Former Marilyn Manson guitarist Tyler Bates has opened up about his decision to continue working with the controversial rock star despite the abuse allegations against him, in an interview published by Guitar World.
Bates addressed the topic directly when asked whether he ever had second thoughts about standing by Manson amid the allegations.
“There’s a complex answer to that question,” Bates said. “For somebody like him to get sober, they need support. We need to support people getting better, getting healthier in our society. The last two records were completely recorded during the daylight hours, and he was sober. That’s insane.”
He also made clear that his support came with personal scrutiny.
“But I had to do my homework. I’m not endorsing any behavior other than healthy behavior,” he said. “Manson is a formidable creative and he brings out the best in me. It’s complicated when you’re working with somebody and their history is challenging. If support groups are the only source of opportunity, friendship, and love for those recovering from addiction, our society will suffer.”
Bates went on to explain his broader philosophy on supporting those who demonstrate a genuine effort to change.
“It’s disingenuous to encourage people to seek help then abandon them when they’ve demonstrated a genuine commitment to changing themselves on both a personal and spiritual level,” he continued. “You can’t unf*ck what’s been f*cked. But we can make a determination, like, ‘Hey, there’s value to this person, and if I can help bring out the positive aspect of who they are, then that’s healthy.’ At this point I’ve done over 100 movies and thousands of TV episodes. I don’t know how much I’d work if I vetted everybody based on the standards of the Pope – myself included.”
The comments reflect Bates’ nuanced stance on balancing personal accountability with the value of supporting recovery. He continues his work both as a guitarist and a prolific Hollywood film score composer.
Bates’ loyalty to Manson is rooted in a creative partnership that stretches back well over a decade. It has produced some of the most notable chapters in Manson’s recent discography and live career.
Lucy Sky Press reported that Bates composed and produced Manson’s 2017 album Heaven Upside Down. The record helped define their late-2010s collaboration and marked a significant creative reinvention for the band. The album was widely regarded as one of Manson’s stronger recent efforts, and Bates’ fingerprints were all over its sound.
Their partnership was not limited to the studio. Bates also played live with Manson on the Heaven Upside Down tour, as Lucy Sky Press noted. This demonstrated that their bond extended far beyond recording sessions and into the full live experience. It was a commitment that underscored just how deeply invested Bates was in Manson’s artistic output.
That live chapter eventually came to a close. Metal Injection reported that Bates departed Manson’s touring band after roughly a decade of live collaboration. This brought an end to one of rock’s more enduring guitarist-frontman partnerships on the road. However, Bates made clear that his exit from the touring side would not sever his creative ties with Manson. He stated that he would continue to support future studio releases.
That distinction — between touring and studio work — appears central to how Bates frames his ongoing relationship with Manson. His recent Guitar World interview suggests that the studio environment, particularly the sober and structured sessions he described, remains the foundation of a collaboration he still believes in, regardless of the controversy surrounding it.
