Expert: Pattie - 11/14/2008

Question
Hi, I'm working on a history project for my World History class along with two classmates. We had decided to discuss how the Beatles influenced music and in doing so we found they also had influenced Charles Manson. We've seemed to have run ourselves agains a wall. I was woundering if you could help us. Any small interesting facts are welcome.
Thank you.

Answer
Hi Rebekah!

It's true, Charles Manson was absolutely obsessed with the Beatles. He believed that they were sending mystical messages through their songs that only HE could interpret. He also believed that they were the representatives of the four Archangels of the Bible, mentioned in the book of Revelations. Although he loved all of their music, he was mostly influenced by the LP 'The Beatles' aka the White Album. Songs like "Revolution", "Piggies", "Helter Skelter", "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" and even "Blackbird" made him believe that he had translated a secret code that the Beatles put in the LP deliberately to begin a violent confrontation amongst the races, leading to a new civil war in the states. He decided to take matters in his own hands and spark this inevitable race war by sending out members of his "family" to commit some of the most heinous murders in this countries history. The victims of this insanity were, most notably actress Sharon Tate and her unborn child, and seven others over the course of a few days. He told his underlings to leave messages at the murder sites and some of the things the police found written in the victims blood at the homes were "Political Piggy" "Healter Skelter" (they mis-spelled it), even "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7...all good children go to heaven" from Abbey Road.

One little known fact regarding this is that both John Lennon and Paul McCartney were asked to attend the trial of Charles Manson, to give a deposition about the meaning of their songs, but they both declined.

If you have any further questions, let me know, I'll be happy to help and thanks for the question!

Peace,
Pattie
8^)