25th Parallel, June 1990

Item notes

June 1990 first-anniversary issue of 25th Parallel, an independent South Florida culture and entertainment magazine. This issue contains two articles written by Brian Warner during the earliest phase of his public career, before Marilyn Manson achieved national recognition. The first contribution, “Not Your Average Sweet Transvestites”, appears on pages 26 and 27. It documents a South Florida shadow-cast production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, focusing on the performers, audience participation and the local subculture surrounding the screenings. The second contribution, “The Prince of Pennsylvania: Nine Inch Nails”, appears on pages 70 to 72. The article profiles Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails shortly after the release of Pretty Hate Machine, discussing Reznor’s background, recording process, musical influences, touring band and the early commercial reception of the album. The final page carries the Brian Warner byline. Although Marilyn Manson does not appear as the subject of the magazine, the issue is an important early-career document because it preserves two examples of Warner’s work as a South Florida music and culture journalist. The Nine Inch Nails article is particularly notable in view of his later professional relationship with Trent Reznor.