Dennis Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member of The Beach Boys. During the first few years of The Beach Boys, Dennis was given the role of the drummer. His freedom to express himself was limited to playing the drums, and his voice was not as clear and was not regarded as ‘angelic’ as his two brothers, Brian and Carl. Dennis has been described by many to be hyperactive and rebellious, someone who always looked for something to fill his life with happiness. Dennis himself quoted in the sleeve notes in the album All Summer Long: “They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. It won’t last forever, either. But the memories will.” He has also been described as a generous and loving man, who could satisfy himself by giving love but could never be satisfied in receiving love. He once said “I give everything I have away. What I am wearing and what’s in that suitcase is it. I don’t even have a car. I have a 1934 Dodge pick-up truck which someone gave me. I could have anything I want. I just have to go out and get it. If it’s worth having, it’s worth giving. The smile you send out will return to you!” The story goes that in 1968 Dennis Wilson was driving along through Malibu when he noticed two hitchhikers. He picked them up and dropped them off at their destination. Later on, Dennis noticed the same two girls hitchhiking. This time he pulled over and took them to his home. Dennis then went away to a recording session and when he returned at three o'clock in the morning he was met by a stranger, Charles Manson. When he walked into his home, there were about a dozen people occupying his home, most of them female. It was the year 1969 that the infamous Tate/LaBianca murders occurred. Charles Manson had briefly become Dennis Wilson's protégé before the murders, and the trauma of this episode affected Dennis for his remaining 14 years. He rarely discussed his involvement with the Manson 'Family' and he usually became upset whenever the subject was talked about. The succeeding years saw an alcohol abuse problem worsen. Possibly disillusioned by others' neglect of his talent (though he had always shown a blatant disregard for his own physical safety), he continued to record solo intermittently, but never released any more material. Thus, the "other" Beach Boy who has been called genius by some was unfulfilled creatively at the time of his death by alcohol-related drowning at Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles, in late December 1983, just after his 39th birthday. On the day of his death in 1983, Dennis Wilson was quoted as saying "I'm lonesome. I'm lonesome all the time."