Dennis Wilson

Dennis Wilson was born in Hawthorne, California in 1944 to Audree and Murry Wilson. The middle of three brothers, Dennis was rebellious and argumentative; he often acknowledged that he was the Wilsons' "black sheep. " He joined America's band, The Beach Boys, when his mother pushed his brothers to let him play with them, although at first he refused to take part in it that way.

In 1968, Wilson picked up a couple of women hitchhikers and took them to his house to party. The women were associated with a wanna-be song-writer named Charles Manson, who invited himself to visit the Beach Boy. Wilson also picked up a male hitchhiker that year, drug dealer Charles 'Tex' Watson, whom Dennis invited to hang out at his house. In fact, Manson met "Tex" Watson at Wilson's house; the two would become partners in some of the most infamous murders of the 20th Century. Initially, Wilson tolerated Manson's presence at his house, as he brought his groupies with him. Wilson had encouraged Manson's musical ambitions and one of his songs, "Cease to Exist", appeared on The Beach Boys album "20/20" under the title "Never Learn Not to Love". Eventually, Wilson and his musical confederates whom had been introduced to Manson became disenchanted with him, despite the former pimp's provision of women, due to Charlie's fierce temper. Ultimately, Manson and his girls proved to be unwanted guests who tried to commandeer Wilson's house. Wilson, too intimidated to evict his guests, eventually moved out of his own house. Shortly thereafter, Manson and his followers left and began their descent into the hellish frenzy that culminated in the Tate-LaBianca killings. committed the Tate-LaBianca murders.

The Beach Boys fell into trouble in the 1970s, a direct result of Dennis' spiral into heavy drug and alcohol use.

Had four children. Daughter, Jennifer Wilson, was born in 1967, sons Michael Wilson on 19 February 1971, Carl Wilson on 31 December 1972 and Gage Wilson on 3 September 1982. He also adopted his first wife Carol's son, Scott, as his own in the mid-sixties.

Revealed in an interview with Circus Magazine in October of 1976 that he lost his virginity when he was "either 16 or 18".

Was in a tumultuous relationship with singer Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac from 1979 to 1981.

At his last concert in 1983, he lovingly hugged brother Brian Wilson after a song, causing Brian to exclaim "This my brother Dennis, you remember Dennis!" A barely audible (due to years of drug use and alcohol abuse) yet vibrant Dennis said to the audience "You know folks, if you knew what it was like to be singing, and playing... thank you so very much. You are so beautiful to me". It was the last time he appeared in public.

Although his brothers had vied for him to be buried in the family plot at Inglewood Cemetary, then-wife Shawn wound up winning a heated battle over what was to be done with his remains. Thus, he was cremated and buried at sea off the California coast by the U.S. Coast Guard on January 4, 1984 at coordinates (33-53.9 N, 118-38.8 W).

Inducted by Elton John into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a member of The Beach Boys) on 20 January 1988.