Charles Milles Manson (November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) was the notorious leader of the Manson Family cult, which gained infamy in the late 1960s for a series of brutal murders in California. In the summer of 1969, followers committed nine murders across four locations, including the high-profile killing of actress Sharon Tate. Manson was convicted in 1971 of first-degree murder and conspiracy, with prosecutors arguing that his ideologies incited the violence, even though he did not directly order the killings. Prior to these events, Manson had spent a significant portion of his life incarcerated.
Before establishing his cult, Manson attempted to make a mark as a singer-songwriter within the Los Angeles music scene. His association with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys led to a brief musical collaboration, where the band recorded Manson's song "Cease to Exist," retitled "Never Learn Not to Love." Despite his pursuit of a music career, Manson never achieved substantial success. He was heavily influenced by the Beatles, interpreting their lyrics as prophetic, particularly the concept of "Helter Skelter," which he misinterpreted as a call for a race war.
Manson's legacy is one of violence and madness, leaving a lasting impact on popular culture. Incarcerated for life following the commutation of his death sentence, Manson's music was later released commercially, and his works have been covered by various artists. He passed away at the age of 83 in 2017 after serving decades in prison.
