In his autobiography Long Hard Road Out of Hell we learn that Manson planned to have his ex-girlfriend murdered, covered a female fan backstage with hamburger meat, sexually assaulted a male fan, to name some of the more mundane events.

In fairness, his drug abuse once apparently led to a nervous breakdown and a nonfatal heart attack.

The pampered mavens of Montenotte, however, need not worry unduly.

Manson's visit to Cork next week appears just to be a flying one. The antichrist of American shock rock is strongly rumoured to be jetting in a private plane from LA with his bride Dita Von Teese for a private viewing of work from Ireland-based Austrian artist, Gottfried Helnwein.

The new exhibition, the first commercial exhibition of Helnwein's work to be seen in Ireland, will be unveiled next Friday at the Fenton Gallery in Cork and runs until October 7. Marilyn and Dita are close friends of the polemical artist. They held their suitably surreal nuptials in Gottfried's Baronial 1886-built Gurteen Le Paor mansion in Kilsheelin, south Tipperary last November.

Other grandees expected next Friday in the second city include Michael Flatley, along with his LLF (Latest Lovely Fiancee), Niamh O'Brien. In hindsight, Flatley is possibly even more Cork than Manson.Well, he certainly wears as much make-up as him.

(The Montenotte Hotel In Cork is a 4-star hotel located along the leafy streets of Cork's most exclusive neighbourhood which overlooks Cork City).