Billy Idol’s rhythm guitarist Billy Morrison recently opened up about his relationship with Marilyn Manson and his thoughts on Manson’s sobriety and comeback. He shared his views in a conversation on Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk.
Morrison was asked about his history with Manson, who appears on a track called ‘The Tailor’ from Morrison’s new record. The question touched on Manson’s well-documented transformation — getting sober and rebuilding his career after years of controversy.
“I mean, we’ve gotten a lot, let’s put it this way, I’ve known him for a long, long while. I definitely knew him back then. But we’ve gotten a lot closer,” Morrison said. “I mean, you can’t help but get closer to people when they stop being loaded. Most people I know become much nicer when they’re not getting hammered, you know?”
Morrison also reflected on his own sobriety and what it means for his work and relationships.
“You would not, I would not be able to make these records or hang out or even talk to you if I was loaded. You wouldn’t want that. I’m an idiot when I’m using, like most of us. Manson is a joy to be around. He’s a lovely man,” he continued.
Morrison then revealed that a particularly emotional moment brought the two closer together — the funeral of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne.
“I reconnected really seriously at Ozzy’s funeral. I had to do one of the eulogies in England at the house. And I was, I was, I haven’t been in that kind of state in a long while. I was really emotional,” Morrison said. “And he helped me. He helped me a lot. Unconditional love. He just, you know, he put his arm around me and he’s like, he said a few things. And that meant the world. And then I, you know, we got back to America and I said, listen, I’ve got this track, and there’s only one person that can sing it, and it’s you. And he loved it. And we did it.”
Morrison’s comments sparked divided reactions among fans. One commenter wrote, “Apparently if you get sober the sober community will look past anything you’ve done,” while another shared a more supportive view: “I have become a fan of Marilyn Manson in recent years. I understand him better as an artist and as a person. After the accusations and hearing from people who had worked for him and friends of how he is as a person that he is a decent person, I became a fan. The core human being is so different from his stage persona.”
Manson has been at the center of numerous controversies in recent years. His return to music alongside artists like Morrison signals a continued effort to rebuild his presence in the industry.
The collaboration on ‘The Tailor’ did not happen by chance. It grew out of a genuine personal bond forged during one of rock’s most somber recent moments. It also reflects a broader shift in how Morrison has approached his creative life since getting sober.
Morrison has described his current period of sobriety as one of the most productive of his career. He credits it with making him a better collaborator and a more present artist. The clarity that comes with sobriety has directly shaped the music he is now able to make — and the people he is able to make it with.
Manson’s appearance on the track marks another step in his ongoing return to recording. Years of public scrutiny and controversy had significantly slowed his output. His re-emergence in collaborative settings with respected figures in the rock world has been a deliberate and gradual process — one that has drawn both support and skepticism from the wider rock community.
The grief surrounding Ozzy Osbourne’s passing served as an unexpected catalyst for the two men’s renewed closeness. Morrison was tasked with delivering a eulogy at Osbourne’s funeral in England. He found himself in a rare moment of vulnerability, and it was Manson who stepped in with quiet, unconditional support. That moment of human connection, away from the noise of the music industry, laid the groundwork for what became ‘The Tailor.’
The divided fan reaction to Morrison’s words reflects a tension that has followed Manson’s comeback from the start. For some, sobriety and the passage of time are not sufficient to move past serious allegations. For others, the accounts of those who know Manson personally carry significant weight. They describe a man whose private character differs sharply from his provocative stage persona. Morrison’s candid endorsement adds another prominent voice to that ongoing conversation.
