Hot Press has learned that Marilyn Manson will finally be making his Irish debut in early 2003 as part of the Golden Age Of Grotesque World Tour.

Independent confirmation of this is provided by Julian Charlton, Senior Vice President of Dublin's Apollo Gallery.

"We've been talking to Manson's people in Los Angeles about staging an exhibition of his work which they want to do when he plays here," Charlton reveals. "From the indications they've given, that will be in 2003. We did a similar thing last year with Ronnie Wood around the release of his Not For Beginners album. That was so successful that we're now the official Irish exhibitors of his work."

Talking recently to mansonusa.com, the God Of Fuck revealed that his favourite artists are "Egon Schiele, Gottfried Helnwein, Luis Bunuel, Jodorowsky, Bosch, Andy Warhol, Mark Ryden, Fellini. On and on."

On the musical front, he praised the contribution new bassist Tim Skold has made to the Golden Age Of Grotesque.

"He reminded me of the power that attitude brings to an album," he says. "His attitude as a bandmate is great. He and I don't let our egos limit our creativity."