Rock and roll usually plays it safe these days. Most bands are terrified of their own shadows, let alone a PR nightmare. Then you have Marilyn Manson and Ronnie Radke.
When the news broke that these two were teaming up for a track titled "God Is a Weapon," the internet didn't just talk. It screamed. People were genuinely livid. Others were ecstatic. There was basically no middle ground. Honestly, that's exactly how both of these guys like it. Radke, the polarizing frontman of Falling In Reverse, has spent years turning "getting canceled" into a profitable business model. Manson, meanwhile, is attempting a massive career resurrection after years of legal battles and being a total pariah in the industry.
The Collab Nobody (and Everybody) Expected
Let’s be real. In the current climate, most mainstream artists wouldn't touch Marilyn Manson with a ten-foot pole. He was the boogeyman of the 90s, and after the allegations from Evan Rachel Wood and others surfaced in 2021, he became a ghost. But Ronnie Radke isn't "most artists." Radke lives for the friction. He’s the guy who will start a Twitter war with a fan over a sandwich just to feel something.
The partnership officially manifested in May 2025. Falling In Reverse dropped "God Is a Weapon," featuring Manson’s unmistakable, gravelly snarl. The music video was a fever dream of black-and-white shock imagery: gimp suits, wolves, and Manson looking more like his Antichrist Superstar era self than he has in twenty years. It wasn't just a guest spot. It was a statement of intent.
Radke later admitted on social media that the song garnered the "most hate" he’d ever received. But he didn't care. Why would he? Statistically, it became one of the biggest songs of his career. It’s a weird paradox: the more the general public hates a Radke project, the more his core fanbase rallies. By bringing Manson into the fold, he didn't just bridge two generations of shock rock; he essentially gave Manson a platform when the rest of the world had the doors locked and bolted.
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The "God Is a Weapon" Tour and the Return to the Stage
You can't just drop a song like that and stay home. The announcement of the "God Is a Weapon" North American Tour for late summer 2025 was the logical next step. We’re talking a massive 30-city run. Denver. Dallas. Raleigh. It’s a heavy-hitting lineup with bands like Slaughter to Prevail and Tech N9ne, but everyone knows who the main attraction is.
Manson’s return to the stage hasn't been a quiet affair. Before the Radke collab, he was already testing the waters with his own headlining shows and a stint with Five Finger Death Punch. But the chemistry between Manson and Radke during their live performances of the new track is what's actually moving the needle. Seeing them together in Las Vegas—Radke’s hometown—felt like a bizarre passing of the torch. Or maybe a shared arson of the torch.
What’s happening with Manson’s solo work?
While the Radke connection is the loudest thing happening, Manson isn't just a guest star. He released One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1 in late 2024. The lead single, "As Sick As The Secrets Within," was his first piece of music in four years. Surprisingly, it did well. It hit number one on Billboard's Hard Rock Digital Song Sales. It seems there’s a massive audience that either doesn't care about the controversies or is actively drawn to them.
The Legal Reality in 2026
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. You can’t discuss Marilyn Manson and Ronnie Radke without mentioning the courtrooms. As of early 2026, the legal landscape for Manson is... complicated.
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In January 2025, Los Angeles prosecutors announced they wouldn't be filing criminal charges against Manson after a four-year investigation. They cited a lack of evidence and the statute of limitations. For his supporters, this was "vindication." For his accusers, it was a systemic failure.
But it’s not over. Just this month, in January 2026, accuser Ashley Walters moved to revive her lawsuit. She’s using a new California law, Assembly Bill 250, which basically reopens the window for adult sexual abuse claims that were previously timed out. So, while Manson is selling out arenas with Radke, he’s still very much fighting for his life in the legal system.
Radke’s Own Chaos
Ronnie Radke isn't exactly sitting quietly in the corner either. If it's not a lawsuit, it’s a social media ban. Recently, he’s been embroiled in a strange legal spat with Brittany Furlan (Tommy Lee’s wife) involving "catfishing" allegations and restraining orders. He also recently made headlines for firing his longtime guitarist, Max Georgiev, over decade-old allegations that Radke claimed to have just discovered.
It’s a lot. It’s a constant whirlwind of drama.
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Why Does This Pairing Work?
If you step back from the Twitter threads and the think pieces, the Marilyn Manson and Ronnie Radke alliance is a masterclass in modern "villain" branding. Manson is the old guard—the high-concept, intellectual shock rocker who used to tear up Bibles. Radke is the new guard—the digital-native provocateur who uses TikTok and livestreams as his weapon.
They both lean into being the "monster" the public expects.
By teaming up, Radke gets the prestige of working with a legend, and Manson gets access to a younger, intensely loyal audience that doesn't remember the 90s but loves a good underdog/outcast narrative. It's symbiotic.
What to Watch For Next
If you're following this saga, don't expect it to quiet down. Here is what's actually on the horizon:
- The Court Dates: Watch the Ashley Walters case in California. This will be the first big test of AB 250 and could change everything for Manson’s "comeback."
- The Music: Rumors of Chapter 2 of Manson's new album series are already circulating. Expect more heavy collaboration with Tyler Bates.
- The Festivals: Keep an eye on the 2026 summer festival circuit. If Manson and Falling In Reverse show up on the same bill at places like Aftershock or Louder Than Life, expect the discourse to hit a boiling point again.
Whether you think this is a cynical PR move or a genuine artistic partnership, you can't deny that it's the most interesting thing happening in rock right now. It's messy. It's loud. It's exactly what both of them wanted.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on official tour updates at FallingInReverse.com and follow the legal filings through the Los Angeles Superior Court portal for the most accurate, non-biased information on the ongoing civil suits.