The song Neil Young wrote about the infamous murderer Charles Manson

https://faroutmagazine.co ^ | Dec 24 2020 | Joe Taysom

[Beowulf9]

Neil Young and Charles Manson have a bizarrely intertwined history. The two men once shared a jam session at a time when Manson was an up and coming talent, one that had started to make waves in California and caught Young’s attention. Their paths then diverted, as Young became one of the most revered artists on the planet and Manson became the world’s most notorious cult leader. Manson would then later become the muse for Young’s track, ‘Revolution Blues’.

[sonova]

Young became one of the most revered artists on the planet

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Uhh..I guess if one places all artists in order from worst to best, all are one of the best, except for the worst one.

[Steve_Seattle]

" . . . at a time when Manson was an up and coming talent, one that had started to make waves in California and caught Young’s attention."

That's not how I remember it. From things I read at the time, he was a no-talent weirdo with artistic and musical pretensions, kind of like a sane version of Yoko Ono. He was a hanger-on type, familiar to most musicians.

[Steely Tom]

I think Manson was a "hang around" at a lot of studio sessions and parties in the middle of the '60s. I think he brought drugs and chicks and was off the wall, which the artistes thought was groovy.

He actually got the idea he was one of them. When Terry Melcher told someone he (Manson) didn't have the talent, the word got back to him, and he didn't take it well.

[IrishBrigade]

‘From things I read at the time, he was a no-talent weirdo with artistic and musical pretensions...’

he had a marginal talent as a songwriter, but was an abysmal guitar player...

[ought-six]

Manson an up-and-coming music talent? Is this author on drugs?

[Reddy]

“a time when Manson was an up and coming talent,”

Rewriting history.

[A Navy Vet]

"He was a hanger-on type, familiar to most musicians."

Yup, he was a wannabe with no talent. He even hung out with one of the Beach Boys for a short time. I forget which one. Think it was the the youngest who played the drums. Dennis?

[KevinB]

That's not how I remember it. From things I read at the time, he was a no-talent weirdo with artistic and musical pretensions

Here's Neil in his own words on the subject. Neil thought enough of him to recommend him to his record company.

Neil Young on Charlie Manson

[Cecily]

“... kind of like a sane version of Yoko Ono.”

I think you mean kind of like a male version of Yoko Ono. Both were/are quite loony.

[ought-six]

“he had a marginal talent as a songwriter, but was an abysmal guitar player...”

What were some of his song titles? He may have copied some songwriters, but there was nothing original or talented about the crap he wrote himself.

[ought-six]

“Yup, he was a wannabe with no talent. He even hung out with one of the Beach Boys for a short time. I forget which one. Think it was the the youngest who played the drums. Dennis?”

Yes, it was Dennis.

[Steely Tom]

He even hung out with one of the Beach Boys for a short time. I forget which one. Think it was the the youngest who played the drums. Dennis?

Al Jardine, I believe. He eventually got close to Brian Wilson, at least for a short time.

[skeeter]

Dennis picked Manson and a couple of his girls hitchhiking and took them back to his place. After awhile Wilson himself had to leave his own home when Manson refused to go.

[lee martell]

One of the people Manson hung out with was a member of the Beach Boys. I dont recall which one. This member of the Beach Boys introduced Charlie to Terry Melcher, a record producer. Terry was Doris Days son.

[Steely Tom]

he had a marginal talent as a songwriter, but was an abysmal guitar player...

Danny Rollins was better.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I’ll never understand in a million years how a short psychotic sleaze like Manson could get all those women to basically become slaves to him, to the point that they would have sex with him and even murder on his orders. What the hell? I remember when I was in my 20s just getting a date was like winning the lottery and usually that’s with women who looked like Helen Thomas.

[Cecily]

If Neil Young’s singing is any indication, Neil would not the best judge of musical talent or quality.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

I read once that Manson and his followers took over Dennis Wilsons house and he couldn’t get them out so he just bought another house lol

[A Navy Vet]

"Al Jardine, I believe. He eventually got close to Brian Wilson, at least for a short time."

Without researching, I think you're incorrect. I only remember Dennis.