Something About The Beatles

130: The Beatles and Charles Manson

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Now that there’s been an ending to the story, it seems like a good time to examine the intersection between artists who stood for love and peace and a career criminal/sociopath who will forever be tied to them, by virtue of the demented “gospel” ripped straight from their albums. It may be unfathomable from this distance that a group of young people could be persuaded by Charles Manson to commit unspeakable acts, but that’s exactly what happened in the summer of 1969, when seven innocents (and an unborn baby) were brutally slain, purportedly to ignite a race war.

I’m joined for this discussion by a friend of the show, whom many of you are doubtless familiar with: journalist Ivor Davis, who penned his memoirs of touring with The Beatles across America during the 1960s. But did you know that he was at the center of covering the Tate-LaBianca case and even penned the first book on the crimes, Five To Die (1970)? It was his findings that provided a roadmap to the prosecution, later chronicled in Vincent Bugliosi’s best-seller, Helter Skelter (co-written by Curt Gentry).

Comments

8 responses to “130: The Beatles and Charles Manson”

  1. Rob

    There is some truth to the “Helter Skelter” theory and motive behind the murders. There are other theories out there. One of which is financial gain. Apparently Charlie knew Melcher wasn’t living at Cielo anymore. According to Kasabian, Charlie, et al, went to Venice after the LaBianca murders to kill some more, or possibly to pay off a motorcycle gang that Charlie owed money to. ( we never learn how much money Charlie took from the LB household ) There are many podcasts dedicated to the TLB murders. They creep me out. However, I don’t think Bugliosi’s book is the word of total truth. Sad that the Beatles got caught up with this BS.

    As Bono once sang: “Charlie Manson stole this song from the Beatles, we’re stealing it back.”

    Reply
  2. Christopher Cruz

    Later on, in an interview conducted when he was 53 years of age, Manson disavowed any Beatle connection: “I am not of the Sixties. I’m not a generation of the Sixties. The Sixties were little kids to me-like punk rock is to you, that’s what the Beatles was to me. That’s not my era. My era was Bing Crosby. I’m fifty-three years old, I’m not a teeny bopper”. In the same interview, he claimed that Helter Skelter was “a hotel in the desert where I run a poker game”.

    Reply
  3. Alison Wentworth

    The ONLY thing Manson had in common with the Beatles is that they were on earth at roughly the same time.

    Reply
  4. Rob Geurtsen

    I don’t think Charles Manson stole ‘Helter Skelter’ from the Beatles, it was the media that did this, and I think it is fair to suggest that people should re-evaluate their approach and how they associate the Beatles with the Manson murders.
    The problem with Bono is that he assumes a position of power to change cultural icons and memes. He didn’t steal the song back from Manson… If at all, a couple of great versions of the song would be required, with (slightly) different arrangements; e.g. I think of Alvin Lee’s version of I Want You (She’s So Heavy).
    .
    I like the comparison between Manson and Lennon’s story… but does it even fulfill the definition of correlation – I would argue that with our current understanding of ‘human being’ there is no causal relation, either.

    Reply
    1. Simon

      Someone needs to ‘steal’ it back from the sanctimonious faker Bonio now…think some bloke called Paul McCartney might have played it enough times to verify it’s his and no evil Manson sensationalist can claim ownership at any time. In the end, the murders had nothing whatsoever to do with The Beatles and the subject might have been dealt with in a podcast that deals with lies and fabrications around The Beatles. Not knocking SATB but the more these stories get linked to The Beatles the more they become part of the story.

      Reply
  5. Cajun Queen

    Great show. Very interesting suggestion re: if the girls hadn’t been acting so flipping weird at trial, maybe Manson would have gotten off.

    Reply
  6. Paul T

    V illuminating – thx Robert, and Ivor

    Reply
  7. baby irene

    Mr. Rodriguez
    I have great respect for you and what you do with the show. And it is only with great respect that I’m telling you you got this one all wrong. Sir, you got this one hella wrong. You’re not even close.
    I’ll make it really quick. Read the book Chaos by Tom O’Neill.
    At their best your Beatles shows give us insight and shed meaning on the most exciting pop band.
    This show you did the exact opposite. With I’m sure good intentions you restated old tropes, myths and lies.
    If you truly want to keep your show’s credibility read Chaos and take this show down. It’s not a good look. To put it extremely politely your information on this show is, shall we say, outdated. Yeah. Let’s just say that.
    I wouldn’t bother doing a Manson/Beatles show. Manson is a very big can of worms. But if you’re insistent on going THERE you need to do a completely new show. There’s too much information out there now to not be up to date sir.
    Again, love the show. That’s why I’m writing this.
    This and Another Kind Of Mind are the best Beatles podcasts out there.

    irene.

    Reply

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