Synopsis
Marilyn Manson performs "Get Your Gunn" inside a decaying, abandoned house, surrounded by damp walls, harsh shadows, and beams of light cutting through the darkness. Rapid close-ups emphasize Manson's eyes and confrontational expression, while the other band members appear amid the same claustrophobic setting. Footage of two rebellious teenage girls adds a chaotic, unsettling counterpoint to the band's performance. The video reflects the song's anger toward organized religion, moral hypocrisy, and the anti-abortion violence that inspired its lyrics.
Factoids & Trivia
- "Get Your Gunn" was issued in 1994 as Marilyn Manson's debut single and appeared on the band's first album, "Portrait of an American Family."
- The song was inspired by the 1993 murder of abortion provider David Gunn by an anti-abortion activist. The title's unusual spelling references Gunn's surname.
- MTV accepted the video but reportedly aired it infrequently. It was nevertheless shown on "Headbangers Ball," helping introduce the band to a wider metal audience.
- Manson said MTV objected to the word "God" in the chorus and wanted it censored, even though the objection was directed at the religious reference rather than the profanity that follows it.
- The clip is notable for its stark, low-budget atmosphere: the abandoned-house setting, wet textures, blown-out lighting, and tight framing create a more oppressive effect than a conventional performance video.
- "Get Your Gunn" is one of the relatively few Marilyn Manson videos in which Manson appears with visible eyebrows.
- The song later appeared on the soundtracks to the films "S.F.W." and "Strange Days," extending its reach beyond the band's early industrial-metal audience.