Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983) was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983, though he was often supplemented in the studio by session drummers, and on stage by a backup drummer.
Compared to his bandmates, which included his brothers Brian and Carl, and his cousin Mike Love, Dennis sang infrequently, often not singing backup vocals at live performances, though he commonly did so in the studio. He was commonly seen as the sex symbol of the band. His prominence in the group increased as their careers went on, more commonly singing lead, and writing towards and into the 1970s.
In 1968, Dennis Wilson was driving through Malibu when he noticed two female hitchhikers. He picked them up and dropped them off at their destination[1]. Later on, Dennis noticed the same two girls hitchhiking again. This time, he took them to his home at 14400 Sunset Boulevard, near Will Rogers Park. Dennis then went to a recording session; when he returned at around three o'clock in the morning, he was met in his driveway by a stranger, Charles Manson. When he walked into his home, there were about a dozen people occupying the premises, most of them female. Dennis became fascinated by Manson and his followers, and the "Manson Family" lived with Dennis for a period of time afterwards, at Dennis's expense.
Initially impressed by Manson's songwriting talent, Dennis introduced him to a few friends in the music business, including Terry Melcher, whose home on Cielo Drive would later be the rented by director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate; Tate and several others would later be murdered at the home by Manson Family members. Recording sessions for Manson were held at Brian Wilson's home studio; those recordings, if extant, have never been released. The Beach Boys released a Manson song, originally titled "Cease To Exist", but reworked as "Never Learn Not To Love", as a single B-side. The song, credited only to Dennis, was said to have been purchased from Manson.
As Dennis became increasingly aware of Manson's volatile nature and growing tendency to violence, he finally made a break from the friendship by simply moving out of the house, and leaving Manson there. When Manson subsequently sought further contact (and money), he left a bullet with Dennis' housekeeper to be delivered with a cryptic message, which was perceived by Dennis as a threat.
In August of 1969 the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders occurred. The trauma of his prior association with the killers affected Dennis for his remaining 14 years.[citation needed] He rarely discussed his involvement with the Manson Family and he usually became upset when the subject was broached. In one interview, however, he brought it up: "I guess it's time to talk about it. You see, when I knew Manson it was no big thing. We were friends; we lived together. That was long before the murders. And we'd talk every night, just like you and me. We'd really talk about important things." The interviewer asked, "Do you know why Manson organized those murders?" and Dennis responded, "I know why Charles Manson did what he did. Someday, I'll tell the world. I'll write a book and explain why he did it. Over the years, people have always wanted to know what happened, what my relationship with Charlie was. We were just friends." Dennis added: "I didn't testify at the trial. I couldn't. I was so scared. You know, the writers really raked me over the coals for not testifying." Dennis was particularly worried about the safety of his son, Scott.
Succeeding years saw Dennis Wilson's alcohol abuse problem worsen On December 28, 1983, shortly after his 39th birthday, Wilson drowned at Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles. On the day of his death in 1983, Wilson was quoted as saying "I'm lonesome. I'm lonesome all the time."[cite this quote] He left behind a young wife, Shawn Love, the alleged illegitimate daughter of his cousin Mike Love, and their young son, Gage Dennis Wilson (born January 1983). He had been previously married four times: to Carole Freedman (with whom he had a daughter, Jennifer (born December 21, 1966) and whose son, Scott, he adopted); to Barbara Charren (with whom he had two sons, Michael (born February 19, 1971) and Carl (born December 31, 1972); and (twice) to Karen Lamm, the ex-wife of Robert Lamm. Dennis also had two sons, Chris and Ryan born out of wedlock. On January 4, 1984 he was buried at sea off the California coast.
Fred Vail, a close friend of Wilson, said that his premature death was most likely inevitable: “I knew that Denny wasn’t the type of guy who would live to be an old man. It just wasn’t in the general scheme of things. He was just constantly challenging the boundaries.”. Dennis Wilson's ultimate demise bore remarkable similarity to that of fellow drummer (and Beach Boys aficionado) Keith Moon.
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