The duo transformed the classic Fab Four track on the eve of a joint tour
Heavy metal icons Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie kicked off their joint tour , Twins of Evil: The Second Coming , last Wednesday, the 11th, in Detroit, United States, and to celebrate the tour, they released a heavy cover of "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles .
Speaking to Rolling Stone about the cover, Zombie confessed to creating a sound that was “heavier, stranger, and groovier” than the original. “We’ve talked several times about playing a cover at one of our shows – that he would come on stage during my set and we’d perform a song together, but we never managed to choose one,” he said.
“And 'Helter Skelter' was such an obvious choice that none of us had thought of it. And then we thought it would be much better to record a song instead of performing it in an improvised way at some show.”
And the choice was truly obvious. “Helter Skelter” has long been associated with one of the most dangerous and well-known serial killers and cult leaders to date, Charles Manson – he used the track from the classic White Album to justify the criminal acts he committed, saying it inspired him – and it is one of the duo's greatest fascinations.
“For anyone my age [the musician was born in the 60s, and is now 53 years old], it’s impossible to listen to 'Helter Skelter' or the White Album and not think of Charles Manson (…) Although the songs on this album are upbeat, they have a connection to him. They have a heavy energy and you can’t listen to them any other way. At least I can’t.”
Listen to the cover of "Helter Skelter" below.
