The Beatles Wrote This Rock Classic to Outdo The Who but Charles Manson Claimed It for His Cult
Manson used "Helter Skelter" as an anthem to justify the string of murders that took place in the summer of 1969, with some of the victims being actress Sharon Tate, socialite and coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, horse wrangler Donald Shea, and musician Gary Hinman. According to the cult leader during his trial, the reasoning behind those fatal attacks orchestrated by The Family (how Manson's cult was referred to) was directly tied to The Beatles, particularly the music that they were putting out.
Charles Manson's Odd Interpretation of The Beatles' Hit, "Helter Skelter"
The way Charles Manson lured new adepts to his cult was through playing his guitar and singing both authorial music and that of The Beatles. Although he wasn't the one to commit the murders, his followers did so through his direction and influence. At the trial that took place from 1970-1971, Mason shared that The Family knew what to do through the music they were listening to. In his mind, songs from the White Album, particularly "Helter Skelter", had a subliminal message that persuaded kids to "rise" and "kill".
The Beatles stepping off the plane and arriving in America in Beatles '64.
McCartney intended for "Helter Skelter" to function as a metaphor for life's ups and downs, which is far from what Manson believed the song referred to. The artist said in the podcast episode that he was drawn to the notion of shifting moods. "You know, you’re up, you get knocked down, you’re feeling euphoric, and you’re feeling miserable. Such is the nature of life,” he said. Given the aftermath of the Manson Family killings, McCartney refused to perform it for several years.
The Beatles performing
Paul McCartney believes this era-defining album is the best The Beatles ever did. "Helter Skelter" Was One of The Beatles' Heaviest, Most Influential Tunes
Although "Helter Skelter" became known for inspiring a cult, the song stemmed from McCartney's will to step outside his comfort zone and make a song in response to The Who's "I Can See For Miles". As ambiguous as The Beatles' lyricism might be depending on the song you listen to — no, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" doesn't mean LSD— "Helter Skelter" was far from a revolutionary anthem. The song is instead a product of one of the band's most avant-garde tracks, highly regarded for its heavy metal elements before the genre was even established.
Source: collider.com/Isabella Soares
