@mark200mph: It was actually Dennis Wilson who was "influenced" by Manson. In 1968 Dennis picked up a couple of chicks who were hitch-hiking on Sunset Blvd., taking them back to his rented house on Sunset. The girls were members of Charlie Manson’s commune in the desert, and they returned to the commune and told Charlie about Dennis’ house. In short order Manson and many of his followers took over the house, and Dennis soon moved out. Before he did he bought from Charlie his song "Cease To Exist", changing many of the lyrics and renaming the song "Never Learn Not To Love". The Beach Boys’ recording of the song may be found on their 20/20 album.
Another Beach Boys story, again a personal one. If that doesn’t bother you, read on:
Before The Viper Room was The Viper Room, it was a club named Blackie’s. There was a second Blackie’s, this one in Marina del Rey, located near the harbor where many SoCal boat owners moored their sailboats. One such sailboat owner was Dennis Wilson, who was living on his. On one night in the Summer of 1982 my then-current band was playing the Marina del Rey Blackie’s, and a bandmate of mine (who knew of my love of Brian Wilson) told me there was a guy sitting at a table whom I might want to talk to. It was Dennis, drinking alone. I had a nice little chat with him, telling me of my having seen The Beach Boys live in 1964, and about my fondness of his 1977 solo album. Dennis didn’t live much longer, drowning in 1983.
