Former deputy DA and author Vincent Bugliosi passed away after a protracted battle with cancer at age 80.
He is best known for successfully prosecuting Charles Manson and the 'Family' members in the slayings of Sharon Tate and writing the 1974 book, "Helter Skelter" about the crimes of Manson and his band of outcasts-turned-sociopathic-murderers. That book gave me nightmares for years. Of course, I read it on the sly from my Mom [sorry Mom!] when I was 16, but I digress.
Bugliosi was a legend. He saw right through Manson for what he was. Manson killed what was left the 60's in the early 70's through terror. He made it really uncool to be a Hippie. I saw the first run of the television mini series and it messed me up as a kid.
Manson killed the love generation. I was just a wee Rocket but when I was old enough to get a clue, I resented him tremendously and I still do. Damn shame.
Richard Pryor - "I went to prison to shoot a movie with Gene Wilder. Thank God for prisons. I asked this one cat why he killed everyone in the house and he told me, "They were home." If I ever see him walking around my neighbourhood I'm going to be the first ******** to shoot him!"
My favorite is the Charlie quote, "Can you ever forgive me for what you think I've done?"
Plus, one of my boys bought me one of those "Charlie don't surf" tshirts back in the day to wear to a Guns N Roses show. Good times in the idiocy of my youth.
