Vanessa Richardson

In addition to learning to manipulate people, Charles used his time in prison to rekindle the guitar hobby he'd started back in West Virginia. One of the prison's most notorious convicts, former outlaw Alvin Creepy Karpis, was also a talented musician, and he was happy to give Charles lessons, although he didn't think his new student was very good.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

But the biggest musical influence on Charles during this time was the Beatles. After hearing them on the radio, Charles became obsessed with becoming a famous musician himself. Until now, music had always been a fun hobby.

But the biggest musical influence on Charles during this time was the Beatles. After hearing them on the radio, Charles became obsessed with becoming a famous musician himself. Until now, music had always been a fun hobby.

But the biggest musical influence on Charles during this time was the Beatles. After hearing them on the radio, Charles became obsessed with becoming a famous musician himself. Until now, music had always been a fun hobby.

Now he was set loose in the streets of Berkeley, the epicenter of the counterculture revolution that was sweeping the nation. It was home to people from all walks of life, from the Black Panthers to student protests at the University of California, to people just looking to express themselves freely. That included aspiring musicians like Charles, which presented a problem.

Now he was set loose in the streets of Berkeley, the epicenter of the counterculture revolution that was sweeping the nation. It was home to people from all walks of life, from the Black Panthers to student protests at the University of California, to people just looking to express themselves freely. That included aspiring musicians like Charles, which presented a problem.

Now he was set loose in the streets of Berkeley, the epicenter of the counterculture revolution that was sweeping the nation. It was home to people from all walks of life, from the Black Panthers to student protests at the University of California, to people just looking to express themselves freely. That included aspiring musicians like Charles, which presented a problem.

Charles' obsession with music helped him stay out of trouble, though, and on March 21, 1967, he was released early. Left with nowhere to go, he called a former prisoner he'd been friendly with. He invited 32-year-old Charles to come stay with him in Berkeley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Charles' obsession with music helped him stay out of trouble, though, and on March 21, 1967, he was released early. Left with nowhere to go, he called a former prisoner he'd been friendly with. He invited 32-year-old Charles to come stay with him in Berkeley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Charles' obsession with music helped him stay out of trouble, though, and on March 21, 1967, he was released early. Left with nowhere to go, he called a former prisoner he'd been friendly with. He invited 32-year-old Charles to come stay with him in Berkeley, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Every street corner was claimed, and every club was booked, so making a living playing guitar wasn't going to be easy. And Charles wasn't interested in working a typical blue-collar job in the meantime. He couldn't crash on his friend's couch forever, though, so if Charles was going to make his dreams come true, he needed to find somewhere to stay long-term that didn't require him to pay rent.

Every street corner was claimed, and every club was booked, so making a living playing guitar wasn't going to be easy. And Charles wasn't interested in working a typical blue-collar job in the meantime. He couldn't crash on his friend's couch forever, though, so if Charles was going to make his dreams come true, he needed to find somewhere to stay long-term that didn't require him to pay rent.

Every street corner was claimed, and every club was booked, so making a living playing guitar wasn't going to be easy. And Charles wasn't interested in working a typical blue-collar job in the meantime. He couldn't crash on his friend's couch forever, though, so if Charles was going to make his dreams come true, he needed to find somewhere to stay long-term that didn't require him to pay rent.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

As one of the hippie movement's hotspots, it was the ideal place for an aspiring musician like Charles to hone his craft. But to Charles Manson, the Bay Area must have seemed like another planet. Until this point, he'd spent over half his life, and almost all of his adult years, in some kind of correctional facility.

And thanks to what he'd learned in prison, he knew exactly how to do it.