Charles Manson

Charles Milles Manson (born November 12, 1934) is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction. He was convicted of the murders through the joint-responsibility rule, which makes each member of a conspiracy guilty of crimes his fellow conspirators commit in furtherance of the conspiracy's object. Manson is associated with "Helter Skelter", a term he took from the song "Helter Skelter", written and recorded by the The Beatles. Manson misconstrued the lyrics to be about an apocalyptic race war he believed the murders were intended to precipitate. From the beginning of his notoriety, this connection with rock music linked him with a pop culture in which he ultimately became an emblem of insanity, violence, and the macabre. The term was later used by Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi as the title of a book he wrote about the Manson murders. At the time the Family began to form, Manson was an unemployed ex-convict, who had spent half of his life in correctional institutions for a variety of offenses. Before the murders, he was a singer-songwriter on the fringe of the Los Angeles music industry, chiefly through a chance association with Dennis Wilson, founding member and drummer of The Beach Boys. After Manson was charged with the crimes he was later convicted of, recordings of songs written and performed by him were released commercially. Artists, including Guns N' Roses and Marilyn Manson, have covered his songs.

LATEST STORIES
  
Charles Manson -- Parole Denied

Charles Manson
Parole Denied

Infamous mass murderer Charles Manson just lost his last real shot at freedom ... the parole board just denied his latest request for release.The hearing took place at Corcoran State Prison in… READ MORE >

Celebrity Justice - 49 days ago
Lindsay & Marilyn Manson -- The Beautiful People

Lindsay & Marilyn Manson -- The Beautiful People

Now that Lindsay Lohan is hoping to land a role in an upcoming Charles Manson movie ... the actress spent her Sunday night with a dude who named himself after the psychopath. Lohan and anti-Christ… READ MORE >

Movies, Paparazzi Photo - 380 days ago
Marilyn Manson & Lindsay Lohan -- Possible Co-Stars

Marilyn Manson & Lindsay Lohan -- Possible Co-Stars

Who'da thunk -- Marilyn Manson wants a part in a movie that could soon be starring Lindsay Lohan ... TMZ has learned ... a biopic about infamous psychopath Charles Manson.Sources connected with… READ MORE >

Movies, Deadline - 411 days ago
Charles Manson's Attorney Asks Obama For Help

Charles Manson's Attorney Asks Obama For Help

Charles Manson's lawyer has just sent a fax to President Obama, asking for mercy.Giovanni Di Stefano -- known as "The Devil's Advocate" -- tells TMZ, he wants the Prez to set Manson free.Di… READ MORE >

Celebrity Justice, Politix, Developing Stories - 462 days ago
Charles Manson -- My Prison Valentine

Charles Manson -- My Prison Valentine

He's 76 years old, but infamous slaughterer of people Charles Manson is still quite the lady killer ... in fact, TMZ has learned Chuckie got an early Valentine's Day prison visit from a special… READ MORE >

Celebrity Justice, Holidaze - 470 days ago
TMZ Live -- Balloon, Mel and Manson Madness

TMZ Live -- Balloon, Mel and Manson Madness

Harvey, Mike, Max and Rick were on live today -- where they answered questions on the Heene family's past run-ins with the law, went on a random Charles Manson tangent and hit on Harvey's… READ MORE >

TMZ Live - 953 days ago
Manson Gang Hideout -- The Smoldering Remains

Manson Gang Hideout -- The Smoldering Remains

TMZ has obtained a photo of Charles Manson's Death Valley hideout after a mysterious fire gutted the infamous building earlier this week.The fire completely gutted the inside of the structure… READ MORE >

 - 1118 days ago
Charles Manson: 'Memba Him?!

Charles Manson: 'Memba Him?!

Charles Manson is notorious for leading the depraved Manson family, who committed the heinous Tate/LaBianca murders in 1969. Guess what he looks like now. READ MORE >

Celebrity Justice, Memba Them - 1168 days ago
Hey Everyone ... Séance at Sharon Tate's!

Hey Everyone ... Séance at Sharon Tate's!

Get out your Ouija boards -- we got a séance going on!insertBCSinglePlayer(1719847183);Last night, on the 39th anniversary of the notorious Manson murders, a group of level-headed people… READ MORE >

 - 1390 days ago
Manson Family Member -- Should She Go Free?

Manson Family Member -- Should She Go Free?

Manson Family member Susan Atkins should not become a free woman, at least if the L.A. County D.A. has his way.Atkins, who has been diagnosed with brain cancer and may have only six months to… READ MORE >

Celebrity Justice - 1416 days ago