Charles Manson’s Haunting Ties to the Music World

Charles Manson was an aspiring rocker long before he gained infamy as the mastermind behind one of history’s most grisly and shocking crime sprees. Surprisingly, he had numerous connections in the music business.

Manson, along with four members of his so-called Family—Charles “Tex” Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie van Houten, and Susan Atkins—was ultimately convicted of murder. They were originally sentenced to death for their roles in killing seven people beginning on August 9, 1969. Both Atkins and Manson died in prison, while all involved consistently faced parole denials.

Only later did it become evident that Manson had incorporated the Beatles into his twisted and murderous worldview. In explosive court testimony, he claimed their songs inspired him to act, ensuring the Beatles remained a permanent part of his twisted narrative.

But the Beatles were not his only musical connections. By then, Charles Manson had significant intersections with the Beach Boys and Neil Young. He had even released his own album. Later, artists like Ozzy Osbourne and Guns N’ Roses found sinister inspiration in Manson, with the latter controversially covering one of his songs.

The Beach Boys recorded a rewrite of Manson’s “Cease to Exist,” retitled “Never Learn Not to Love” by drummer Dennis Wilson. This collaboration became one of the more bizarre moments in their discography and almost resulted in Manson killing Wilson. Neil Young, on the other hand, was intrigued by Manson’s unorthodox songwriting style and attempted to assist him in securing a recording contract.

Manson’s ambition to become a recognized musician intertwined with a number of prominent figures in the music industry, leading to terrifying and historical connections that remain unsettling to this day.

Source: Nick DeRiso, Todd Fooks