Manson murders' dark link to rock 'n' roll http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2009/09/manson_murders_dark_link_to_ro.html
By Damon Sims September 05, 2009 What possessed seemingly harmless hippies to commit some of the grisliest crimes of the 20th century? "Manson" spends two hours trying to find the answer that has eluded true-crime buffs for 40 years. It's a question that has transformed Charles Manson into an evil icon in pop culture. Monday's special on the History Channel looks at the 1960s sociopathic hippie who commanded his followers to kill innocent victims. "Manson" chronicles the nine months leading up to the seven "Tate/LaBianca Murders" on Aug. 8-9, 1969. It was part of a twisted vision Manson dubbed "Helter Skelter." Manson imagined the murders as sparking an apocalyptic race war, in which he would emerge a messiah. He ended up in prison -- convicted of masterminding the murders of Sharon Tate and six others during the spree -- and was exposed as anything but a messiah. But the sensation surrounding the trial, his commune and "philosophy" forever link him with the dark side of rock 'n' roll. Manson took the name for his killing spree from a Beatles song. He recorded with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. And he's had his songs covered by dozens of bands, including Guns N' Roses. He was the evil hippie who helped kill the hippie movement. Manson's crimes occurred the same year as Woodstock, the music festival that celebrated the "good vibrations" of hippiedom. Like the hippies, he espoused communal living -- except that his commune was a cult, where members became his blind servants. The Cincinnati-born Manson got his "start" in 1967, while living in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury neighborhood -- espousing a "philosophy" that mixed Summer of Love hippie vibes with Scientology. By the late 1960s, he started the Family, a commune of followers based in Death Valley, Calif. Manson saw himself as a guru -- and a hippie songwriter. He recorded with Wilson, who acquainted Manson with Terry Melcher. The famed surf-rock producer lived in the house they eventually would rent to actress Tate and her husband, Roman Polanski -- the scene of the "Helter Skelter" murders. The missing link between music and murder? Manson came up with his theory after listening to the Beatles' "White Album," which, according to him, foretold a race war and commanded the Manson Family to act -- by committing killings to further his "revolution." He started with the residents of Melcher's former residence after becoming enraged because the producer refused to record some of his songs. Manson was arrested in October 1969 and was convicted of murder in January 1971. In between, in 1970, his solo album was released. The album never sold much -- only 2,000 copies were pressed. But Manson's dark impact, even from behind bars, remains on pop culture: Peace, love and hippiedom: Woodstock celebrated hippiedom. Manson carved a swastika on his face. The Beatles: When U2 covered the Fab Four's "Helter Skelter," Bono said, "This is a song Charles Manson stole from the Beatles. Well, we're stealing it back." No matter, it will always be tainted by the blood of Manson's murders. The Beach Boys: The band recorded and released a Manson composition on its 1969 album "20/20." Sharon Tate: The pregnant actress's life came to a brutal end when she was stabbed by the Manson Family. Roman Polanski: The director, who was in London at the time of the murders, sank into a dark depression that colored later films such as "The Tenant." Latter-day followers: Rockers Marilyn Manson, Spahn Ranch (where the Manson Family lived for a time) and Kasabian (after cult member Linda Kasabian) took their names from the Manson cult. It also inspired songs by the Flaming Lips and Alkaline Trio, and even Stephen Sondheim's musical "Assassins." More than 70 bands have covered Manson's songs. Number of the beast: The "South Park" episode "Merry Christmas, Charlie Manson" features Manson as a cartoon character with inmate number 06660. . --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Sixties-L" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sixties-l?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
