Marilyn Manson in Auckland

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

KNIVES OUT: Marilyn Manson rocks out during his sold out show at Auckland's Town Hall.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

EATING IT UP: Marilyn Manson performs during his sold out show at Auckland's Town Hall.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

REACH OUT AND TOUCH FAITH: Marilyn Manson's reaches out to the sold out crowd at Auckland's Town Hall.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

SHARPEN UP: Marilyn Manson performs during his sold out show at Auckland's Town Hall.

JASON OXENHAM/Fairfax Media

SHADOWY FIGURE: Marilyn Manson arrives on stage during his sold out show at Auckland's Town Hall.

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A fire alarm and temporary evacuation couldn't stop shock-rocker Marilyn Manson thrilling a sold-out Auckland crowd. Reviewer Chris Schulz braved the black-clad masses.

A giant of a man covered in tattoos and dressed head-to-toe in black is staggering around Auckland's Town Hall wielding a very large knife - and he looks ready to use it.

On any other night of the week he'd be arrested. But this is shock rocker Marilyn Manson, and the man known as Brian Hugh Warner to his mum can pretty much do as he pleases.

Yep, for those who had any doubts, Mr Manson still knows how to shock when he's rocking.

Whether it's his constant swearing, dry humping the stage speakers, using a knife for a microphone or threatening to expose his genitals, Manson causes controversy every step of the way.

Unfortunately, the knife-wielding maniac on stage became the least of the crowds' worries. Two songs into the show - following scene-setters If I Was Your Vampire and Disposable Teens - a fire alarm started ringing.

Two songs later and Manson left the stage, security swamped the venue and the entire crowd was evacuated. And they weren't happy about it.

Still, the 10-minute hold-up in freezing Auckland weather did nothing to put the crowd - or Manson - off their stride.

He returned sounding an alarm of his own, thrilling his black-clad fans with a series of highlights from his camped-up, glam-rock back catalogue, including The Fight Song, Rock is Dead and The Dope Show.

Despite their obvious musical abilities, Manson's four-piece band were forced to take a back seat as the singer continued to steal the limelight with a series of attention-grabbing antics.

During mOBSCENE, the 38-year-old dropped his pants and mooned the audience, before sticking his microphone between his buttocks.

Meanwhile, his hands were constantly hovering around his crotch, sometimes venturing into his pants for a bit of rearranging. Perhaps they were a bit tight.

And the sole purpose of a second drum kit on stage seemed to be for Manson to destroy, which he did - several times.

Thankfully, the music lived up to the drama. The Beautiful People was a stunner, and a show-stealing version of Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) saw Manson writhing around on his own mini-catwalk, grabbing at his face and pouting to the audience. Top that, Annie Lennox.

It was pure theatrics, especially when he found a pair of heart-shaped sunnies to wear during an emotional version of - yes - Heart-Shaped Glasses.

But the intensity of that song - a single dedicated to his new girlfriend, 20-year-old Evan Rachel Wood - was written all over Manson's face as he moaned "don't break my heart, or I'll break your heart-shaped glasses".

Despite the shiny knife and the bare ass, that song proved once and for all there's more to Marilyn Manson than simple shock value.

- © Fairfax NZ News