Message In Blood

Album: Cowboys From Hell (1990)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lead singer Phil Anselmo wrote this song from the perspective of Charles Manson, whose followers left messages in blood after killing their victims.

    Manson built up a group of followers in the late '60s that were known as his "Family." His cult grew to about 100 people, with a few ardent followers willing to kill on his behalf. On August 9, 1969, four members of this group brutally murdered four people (including the actress Sharon Tate) at a home in Beverly Hills, California. The following night, they killed again, murdering a wealthy couple: Leno and Rosemary LaBianca.

    After the Tate murders, one of the killers scrawled the word "pig" on the front door in Tate's blood; various messages, including the phrase "Healter Skelter," were written in blood at the LaBianca home.
  • Phil Anselmo has pointed out that Charles Manson never actually killed anybody. He often makes the point that while Manson is notorious for the crimes, everyone has free will, and the actual killers deserve the blame. This belief in personal accountability is a core precept in metal: if Pantera's listeners did everything their songs told them to, they would all be in jail and Anselmo would get the blame just like Manson.
  • Pantera made another Charles Manson reference in their 2000 song "Uplift" - the first line of the song is a quote by Manson: "No sense makes sense."

    Phil Anselmo's band Superjoint Ritual also has a song about Manson called "Creepy Crawl," which is on their 2002 album Use Once and Destroy.
  • In our interview with Rex Brown, the Pantera bassist explained that they worked up this song at a west Forth Worth club called Joe's Garage, where the band played some of their early gigs. Since they didn't have a rehearsal space at the time, Pantera would use the clubs to practice and work on songs.

Comments: 7

  • Matthew from Milford, MaWait, what? Who's paying tribute to whom here?!?
  • Joel from Columbia, ScDoes anybody else think that it's a little creepy that Phil Anselmo wears Manson's number + name on his tanktops? That's like Axle of GNR wearing a Manson t-shirt.
  • Gary from Elko, NvCharles Manson actually did use the blood to write messages
  • Ben from Mer, IdFirst off, the song is about how the family left messages in blood at the murder scenes. Second, manson will most likely turn down his parole hearing.
  • Jeff from Dayton, OhYeah but even though his family did it in the eyes of the law i guess its still murder. Hes up for parole in 2007 also...
  • Craig.f from Dublin, Irelandi no that he didnt kill anyone his family did but who incited them into doing it
  • G from G, Nvok id just like to say that manson never wrote or killed anyone in blood members of his "family" did
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.