BRIGHTEST YOUNG THINGS 10.31.12

Haunting Memories: Twiggy Ramirez
by Jeff

We snuck into Marilyn Manson's dressing room at Hammerstein Ballroom to ask him about ghouls and ghosts, but wouldn't you know it, he was nowhere to be found. However, we cornered Manson guitarist Twiggy Ramirez and peppered him with questions about his paranormal experiences, Halloween costumes and what his favored horror flick is. We can't think of anyone more qualified to be answering these questions.

BYT: Let me ask you something real quick. Have you ever seen a ghost?

Twiggy Ramirez: (closes eyes and thinks for a while) I'm too awkward. I'm trying to come up with a good story.

BYT: Have you not? Have you really seen one?

TR: I've been in the presence of a ghost, but I've never actually seen a ghost. I don't know if I actually believe in ghosts, to be honest with you. I don't think they exist, but I think they have more to do with energy. People say if someone died in a place it would be haunted, well people have died everywhere, so the whole entire world is haunted. So I think ghosts would be some energy that hasn't found a home yet. I don't think they have any personal attachment to what is happening here. I've definitely been in a place where I've felt some energy that someone was watching me.

TR: Also, when we were recording Holy Wood in a 'so-called haunted house', Ginger Fish, our drummer at the time, claimed to hear pianos being played. There was a certain bathroom I used to go to near the attic that I always felt like there was a presence inside.

BYT: Good or bad?

TR: Not bad, just there. I felt it. It could've been the drugs, though. It could've been the paranoia from all the drugs.

BYT: The paranormal paranoia! So what did you do?

TR: I just went about my business. There was one time there was a ghost in my house, now that you mention it. My bathtub turned on by itself.

BYT: What did you do?

TR: I turned it off.

BYT: You're the most logical ghost hunter ever.

TR: It's not something that could have happened on accident, it would take force to move it. And it turned on again and I turned it off, and I was kind of freaked out. I'm like 'nah, there's no ghost...Well, if there's a ghost in here give me a sign'. And then the lights flickered. But it turns out there was just a short in my light and they flicker all the time when I put one of the switches on.

BYT: There's no short in your bathtub, though.

TR: No, there's no short in my bathtub.

BYT: Okay one more. Halloween, best costume as a kid?

TR: I think one year I was C-3P0, and my mom had wrapped me up in aluminum foil, and some other kid showed up at my Halloween party with the same exact costume. And I got really emotional and cried. I went in the other room and put on a Darth Vader mask and cape. And there are pictures of me like “aaah” devastated.

BYT: That's weird that you say that. That happened to me. I was Michael Jackson, and this other kid was Michael Jackson, and he had a better Michael Jackson glove. And I threw a fit until that kid gave me his Michael Jackson glove and I gave him mine. My mom had sewn some crappy sequins on mine (sorry mom). And I think my mom thought that I wasn't a good son from that point on. I like threw a fit, literally screaming on the ground. I am mortified about that to this day. Anyways, what's your best adult costume?

TR: I was Harry Caray for Halloween one year.

BYT: "Cubs win!"

TR: I was Will Ferrell's version of Harry Caray.

BYT: Did everybody know who you were?

TR: No, not unless I talked, because I had the skit down. It was literally so long ago I don't even remember Will Ferrell's voice. “I'd like to put a sandwich in my ass”. Will Ferrell would do this thing where he'd say these nonsensical things. I was with James Iha from Smashing Pumpkins, and he was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

BYT: Scary. What are you going to be this year?

TR: Probably myself, because I'm playing a show that night.

BYT: You guys don't dress up? You should all dress up as businessmen. Favorite horror movie, and then that's it.

TR: Original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That's a popular answer but it's fuckin' scary.