Jim Morrison’s ties to the Manson Family I was watching the Biography Channel's documentary on "the Manson Women" the other night- and in it, it mentions that Jim Morrison visited Spahn's and/or The Family at some point prior to the murders. Having read most of what was has been written on the case, this is the first I have heard about any involvement from him. Any ideas?
I don't think I've ever run across the claim elsewhere. It's a bi t interesting (if true) since Jim knew Jay Sebring. I believe Sebring was the creator of one of Morrison's famous hair cuts.
I've never come across any other Morrison/Manson Morri son/Manson connection other than Jay Sebring (which is mentioned in Danny Sugerman's Book on Morrison "No One Gets Out of Here Alive." Morrison did hang around with Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) before the Doors made it big. Morrison did visit Death Valley several times in his famous shamanistic "Vision Quests." He did even dabble a bit with Le Vay's Church of Satan (about the same time Atkin's might have been there) and was general haunt at all the hippie hang out is L.A and San Fran. All of this before the Doors made it big at the Wiskey Go Go.
Squeaky went to high school (and was friends with) one of the Doors guys. Manager or roadie or something. [From the top of my head she shortly dated the guy who later went on to manage The Doors.]
Jay [Sebring] was Morrison's hairdresser. Morrison was Love's biggest fan [Love is the band Bobby Beausoleil played in]. The Doors were a house band at London Fog before playing the Whiskey. Jim's goal was to be as big as Love. It was Arthur Lee of Love who brought The Doors to the attention of Elektra Records boss Jack Holzman on August 10, 1966. The band Love lived communally in a house once owned by horror actor Bela Lugosi, and their first two albums included photos shots in the garden of that house. That house later became known as the Spiral Staircase when Manson et al hung out and met Bobby Beausoleil. Thus, Manson hung out at the same place Morrison did.
LA was small town in the '60s. Everyone knew everyone. It's not like today where every artist is unaccessable. These rock stars all hung out in the bars on Sunset with the fans. Jim Morrison was inspired to write "Roadhouse Blues" about the drive up Topanga Canyon Blvd to The Corral. Manson hung out at the Corral. He even played a gig there with Bobby in the band Milky Way. On December 9, 1970, the day after celebrating his 27th birthday, Jim sat on a couch, in the Doors’ business office, reading the LA Times; he saw where a grand jury had indicted Charles Manson and four others for the slayings of Sharon Tate, Jim’s hair dresser friend Jay Sebring, and others. Jim put down the paper and said to others in the room, "I think I’m having a nervous breakdown." He knew Manson. John Lennon would later be murdered on December 8, 1980, Jim Morrison's birthday. Jim wasn't just a fan of LaVeys, he was a fan of Alei ster Crowley.
Jim is leaning on an Aleister Crowley statue.
Tex was supposedly a doorman or bouncer at the Whiskey, too. And Tex lived near the Spiral Staircase at one time. Plus, when Gypsy met Kasabian, the later was staying near the former site of the Spiral Staircase. The same location she stole money (at the suggestion of Tex, but supposedly given to Manson).
I did a little research into the Love living at the Spiral Staircase and the photo shoot they did with them on a spiral staicase. I thought the same thing as you do. I emailed the old members of Love to see if they could tell me i f that was true. They told me it was not, that the home was called "The Castle". I got a response from all of them and none of them remembered going to the Spiral Staircase. Below I have included my email to Jac Ttanna of Love with his response, Craig Tarwater's responase r esponase was about the same. I have deleted the email addresses for privacy purposes. > --- wrote: > Hi, Craig Tarwater referred me to you in regards to a question about an image of Love. He stated you know more than most of the L.A. music scene of this period. My name is Ken and I was born in 1968 and I have been doing some reading and rediscovering of music of this time. The music brings back fond memories of when my mom would listen to it when I was a kid. Anyway, there is a picture of the band Love standing on a spiral staircase. I was wondering if this was taken at the house at the bottom of Topanga Canyon that was referred to as the Spiral Staircase. I've been trying to locate a picture of this place and can't seem to find one. >> > > Thank you for your response, > > Ken >> > > ---- Jac Ttanna wrote: > > ============= > Hi Ken, > > I would have to see the picture, but I seriously doubt it it was taken at Topanga Canyon because I can't imagine them going all the way out there for a photo shoot. More likely it was taken at a giant castle (mansion actually, but everyone referred to it as the castle)in the Los Feliz hills where they lived for a time. This place was so huge that Arthur used to get around by roller skating on the marble floors. I' ve been there a few times, in fact my band did a shoot there a few years after Love had moved on, and I seem to remember a spiral staircase. It was an amazing place with a giant ballroom, balconies and stained glass windows. A perfect place for a photo shoot. > > Hope that helps, > Jac --- wrote: > Thanks Jac, > That house called "The Castle" was Bela Lugosi's house, the famous Dracula in the early movies. The house I am referring to was a place that was a Victorian Home at the bottom of Topanga Canyon on Pacific Highway behind what was called the Feed Bin. This place had a reputation of being a pretty wild place. I've read that Love hung
out here and hoped that is where they took the picture. > > Thank you very much, > Ken Now that you mention it, I do remember the castle as being Bela Lugosi's house. I'm familiar with the Feed Bine, but I never associated Love with it, or ever being anywhere near the coast for that matter. They lived in the Hollywood Hills, and hung out in Hollywood. I've read Mike Stuart's book, and he never mentions them living or doing much of anything outside of Hollywood. I think they took some pictures at Ronnie Herron's house.
Source: http://manson.freeforums.org/jim-morrison-t31.html
