was dizzying to watch". (LHROOH)

THE MANSON YEARS

Biers was not in the first incarnation of Marilyn Manson and the Spookykids, although he is still considered to be one of the founding members; certainly he was involved in the initial talks about setting up such a band, and besides from Manson is the longest standing member of the group. That role was originally filled by Zsa Zsa Speck (Perry Pandora).

The reason why Biers didn’t end up in the band first off was although he and Manson were on the same wavelength with the ideologies of the band and it’s message, he wasn’t able to play an instrument. Or as Manson put it in his biography; "I was hoping he played an instrument since he seemed to know everything there was to know about all things electrical, mechanical, and pharmaceutical. So I asked. The answer came in the form of a long-winded monologue about how his brother was a jazz musician and played a variety of reed, keyboard and percussion instruments. Eventually, he confessed, ‘I can play drums – heh, heh, heh, drums, heh, heh – sort of – heh, heh, sort of, heh.’" (LHROOH)

But at that time Manson was adamant that the band would not have a live drummer, but a drum machine. So he advised Bier’s to "buy a keyboard".

Despite the fact that Bier’s was unable to contribute musically to the band in the initial birth stages, he did appear on stage, writhing around and playing with toy soldiers.

Soon things changed with a few band member changes, some necessary, some desired to add to the flow of the band, and Biers joined as keyboardist, although he was an amateur on the ivory keys yet over the years his unique array of sounds, loops and musical twinklings have defined the sound of Marilyn Manson.

On joining the band he was bestowed with the new moniker, Madonna Wayne Gacy. Surprisingly the material girl objected to the use of her name, although this protest was quickly dropped when it was noted that the Virgin Mary had the name way before she had. ‘Wayne Gacy’ came from serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who in the late 70’s had been convicted of the murder and concealment of 33 young boys. He was later executed in the late 1990’s. John Wayne Gacy also lent Biers another nickname – Pogo. John Wayne Gacy despite being a depraved sexual deviant and murderer had been a pillar of the community and had performed at children’s hospitals and parties as "Pogo the Clown". Manson felt that the moniker Madonna Wayne Gacy didn’t really befit Bier’s personality and so instead the name Pogo stuck.

And as they say, the rest is history. Pogo has been an important member of the band. Many realise that without his sounds the band would sound like every other rock group out there. He has given the band the darker side of it’s music and has contributed to a number of b side mixes of the band’s music, many of which, if you look hard enough, can be found floating on the web.

Pogo is still seen as the madman of the band. On the Gun’s God and Government documentary; The Death Parade, Pogo is seen berated by Manson for eating food littered with broken glass from one or other of the band member’s readjusting of hotel/venue furniture. On told he is nuts for eating broken glass, Pogo replies "Apparently so."

Not much outside of the band is really known about Pogo. He doesn’t like the internet much and has strong viewpoints against bootlegging concerts.

Despite majoring as a computer engineer he never has any plans for a nine-to-five desk job, liking instead a job that allows him to look and be as mad as he is on and off stage.

Pogo also has no clear defined religious beliefs, however he has a strong interest in Kaballah, the mystical sideline of Judaism. He has also studied philosophers such as Neitzche and shown an interest in Numerology. This is most evident in Mechanical Animals.

He cites favourite bands, including Black Sabbath, Butthole Surfers and surprisingly old Bee Gee tracks. He also enjoys films such as Brazil and Mel Brooks The Producers.

On his role in Marilyn Manson he says: "I’m not about musicians. I hate musicians. I’m all about entertaining, you know. That’s why I have more in common with a stripper than fucking Billy Joel." (GASTON GAZETTE 1995)

BITTER PILLS

Biers relationship with Manson seems to have taken a severe turn for the worse when it was announced in the summer of 2007 that he had left the band and was suing Manson for monies owed. Court hearings are set for late October/November.