2.+The+Family


 * The Family **

[[image:http://www.lehigh.edu/~ineng/emb6/mansonfamily1.jpg width="235" height="323"]]
Above: An image of The Family []

When released, Manson moved to Berkeley in San Francisco, California. At this time, Charles began to get very into the hippie culture as well as music, and he claimed he had learned a little bit on the guitar from various friends of his. Manson moved in with a man named Brunner, and, at the same time, he began to obtain somewhat of a following due to his hippie style and philosophy. Later, Manson and his followers got into some sort of large vehicle and traveled around America during the year of 1967. They returned to Los Angeles where they setteled in Wilson Melcher’s home, a old friend of Manson’s. There Manson took his group, mainly women, which had now become know as “The Family.” While there, Melcher and Manson began to record songs together as The Family continued to grow. Due to expenses, they left for the Spahn Ranch where they were allowed to live in exchange for help on the premises. Manson was introduced to The Beatles’ White Album in 1968, and he grew instantly obessed with the musical group and especially the song Helter Skelter. He felt that the White Album was actually written in code, and it said that blacks would soon rise up in rebellion all across America in 1969. Manson also believed that he was Jesus and that he could lead his family to safety through a cave in Death Valley that lead to paradise. He said that he would lead them as the fifth angel because the other four angels were The Beatles. The Family then began working on creating a musical album that would include songs to trigger the chaos to come.