Michael from Oxford, -I certainly think that this song was an influence on the heavy metal genre. However, I'd give the honour of being the first heavy metal song to King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man", released a year later on their debut LP In the Court of the Crimson King. The reason, I think, is that Bugliosi is the one at fault. Bugliosi created Manson the celebrity, the magnetic “Maharaja” who need only part his lips to will murder be done. This happened in two stages: at trial, and with this book.

Ken from Louisville, KyThe original demo was a much more slower version. It turned "heavier" in the studio. Manson was described by probation reports as suffering from a “marked degree of rejection, instability, and psychic trauma” and “constantly striving for status and securing some kind of love.” Other descriptions included “unpredictable” and “safe only under supervision.” This is a HUGE book which contains a LOT of information. Vincent Bugliosi lived and breathed this case. He provided detail after detail. This is a great book for True Crime fans, those interested in investigations, trials and this case. The Author even asks the question about society being interested in this case, while other serial killers have killed more on the streets of Los Angeles. Is it because of the ties with Hollywood? Was it because of the famous victims? Was it because Sharon Tate was pregnant? Was it because the world could not wrap their minds around the fact that Mason had others kill for him? Either way, Manson and his cult are intriguing and continue to interest people worldwide. But let's not forget the innocent victims robbed of their lives, the families left to grieve, the pain that was left behind. Their deaths are a tragedy. If you're like me and you knew about the Manson Murders—or maybe you are just familiar with Manson and his 'family' by name or association with 60's 'hippie' culture (which interestingly, hippies reject due to their non-violence!)—and you want to know more, this is the book for you. The reader of this book has to like detail, because Bugliosi gives a LOT of it. He was, after all, the prosecuting attorney for the People vs Charles Manson. So his writing is very much from the lawyer's perspective, giving descriptions like they are legal documents and describing what happened, rather than speculation or personal feelings. From time to time he does slip in his personal impressions but very carefully so as not to persuade the reader—much like we are the jury to whom he is speaking in the trial. Takashi from Tokyo, JapanEm, you are sadly mistaken. I bought the RARITIES album and it sounds exactly like Lennon.(he plays guitar, duh)

Charles Manson gave the Hippies and the 60's a bad name. I can't believe he's still alive. He'll be eligible for parole in 2012 (and he'd better not get it). John would not have blisters from anything, Drummers get Blisters, Guitarists get callouses. The only blisters John was getting at that time in 1968 was from his butane lighter heating up his spoon for his heroine shots......No more comments about it....this is a fact...A Song Fact in fact. He wasn’t book smart, but he had his own brilliant way of discovering the weaknesses of most people he met and turning them into brainwashed zombie followers. He was a career inmate. He purposely committed crimes with the highest federal punishment (for instance like stealing the US Mail which has mandatory sentencing much higher than say stealing cars) to make sure he stayed in jail longer. When he was released from the prison for the last time, he begged the warden to let him stay. He understood prison, but he couldn’t understand the real world. Robert from Brisbane, AustraliaIt's interesting that just before the person says it, you hear someone else say "I've got..." like they're cuing him in to say it. Listen closely, you'll see what I mean. Actually it sounds like John cuing Ringo in because first a normal volume SPEAKING voice like John's says "I've got..." and then you hear "I'VE GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS!" So it was probably faked. Police escort Charles Manson into custody after he and three followers were found guilty of murder in January 1971. Getty Images

Mark B. Stoned from Desperate Hot Springs, CaYes, the false endings on this song and on Strawberry Fields Forever are incredible. Shane from Dallas, TxStewie Griffin from Family Guy says those famous words at the end of his southern song in the episode - To Live and Die in Dixie. It’s a questions Bugliosi tries to answer, a bit defensively, in the 20th anniversary afterward. His explanations, though, are not satisfactory. Bugliosi the prosecutor never needed to prove “motive” in his case. Motive is not an element of murder. Nevertheless, he made it a central feature. He highlighted for the jury Manson’s charm, his powers of control, and his loony ideas about a coming race war, all to prove that Manson’s followers were under his sway. In doing so, he gave credence to Manson’s delusions. People v. Manson became a perverse kind of show trial, in which the defendant, rather than the State, was given an extraordinary platform. Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaJoe, are you sure you're talking about the right song here?! This song is heavy metal, and has nothing to do with classical music! Also, I can hardly imagine George Martin screaming like that.At times, the level of detail can come across as a bit dry as it can really focus on the process of law or procedure; the detail and repetition have an air of how Bugliosi would have gone through the case in court. However, this is no surprise and it does provide the reader with a real understanding of how the investigation and trials were carried out, which is unlikely to be matched elsewhere. A unique point of view Jc from Bryson City, NcSo what in the piss is the song about!?!? Youve argued who said what and about C. Manson! Whats the song about!??!