What’s the connection between Charles Manson and Brian Wilson’s brother Dennis? Beach Boys history with cult leader explored

The late Brian Wilson’s band, the Beach Boys, is well-known for its numerous hits but is occasionally remembered for its brief history with Charles Manson.

The controversial cult leader-turned-criminal was once linked to the rock group’s prominent member, Dennis Wilson. The younger brother Brian was credited for the Beach Boys’ B-side track, "Never Learn Not to Love," which was an altered version of Charles Manson’s "Cease to Exist." Although the Manson Family leader helped create a song for the band, Dennis was the one who received the sole credit.

Before the Beach Boys dropped Charles Manson’s song, he lived with the band member for a while, along with his family. Dennis Wilson, who once famously described the cult leader as a “Wizard,” was introduced to him by a couple of hitchhiking girls. According to All That's Interesting, the Beach Boys’ drummer picked up the hitchhikers in March ‘68 when he was driving through Sunset Boulevard.

Dennis Wilson dropped the girls off at their place but picked them up again after a few months. When he took the hitchhikers back to his Pacific Palisades place, they told him about their cult leader, referring to them as their “spiritual leader” and a “mystical musician,” per All That's Interesting. Dennis got to meet Charles Manson later that night at his residence when he was returning from a recording session.

The Beach Boys member was seemingly frightened to see the cult leader at his home, but had a weird interaction with him. According to All That's Interesting, Manson got down to his knees and kissed the drummer’s feet while assuring him,

“Do I look like I’m going to hurt you, brother?”

The Manson Family and Charles moved into the drummer’s home. Dennis reportedly told the press about Manson (via CharlesManson.com),

“I told the girls about our involvement with the Maharishi and they told me they too had a guru, a guy named Charlie who’d recently come out of jail after 12 years. … He drifted into crime, but when I met him I found he had great musical ideas. We’re writing together now. He’s dumb, in some ways, but I accept his approach and have learnt from him.”

The relationship that began on a friendlier note soon turned dangerous, leading to Dennis's dissociation from the cult leader.

Charles Manson reportedly pulled a knife on a producer and later threatened Brian Wilson’s brother

Dennis reportedly didn’t have many issues with the Manson Family moving with him, while the cult leader also seemingly benefited from the relationship by pursuing music. At one point, the Beach Boys drummer introduced his associate as (via The Guardian),

“This is Charlie. He is the wizard, man. He is a gas.”

According to her biographical account, Dianne Lake, a former Manson Family member, remarked on their relationship (via All That's Interesting),

“Dennis and Charlie hit it off right away, which is not surprising, given Charlie’s skills at ingratiating himself with strangers. Dennis, in no rush to leave, hung out for a while, smoked some pot with Charlie, and listened a bit to [Manson’s music].”

Lake added,

“It was obvious from the start that Dennis liked the girls and admired Charlie’s harem. We sat at Charlie’s feet and looked at him lovingly as he sang and played guitar. We made sure Dennis saw how much we idolized Charlie — we knew that was our job, without Charlie even having to tell us.”

However, the Manson Family’s stay proved to be expensive for Dennis. According to The Guardian, the drummer was able to record Never Learn Not to Love, but it cost him around $100,000. The expenses included money, clothes, food, and more, including penicillin shots for gonorrhea that tormented the Manson family.

The troubles began when the cult leader threatened a producer. According to Business Insider, Charles Manson had a disagreement during a recording session. Eventually, his followers moved out of Dennis’ place, while the drummer was reportedly suggested by his bandmates to dissociate from Charles Manson.

Later, the cult leader, who had a fallout with Wilson for altering the lyrics, reportedly threatened him by leaving a bullet with his housekeeper, per The Independent. Charles Manson later said (via All That's Interesting),

“I gave him a bullet because he changed the words to my song.”

However, according to Van Dyke Parks, a collaborator of the Beach Boys (via CharlesManson.com),

"One day, Charles Manson brought a bullet out and showed it to Dennis, who asked, ‘What’s this?’ And Manson replied, ‘It’s a bullet. Every time you look at it, I want you to think how nice it is your kids are still safe.’"

Parks stated that Dennis wasn't afraid of Charles Manson's threat,

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"Well, Dennis grabbed Manson by the head and threw him to the ground and began pummeling him until Charlie said, ‘Ouch!’ He beat the living shit out of him. ‘How dare you!’ was Dennis’ reaction. Charlie Manson was weeping openly in front of a lot of hip people. I heard about it, but I wasn’t there. The point is, though, Dennis Wilson wasn’t afraid of anybody!"

Charles Manson and some of his followers were later convicted in the 1969 Tate–LaBianca murders, an incident that inspired Quentin Tarantino’s revisionist comedy-drama Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood. Dennis Wilson, who had dissociated from the Manson Family, died 14 years later.

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