From Rock Dreams to Infamy

Charles Manson was almost a rockstar, and The Beach Boys even recorded one of his songs.

Before he was a notorious cult leader, Manson was a career criminal who spent over half his life

in prison. When he was paroled in 1967, he landed right in the middle of

San Francisco's "Summer of Love." Using charisma, LSD, and a twisted philosophy,

he gathered a group of young, lost followers who became known as the Manson Family.

They moved to LA, and through a chance encounter, Manson became friends with Dennis Wilson,

the drummer for The Beach Boys. The Family even lived in Wilson's mansion for months.

Wilson introduced Manson to his music industry contacts, hoping to get him a record deal.