Rock n' Roll Myths: Charles Manson Auditioned for The Monkees

Besides being a legendary psychopath, Charles Manson has been a pop culture icon for decades, with ties to The Beatles and other figures in the entertainment industry. That was, of course, prior to him receiving a life sentence in connection to a gruesome series of murders in 1970. So is there any validity to the claim that Manson, who was once an aspiring singer/songwriter, auditioned to be a member of The Monkees in 1965?

On its face, it seems plausible, almost as if it were one of those trick questions you'd hear at some trivia night. What's more, Manson was indeed skulking around the Golden State around that time, at one point squatting at the home of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson, and also auditioning for Byrds producer Terry Melcher. However, this story has been roundly refuted, as Manson, who had a criminal career prior to becoming infamous for his murderous Manson Family cult, was serving time when Monkees producers Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider were busy casting their new show.

The producers put an ad out in L.A.'s Daily Variety on September 8th, 1965, looking for "Folk & Rock Musicians-Singers" with a focus on "4 Insane Boys, Age 17-21" for their new TV series. The first catch: Manson was 30 years old at the time, making him ineligible for the try-outs. Secondly, Manson already had a long record with the law that forced him behind bars for much of his adult life.

In the 50s he served time at San Pedro, California's Terminal Island prison for stealing a car. After getting out on parole, it wasn't long before he was in hot water again. He forged a U.S. Treasury check and was subsequently convicted, earning a 10-year suspended sentence. While he did receive an early release, it was not until March 21st, 1967, a full year and a half after the Monkees auditions were held.

While the origins of this myth are not well-known, perhaps the world would have been a better place if Manson had been cast as one of the Monkees. Although, the fact that Manson professed himself to be a spiritual guru in Summer of Love-era Haight Ashbury San Francisco suggests that the madman was not lacking for free love and good vibes.

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