He was the posterchild for Satanic Panic in the 1980s and the inspiration for a slew of shitty teenage metal bands (and likely a few cool ones, as well). But above all, Anton LaVey (real name, the less ominous, Howard Stanton Levey), was an impressive showman/conman in the vein of PT Barnum and LR Hubbard. It seems appropriate then that LaVey would leave high school to join the circus, and like Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, start The Church of Satan as an easy way to make money.
In Born With a Tail, Doug Brod does a fantastic job digging deep into LaVey’s life and telling a remarkably rounded story that unfolds in such a way that never loses the reader’s attention, with just the right amount of skepticism mixed with light admiration for what he was able to accomplish in his lifetime. Brod brings an impressive depth to his research akin to the work he did with his last book, They Just Seem a Little Weird: How KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz Remade Rock and Roll. The story is told through LaVey’s own writings, interviews, and recollections from his friends, family members (those close and long estranged), as well as former members of the church.
The book delves into LaVey’s childhood, raised by Jewish parents in California, where he was a talented piano player who would make money playing at venues across San Francisco. At the dawn of the church’s founding, impressively, he drew the attention of celebrities like Jayne Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe (though as LaVey is an unreliable narrator of his own story, it’s unclear whether or not his relationships with the actresses were more than just friends). Later into his career as a satanist, Sammy Davis Jr. became close to LaVey, as did (not exactly surprising) Marilyn Manson.
Some of the best stories here revolve around LaVey’s connections to Hollywood, many exaggerated over the years. In particular, his role as an advisor and one-line actor in the dreadful 1975 horror movie The Devil’s Rain is a fascinating read and crammed with sensational details. The movie, financed by the mafia, boasted a cast that included William Shatner, Tom Skerritt, Ernest Borgnine, and a young John Travolta – all on set with LaVey in Mexico. It was here where Travolta was first introduced to Scientology (a big loss for LaVey and his church).
Despite being filled with a detailed rundown of just about every milestone in LaVey’s private and public life, Born With A Tail is a fast read owing greatly to Brod’s entertaining, conversational narration. The author also does a commendable job of telling LaVey’s fascinating story without coming off too cynical or too fawning while still covering all aspects of the figure who was able to become a modern-day boogieman to many while serving as a highly entertaining talk show guest to many others.
