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Gidget Gein

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Gidget Gein
Background information
Birth nameBradley Mark Stewart
Born(1969-09-11)September 11, 1969
Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
DiedOctober 8, 2008(2008-10-08) (aged 39)
Burbank, California, U.S.
GenresAlternative metal
Occupation(s)Musician, artist
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, guitar
Years active1990–2008
LabelsNothing, Interscope
Websitehttp://www.gidgetgein.com/

Bradley Mark "Brad" Stewart (September 11, 1969 – October 8, 2008), known by his stage name Gidget Gein, was an American musician and artist. He was the second bassist and co-founder of the alternative metal band Marilyn Manson. His stage name references and dichotomies serial killer Ed Gein and the fictional 1960s surfer girl Gidget.[1]

Early life

Gein was born in Hollywood, Florida, to a Roman Catholic school teacher mother and police officer father.

Career

Stewart joined the band, Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids, in 1990.[2] The band eventually gained the attention of Trent Reznor who signed them to his label Nothing Records.[3] As the band became more famous after dropping the "Spooky Kids" title in 1992, Gein's personality was becoming more chaotic through extensive drug use and other various acts of debauchery. In October 1993, Reznor agreed to rework the production on Marilyn Manson's album, taking them and their tapes to The Record Plant in Los Angeles. On Christmas Eve of 1993, Gein was hospitalized after overdosing on heroin. While still hospitalized, he received a message from Marilyn Manson's lawyer via FedEx that he was fired due to his drug use.[2] Gein was replaced by Jeordie White, known as Twiggy Ramirez.[4]

After being fired from Marilyn Manson, Gein moved to New York in 1999. He formed a group called Gidget Gein and the Dali Gaggers with vocalist Anthony Taboada, a.k.a. Alistarr Liddell, and guitarist Al B. Romano which featured various displays of degenerate art, ideas, and post-punk styled songwriting. Before the release of the Dali Gaggers only album, Confessions of a Spooky Kid, Gein relapsed and began shooting heroin. He headed back to Florida in order to kick his drug addiction for good.

Once back in Florida, Gein began work for the south Florida medical examiner as a "bag boy", spending years retrieving and cleaning up after the deceased. His experiences at the medical examiner's office have been documented in various international magazines and spurred early production of a motion picture based on this period of his life.[4] Over time his arsenal of art and ideas began to outweigh his position as a bag boy, and Gidget found a friendship with the freshly announced UNPOP art movement and, surprisingly, a collaboration with Marilyn Manson and Asia Argento in a music video for the song "(s)AINT",[2] which was later banned by Manson's record label Interscope Records.

Gein returned to Los Angeles in 2004 where he continued to execute art and fashion shows under the organized name GOLLYWOOD.

Death

On October 8, 2008, Stewart died of a heroin overdose at his home in Burbank, California.[1][5] His body was discovered on October 9. Shortly before his death, Gein had completed another stint in rehab and was reportedly recording an album with record producer Dave Jerden. He had been contracted to publish his art in a show scheduled for February 2009.[1][4]

Aftermath

On December 8, 2008, a memorial benefit for Gein was held at the Dragonfly in Los Angeles. It featured Gein's art and an array of friends and fans performing in his honor. The guest list included Ego Plum, Kim Fowley, ex Courtney Love (a band, not to be confused with former wife of Kurt Cobain) guitarist Lisa Leveridge, Jessicka, Allen Wrench, Lenora Claire, Courtney Cruz, Ramzi Abed, Brian Clark (co-founder of the UnPop art movement to which Gein belonged), Bill Shafer of Hyaena Gallery (his art representative), Damian Crowley, Giddle Partridge, Hollie Stevens, and drag queens Squeaky Blonde and Fade-Dra.[5] Funds raised from the gathering were used to purchase a memorial plaque in Gein's honor that was placed at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Gein's mother retains possession of his cremains in Florida.[6]

A commemorative tribute was filmed on October 9, 2010 at the horror convention 'Spooky Empire', based in Orlando, Florida. Participants included Al B. Romano, Billy Baker, Parris Mayhew, Mike Merryfield, CC Manded and Petey Mongelli. The 9-part compendium was filmed by the Film Director/Artist/Musician Cynosure and is respectively owned by Cynosure Enterprises. The film closes with Gein's memorial plaque, embellished with the slogan, 'Luv is GG'.

In January 2016 it was revealed via Facebook that Gein's band Dali Gaggers was reforming in North Carolina by some fans with the intent to carry on the Gein legacy by playing his songs as well as writing new songs in similar fashion. The followup to Gein's "Just Ad Nauseam"/"Confessions of a Spooky Kid" album entitled "Abraxas" is set to be released sometime in late 2016.

Discography

With Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids

With Marilyn Manson

With the Dali Gaggers

Confessions of a Spooky Kids (1999)

Solo

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999 God Is in the T.V. Himself Direct-to-video release
2000 Demystifying the Devil: Biography Marilyn Manson Himself
2006 The Three Trials Diner
2007 The Devil's Muse (2007) Detective Jeffrey Mourir
2008 In a Spiral State Avi

References

  1. ^ a b c Kaufman, Gil (October 13, 2008). "Former Marilyn Manson Bassist Gidget Gein Dead at 39 Gein (born Bradley Stewart) performed on band's 1994 debut LP, Portrait of an American Family". mtv.com.
  2. ^ a b c MacDonald, Les. The Day the Music Died. Xlibris Corporation. p. 380. ISBN 1-453-52267-0.
  3. ^ Edmondson, Jacqueline, ed. (2013). Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture. ABC-CLIO. p. 683. ISBN 0-313-39348-6.
  4. ^ a b c Lecaro, Lina (October 10, 2008). "RIP GIDGET GEIN- Local artist & former Marilyn Manson bassist found dead". laweekly.com.
  5. ^ a b Lecaro, Lina (December 10, 2008). "Nightranger Attends the Gidget Gein Memorial". laweekly.com.
  6. ^ Lecaro, Lina (September 30, 2011). "Happy Johnny Ramone Weekend! The Top Five Musicians Buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (At Least in Spirit)". laweekly.com.
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