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Stephen Gregory Bier, Jr.
Madonna Wayne Gacy performing live in 1995
Background information
Birth name	Stephen Bier
Also known as	Madonna Wayne Gacy Pogo
Born	March 6, 1964 (1964-03-06) (age 46) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Alternative metal Industrial rock
Occupations	Keyboardist
Instruments	Synthesizer Electronic drums Keytar Piano Electronic organ
Years active	1989 - 2008
Labels	nothing Interscope
Associated acts	Marilyn Manson Mrs. Scabtree

Stephen Gregory Bier Jr., formerly known by his stage name Madonna Wayne Gacy (born March 6, 1964, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) was the former keyboard player for Marilyn Manson. His stage name came from the names of the singer Madonna and the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. He has also been referred to as Pogo (John Wayne Gacy's clown name).

Career

Stephen Bier has played the following instruments or sound-shaping techniques on Marilyn Manson's albums: calliope, Hammond organ, saxophone, theremin, various brass instruments, overdubs, loops, bassoon, drums, electronic drums, piano, sampling, mellotron, shaker, and synthesizer. He is responsible for much of the Kabbalic and numerological meanings behind Manson's albums.^[1]

Bier did not contribute to Marilyn Manson's album Eat Me, Drink Me and shortly before its release was said to have left the band and returned to his home in Florida to focus on his photography with rumours briefly floating around that he had left the band and returned home due to what was later known to be a major family crisis. Manson has stated in interviews that Bier is now a photographer. Chris Vrenna has been confirmed as his replacement.

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".^[2] On December 19, 2007, Manson filed a counter suit against Bier, accusing him of breach of contract.^[3]

Discography

• Portrait of an American Family (Marilyn Manson, 1994)
• The Heart's Filthy Lesson single (US) (David Bowie, 1995) (uncredited)
• Smells Like Children (Marilyn Manson, 1995)
• Antichrist Superstar (Marilyn Manson, 1996)
• Remix & Repent (Marilyn Manson, 1997)
• Lost Highway Soundtrack - Apple of Sodom (uncredited, 1997)
• Mechanical Animals (Marilyn Manson, 1998)
• Dead Man on Campus Soundtrack (Marilyn Manson's cover of David Bowie's "Golden Years", 1999)
• Detroit Rock City (Marilyn Manson's cover of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell", 1999)
• The Last Tour On Earth (Marilyn Manson, 1999)
• Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (Marilyn Manson, 2000)
• Guns, God and Government (Marilyn Manson, 2000)
• The Golden Age of Grotesque (Marilyn Manson, 2003)
• Lest We Forget: The Best of Marilyn Manson (Marilyn Manson, 2004)
• Lost & Found (Marilyn Manson, 2008)

References

External links