THE MANSON CONNECTION
In 1968, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson introduced Melcher to ex-con and aspiring musician Charles Manson. Manson and his "family" had been living in Wilson's house at 14400 Sunset Boulevard after Wilson had picked up hitchhiking Manson family members Patricia Krenwinkel and Ella Jo Bailey. Wilson expressed interest in Manson's music and also recorded two of Manson's songs with the Beach Boys.[10] For a time, Melcher was interested in recording Manson's music as well as making a film about the family and their hippie commune existence. Manson met Melcher at 10050 Cielo Drive, the home that Melcher shared with his girlfriend, actress Candice Bergen and musician Mark Lindsay.[11]
Manson eventually auditioned for Melcher but Melcher declined to sign him. There was still talk of a documentary being made about Manson's music but Melcher abandoned the project after witnessing Manson fighting with a drunken stuntman at Spahn Ranch.[1] Wilson and Melcher severed their ties with Manson, a move that angered Manson.[12] Soon after, Melcher and Bergen moved out of the Cielo Drive home. The house's owner, Rudi Altobelli, then leased it to film director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Manson was reported to have visited the house on more than one occasion asking for Melcher but was told that Melcher had moved.[1]
On August 8–9, 1969, the house was the site of the murders of Tate (who was eight months pregnant at the time), coffee heiress Abigail Folger, hairdresser Jay Sebring, writer Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent by members of Manson's "family". Some authors and law enforcement personnel[who?] have theorized that the Cielo Drive house was targeted by Manson as revenge for Melcher's rejection, and that Manson was unaware that he and Bergen had moved out. However, family member Charles "Tex" Watson stated that Manson and company did, in fact, know that Melcher was no longer living there.[13] Melcher's former roommate Mark Lindsay stated that "Terry and I talked about it later, and Terry said Manson knew (that Melcher had moved) because Manson or someone from his organization left a note on Terry's porch in Malibu."[11]
At that time, Melcher was producing music by singer Jimmy Boyd for A&M Records. After initial tracks were recorded, the Manson murders occurred, reportedly prompting Melcher to go into seclusion and the session was never completed. When Manson was arrested, it was widely reported that he had sent his followers to the house to kill Melcher and Bergen. Manson family member Susan Atkins, who admitted her part in the murders, stated to police and before a grand jury that the house was chosen as the scene for the murders "to instill fear into Terry Melcher, because Terry had given us his word on a few things and never came through with them".[1] Melcher took to employing a bodyguard and told Manson prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi that his fear was so great he had been undergoing psychiatric treatment. Melcher was described as the most frightened of the witnesses at the trial, even though Bugliosi assured him that "Manson knew you were no longer living [on Cielo Drive]".[1]
In his 2019 book CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties, author Tom O'Neill re‑examined the Manson case and found evidence that Melcher may have been more closely involved with the Manson family than he had admitted at trial.[14] In reviewing police files and other data, O'Neill found evidence that Melcher was associating with Manson during the four month period after the Tate-Labianca murders, but before Manson was arrested. Bugliosi had seemingly hidden these documents, which undermined claims that the Tate murders had been intended to frighten Melcher, and as revenge for his refusal to record Manson's music. O'Neill also found documents indicating Melcher was having sex with a 15-year-old Manson family member, Ruth Ann Moorehouse.[15] Dean Moorehouse – Ruth Ann's father and a Manson Family member – had also resided at 10050 Cielo Drive with Melcher. Tex Watson was known to frequently visit the residence.[16]
No comments:
Post a Comment