THE spirit of Voltaire was invoked as councillors voiced deep concerns over the likelihood of ''offensive'' lyrics and the content of stage acts by Eminem and Marilyn Manson at the Gig on the Green weekend music festival in Glasgow later this month.

Members of a licensing sub-committee had not only read reports of concerts by the two controversial acts, but had listened to their recordings which heightened their fears about the effect of the stage performances on young people.

However, Barry Wright, managing director of Regular Music, cited the thinking of Voltaire, who expounded the principle that he would defend the right of individuals to freedom of expression even if he did not agree with the views expressed.

''I'm on the side of Voltaire,'' Mr Wright told councillors.

After careful consideration, the committee shied away from a censorship role, confining itself to the purely physical aspects of the two-day promotion and granting a temporary entertainment licence.

However, Councillor Gordon Macdiarmid, who confessed to being ''an old fogey'' in this situation, was much troubled in spirit. He was concerned about the wider issue of safety - the well being of younger members of the audience who might be harmed by the content of the stage performances.

Eminem's crafted lyrics often project violent and homophobic messages, while Marilyn Manson is a self-confessed satanist whose stage presentation includes self mutilation.

Religious and family-based groups have objected to the event and intend to hold a prayer event to demonstrate their opposition.

Councillor Macdiarmid had taken the trouble to listen to some of Eminem's material and found it ''extremely offensive, but very clever''.

While he was not a censor, he said he remained concerned about the safety of young people in an atmosphere of mass hysteria, peer pressure and fan following.

For his part, Mr Wright pointed out that there had been no police objections to the show. In his view, Eminem's stage show was theatrical and his lyrics heavily ironic.

Eminem and Marilyn Manson are the main acts on the Saturday night, August 25. The Sunday night bill is topped by Travis and Green Day. Following last year's complaints about high noise levels, the staging is to be reconfigured and the sound directed away from residential areas around Glasgow Green.

After being granted the licence, Mr Wright expressed his delight with the ''common sense'' of the Glasgow people.