Charles Manson

American criminal and cult leader (1934–2017)

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Source-basedFalling

Lived 1934–2017, aged 83United States

United States MusiciansSinger / Musician

Wikipedia
85 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1934–2017
Aged 83
Known for
LA 92
2017

Summary

Updated 2026-08-31

He ordered the murders of nine people in Los Angeles in 1969, turning a failed attempt at a music career into the leadership of a cult that acted on his apocalyptic visions.

Biography

About

Charles Milles Manson spent more than half his life in correctional institutions before gathering followers on the fringe of the Los Angeles music scene. He was a singer-songwriter with an association to Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, who introduced him to producer Terry Melcher. In 1968, the Beach Boys recorded his song "Cease to Exist" as "Never Learn Not to Love," but left him uncredited. After failing to secure a record contract through Melcher, Manson turned to interpreting Beatles lyrics as prophecy, adopting "Helter Skelter" to describe an impending apocalyptic race war. In 1969, his…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Charles Manson

Charles Manson

said1989

Money is a game. It's only real to the people who work for it. It's a monopoly game. It's a game of paper. It's all on paper.

— Interview by Penny Daniels (1989)

Charles Manson

said1989

I've been 15 years in the nut ward for trying to stop the trees from being cut down, from trying to rearrange the lifestyle of a bunch of people who don't want to change.

— Interview by Penny Daniels (1989)

Charles Manson

said1989

We use the word God. God hooks all the other words up. I'm the pope. I'm ten times the pope. I'm fifty times the pope. But I'm the pope in the hills and in the mountains.

— Interview by Penny Daniels (1989)

Charles Manson

said1989