by Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson’s Wild Night Out in the Early ’90s
In a 2016 interview with GQ magazine, Johnny Depp fondly recalled what he described as “the stupidest thing” he and rocker Marilyn Manson ever did together during their days living together in Los Angeles in the early 1990s.
“We were in a bar in Hollywood and we had a few too many drinks,” Depp said. “We started walking home and decided to go to the Comedy Store, but it was closed. We were pretty wasted and we thought it would be funny to climb up the wall and pull down the front gate. We did it and the alarm went off and the cops came. They were pretty pissed off and they arrested us.”
As a huge fan of both Johnny Depp and Marilyn Manson, this story immediately piqued my interest. I had to know all the details about that wild night on the town that landed two of my favorite celebrities in jail. What bar were they drinking at? How much did they have to drink? What exactly motivated them to vandalize the Comedy Store in such a reckless way?
Depp didn’t reveal too many specifics in the interview, but the vivid picture he painted with those few sentences was enough to send my imagination running wild. As a devoted fan, I wish I could have been there to witness Depp and Manson’s antics firsthand. But in lieu of an actual time machine, I’ve taken some creative liberties to fill in the gaps and flesh out the story of that crazy night.
It was the spring of 1993 in Los Angeles. A young Johnny Depp, not yet 30 years old, was at the height of his teen idol status after starring in the hit TV show 21 Jump Street. Though he longed to be taken more seriously as an actor, the constant screams of preteen girls still followed him everywhere he went.
Enter Marilyn Manson, the up-and-coming shock rocker who had not yet achieved widespread fame, but already relished courting controversy with his androgynous, goth-inspired look and lyrics focused on the dark and macabre. Despite their differences, the two struck up an unlikely friendship, drawn to each other’s eccentric, unapologetic rejection of the status quo.
One restless evening, Depp and Manson decided to hit the town together for some drunken shenanigans. They began at Bar Marmont, the iconic Hollywood hotel’s debaucherous bar which was (and still is) frequented by celebrities looking to party hard and avoid the paparazzi. The bartenders certainly would have recognized Depp, but he didn’t have to worry about word of his escapades showing up in the tabloids the next day.
As happy hour stretched into late night, Depp and Manson drank heavily and bonded over their shared experiences as outsiders making it big in the ruthless Hollywood machine. At some point early in the morning, after countless rounds of drinks, they found themselves tossed out on the street as the bar was closing.
Neither ready to call it a night, Depp and Manson wandered aimlessly through the empty city streets, weaving tipsily and cackling as they recounted stories of hedonistic rock tours and film sets awash in drugs and drama. Eventually they passed by the imposing Hollywood Comedy Store, thinking back on their early days trying to make a name for themselves on that very stage. In the drunken haze, inspiration struck – they would break into the Comedy Store and recreate their glory days as young and reckless comedians with nothing to lose.
Peering around to make sure no one was watching, Depp gave Manson a sly grin and gestured toward a dumpster in the alley. Manson nodded eagerly and together they dragged the dumpster across the street, parking it beneath the Comedy Store’s front gate. Giggling mischievously, they clambered up onto the closed lid of the dumpster, using it as a stepping stool to hoist themselves up and over the spiked gate.
Safely on the other side, Depp and Manson paused to congratulate each other on their clandestine operation before making their way to the club’s front door. Unsurprisingly, it was locked tight, but the drunk and adrenaline-fueled duo were undeterred. Setting their sights on the metal front gate, Depp and Manson worked together to pry open the padlock while periodically peering over their shoulders to check for any security guards.
Finally, the padlock popped open. Depp motioned for Manson to stand back, then gripped the bottom of the gate and heaved it upward with all his might. The gate rose a few feet with an earsplitting metallic shriek before its rollers screeched in protest, jerking it to a halt. But it was just high enough for them to scramble underneath into the Comedy Store’s covered portico.
“We did it!” Depp exclaimed, clasping his hand to Manson’s in an exuberant high-five. Their celebration was short-lived, however, as the shrill whine of an alarm sounded from inside the club. Depp and Manson froze, their smiles dissolving as they sobered up just enough to grasp the gravity of being caught breaking and entering.
“Crap, time to go!” Manson said. They sprinted back to the gate and squirmed desperately underneath it, ignoring the gravel scraping their hands and tearing holes in their clothes. Outside once more, they jumped off the dumpster and fled down the block just as approaching sirens began to wail.
With their hearts pounding wildly, Depp and Manson ducked into a nearby alley to catch their breath and let the police cars speed past. As the adrenaline faded, giddy laughter overtook them again. Their madcap caper may have ended badly, but at least they still knew how to have a fun night out together.
When the sirens had faded into the distance, Depp and Manson crept cautiously out of their hiding spot. Figuring they were in the clear, they set off for home, recounting the events of their crazy adventure.
Turning a corner, however, they ran straight into a trio of burly police officers. Immediately recognizing Depp’s celebrity status, the cops roughly grabbed him and Manson before cuffing their hands behind their backs.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” one officer growled as he hauled the drunken pair toward the flashing lights of his squad car. “A couple of drunk idiots looking for trouble tonight?”
Depp and Manson were bundled into the back of the police cruiser and driven to the station for booking. As the haze of alcohol wore off, the severity of their situation started to sink in. At the station, the cops had plenty of fun mocking and roughing up the two disheveled celebrities before tossing them in holding cells to “sleep it off.”
After what felt like endless hours of pacing in their cramped cells, Depp and Manson were hauled out to face the judge. He scolded them harshly for wasting police time with their “brainless petty crime spree.” Depp hung his head in shame while Manson, even chastened, couldn’t help but smirk at the judge’s exaggerated reprimand.
Citing Depp’s fame and fortune, the judge ordered him to pay a $500 fine as punishment and banned the pair from going near the Comedy Store again. He warned that they had gotten off lucky this time, but next time he wouldn’t be so lenient. With profuse apologies, Depp readily agreed to pay the fine if it meant ending this humiliating affair.
Finally released from custody, Depp and Manson walked slowly home as dawn broke, replaying the insane events of the previous night. What had started as a fun evening between friends had ended with a criminal record.
“That was really stupid,” Depp said somberly. “We could’ve gotten in serious trouble. What were we thinking?”
“Yeah, we’re lucky we didn’t get a lot worse,” Manson agreed. “But you gotta admit, it was one hell of a ride while it lasted!”
Despite their pounding headaches and the dent in Depp’s wallet, they couldn’t help but laugh at their shared audacity in the light of day. It may not have been their wisest adventure, but the exhilarating escapade would bond Depp and Manson as partners in crime for years to come.
Looking back now, I can totally understand why Depp regards that night as the stupidest thing he and Manson ever did together. Breaking and entering while drunk was incredibly foolish, not to mention illegal. As a fan, I certainly don’t condone or encourage that kind of reckless behavior from celebrities I admire.
However, I also can’t help but romanticize their wild escapade in my imagination. The idea of Depp and Manson as young, cocky up-and-comers looking for adventure together resonates with a certain juvenile fantasy. In my mind, I envision them as lovable rogues, like a real-life Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid.
Even though I’m glad no one was hurt and Depp seems to have learned his lesson about drunken antics, part of me wishes I could have tagged along for the ride. I would have loved to see Depp and Manson as they were back in the early 90s, before years in the spotlight had taken their toll. Experiencing that dynamic and unjaded energy firsthand would have been unforgettable.
Of course, my inner fangirl can gloss over the realities of that troubled phase in Depp and Manson’s lives. Behind the rollicking adventure is also a cautionary tale about two men losing themselves to dangerous habits and outlaw mentalities. Still, the details that Depp did reveal offer a tantalizing glimpse at a raucous friendship during simpler times.
While I certainly don’t condone the illegal and reckless behavior, the fan in me remains fascinated by Depp’s account of his wild night out with Manson. My mind will keep weaving vivid what-if scenarios around that crazy escapade, imagining myself riding shotgun with the infamously wild pair. I’m glad no one was seriously hurt during Depp and Manson’s misadventure, but the fanfic-worthy tale will continue to live on in vivid color in my imagination.
