May 30, 2002 — Marilyn Manson announces the departure of longtime friend and bassist Twiggy Ramirez.

"I have spent eight months transforming this band and our new songs into an unstoppable juggernaut, and sadly Twiggy wasn't able to make himself a part of it," says Manson. "Unfortunately, I feel that Marilyn Manson, as a lifestyle, is not where his heart is. So I have decided to let him go his own way, otherwise it wouldn't be fair to us, the music, or especially to the fans. Although you can never replace a best friend like Twiggy, this album and new lineup will redefine anyone's idea of what Marilyn Manson is capable of."

Marilyn Manson, John 5, M.W. Gacy and Ginger Fish are joined by bassist Tim Skold (formerly of industrial rock outfit KMFDM). Their upcoming release The Golden Age of Grotesque, which is under the production team of Manson, Skold and Ben Grosse, is near completion and expected this fall.