I though about calling this piece ‚Manson – Dark Angel of Hippiedom‘, but the word ‚angel‘ somehow didn’t fit.
On September 24 there will be / was a special about Charles Manson whose murderous activities lie 50 years beyond. This is the playlist:
Mamas and Papas: 12:30
Fugs: Carpe diem (Second album)
Grateful Dead: Viola Lee Blues
Charles Manson: Cease to exist
Beach Boys: Never learn not to love
Dennis Wilson: Mexico (Pacific Ocean View)
Neil Young: Revolution Blues (On the beach)
Beatles: Healter skelter
Sonic Youth& Lydia Lunch: Death Valley 69
Charles Manson: Home is where you’re happy
Guns n Roses: Look at your game, girl (Spaghetti incident )
Orkustra: Dancing in the park (Adventures in Experimental Electric Orchestra From The San Francisco Psychedelic Underground)
Waco Brothers: Revolution Blues
The first songs subtitle (young girls coming to the canyon) makes this song a natural choice to explain the impact the ’summer of love‘ had on the mind of young girls. On the other hand stands the Fugs sinister warning about the dark side of that ’summer of love‘.
| I used to live in New York City Everything there was dark and dirty Outside my window was a steeple With a clock that always said twelve thirty Young girls are coming to the canyon And in the mornings I can see them walking I can no longer keep my blinds drawn And I can’t keep myself from talking At first so strange to feel so friendly To say good morning and really mean it To feel these changes happening in me But not to notice till I feel it Young girls are coming to the canyon And in the mornings I can see them walking I can no longer keep my blinds drawn And I can’t keep myself from talking Cloudy waters cast no reflection Images of beauty lie there stagnant Vibrations bounce… | Carpe diem Carpe diem Sing cuckoo sing Death is a comin in Sing cuckoo sing Death is a comin in Death is a comin in You can’t outthink the angel of death Sing cuckoo sing You can’t outdrink the angel of death Sing cuckoo sing Death is a comin in Death is a comin in Sing children sing Sing children sing Sing lover sing Death is a comin in You can’t outwalk the angel of death Sing cuckoo sing It’s an old clich?? that it’s an old clich?? But you better make your love today Death is a comin in Death is a comin in |
https://youtu.be/dGFkPciV-DU
Charles Manson had come to Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles via San Francisco. Born into really troublesome circumstances he was convicted of armed robbery at the age of 13. in 1968 he was 35 years old and he spent half his life in jail. Life in jail was not hell to him, he knew how to deal with it and skills and knowledges he aquired there were helpful. He had run through several courses of scientology and this helped to manipulate the girls that surrounded him after he dived into the hippie scene of the Avalon Ballroom and the other clubs. He had written some songs and was seen as interesting figure who has something to say.
From San Francisco Manson went to Los Angeles where he met Beach Boy Dennis Wilson, producer Terry Melcher, Neil Young and the occasional Eagle. He could Wislon win over to produce some of his songs, give him house to stay – and what he didn’t give Manson took away. He appeared increasingly scing to Wilson who left the house and asked his managment to get rid of this character who said he was the incarnation of Jesus and Satan. Manson left a bullet on his bed and that was the end of this strange friendship. Nevertheless the Beach Boys covered Cease To Exist and gave it a new name:
Because of some drug issues the Family (the name that stuck to Manson and his gang) went to the North of LA to the Spahn Ranch. Charlie increased his methods of manipulation to new heights. And then the killing began.
First one to die was a drug dealer, killed by Bobby Beausoleil. Manson never was convicted to kill any body by himself. He gave the instructions and one time he even tied the people to their chairs and left the room befor they were slaughtered. Roman Polanski’s wife Sharon Tate was the most prominent victim. After her death fear spread around Hollywood. Neil Young wrote a song about the gang driving around with their strand buggies to terrorize Hollywood’s ‚beautiful people‘.
Manson had may strange and higly absurd ideas. Death Valley was one of his obsessions. He told his followers that there were giant caverns underneath where some people existed that nobody knew about. They though about digging a hole if they ever would need some shelter from the police. Sonic Youth made the song about Manson and Dath Valley: