In this episode of The Compendium, we dive into one of the most disturbing true crime stories in history—how Helter Skelter, a Beatles song, became the twisted manifesto for Charles Manson and his cult of devoted followers. With his delusional vision of an apocalyptic race war, Manson manipulated the young and lost into committing some of the most infamous murders of the 20th century. From the counterculture movement of the 1960s to the tragic deaths of Sharon Tate and the LaBianca family, we unravel the disturbing intersection of music, crime, and cult psychology. How did a song about a slide become a call to violence? Let’s find out.

Resources and Further Reading

• Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders – by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry.
• Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties – by Tom O'Neill with Dan Piepenbring.
• The Manson Family – Wikipedia
• Chaos the Manson Murders Netflix Documentry – Errol Morris

Host & Show Info

• Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
• Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland

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