desertyank
> 9 months ago, 20 Nov 2017
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Later on, Dennis noticed the same two girls hitchhiking again. This time he took them to his home at 14400 Sunset Boulevard. Dennis then went to a recording session. When he returned later that night, he was met in his driveway by a stranger, Charles Manson. When Wilson walked into his home, about a dozen people were occupying the premises, most of them female. Dennis became fascinated by Manson and his followers; the Manson Family lived with Dennis for a period of time afterwards at his expense, costing Dennis up to $100,000 in money, cars, clothes, food, and penicillin shots for the Manson Family's persistent gonorrhoea.[9] In late 1968, Dennis reported to journalists, I told them [the girls] about our involvement with the Maharishi and they told me they too had a guru, a guy named Charlie who'd recently come out of jail after 12 years. ... He drifted into crime, but when I met him I found he had great musical ideas. We're writing together now. He's dumb, in some ways, but I accept his approach and have [learned] from him.[10] Initially impressed by Manson's songwriting talent, Dennis introduced him to a few friends in the music business, including the Byrds' producer Terry Melcher, whose home at 10050 Cielo Drive would later be rented by director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Two years later, Manson family members would murder Tate and several others at this home.[11] Some of Manson's songs would be recorded at Brian's home studio.[11] These sessions for Manson were produced by Brian and Carl, not Dennis.[12] Dennis recorded a Manson song for the Beach Boys, originally titled "Cease to Exist" but reworked as "Never Learn Not to Love" (1968), a single B-side. It was credited solely to Dennis. Angered by this, Manson threatened murder.[13] According to Beach Boys collaborator Van Dyke Parks: "One day, Charles Manson brought a bullet out and showed it to Dennis, who asked, 'What's this?' And Manson replied, 'It's a bullet. Every time you look at it, I want you to think how nice it is your kids are still safe.' Well, Dennis grabbed Manson by the head and threw him to the ground and began pummeling him until Charlie said, 'Ouch!' He beat the living **** out of him. 'How dare you!' was Dennis' reaction. Charlie Manson was weeping openly in front of a lot of hip people. I heard about it, but I wasn't there. The point is, though, Dennis Wilson wasn't afraid of anybody!"[14] As Dennis became increasingly aware of Manson's volatile nature and growing violent tendencies, he finally made a break from the friendship by simply moving out of the house and leaving Manson there. When Manson subsequently sought further contact (and money), he left a bullet with Dennis' housekeeper to be delivered with a cryptic message, which Dennis perceived as a threat."[9] In August 1969, Manson Family members perpetrated the Tate/LaBianca murders; Manson was eventually convicted for murder conspiracy. For the remainder of his life, Dennis would not speak publicly of his involvement with the Manson Family, telling prosecutors that he knew nothing of the killings or Manson's motives, as he was frightened of Manson getting out of jail or putting a hit on him.[11] In 1976, he told journalist David Felton: "As long as I live, I'll never talk about that."[9] According to biographer Mark Dillon: "Some attribute his subsequent spiral of self-destructive behavior - particularly his drug intake - to these fears and feelings of guilt for ever having introduced this evil Wizard into the Hollywood scene."[11]"
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