Live Freaky, Die Freaky

Global warming. Rainforest destruction. Water shortages. Species Extinction. Our lifestyle as collaborators in this modern world has brought us all to what many see as the End Times.

It is rarely noted, but all of this was predicted years ago by a revolutionary named Charles Manson. He proposed a solution, ATWA (Air Trees Water Animals), a proto-Earth First! army of resistance. And he also was involved in a murder spree that killed a bunch of rich pigs in an attempt to cover up Bobby Beausoleil’s guilt in the Hinman murder. Maybe you heard of the guy?

Most people don’t know shit about Charlie Manson. Some people assume he’s a raving lunatic, a media clown dragged out of his cage during Sweeps Weeks like a swastikered geek to spook the squares. Others loathe him as a notorious cult leader, too chemically scrambled to know the difference between good and evil. Still others see him as the ultimate sixties satanic practitioner. But a few have studied Manson’s “ravings” and heard some disturbing truths.

A good overview of the many sides of one of history’s most challenging intellects is LIVE FREAKY, DIE FREAKY, the Manson saga performed by puppets. If you enjoyed watching TEAM AMERICA but thought it pussied out, if you have a blackened sense of humor and like seeing how far “too far” can go, then you will love this movie.

The movie was produced by Tim Armstrong, lead singer of Rancid and stars Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day as the voice of Charlie. The mostly rock and roll cast features members of Good Charlotte, Blink 182 along with such hepcats for hire as Jane Weidlin from the GoGos and John Doe of X. LIVE FREAKY DIE FREAKY swings wildly between trying to be the ultimate gross-out movie, and an impassioned critique of America in 1969, the Year of the Fork.

Director John Roeker is willing to explore all taboo areas without shame and he throws everything he’s got into this film. He presents the tribe of misfits that follow Charlie as the heroes in a struggle against Hollywood perversion and decadence, only to ridicule them in the next scene as murderous zombies. The Family members speak passionately about saving the Earth before it’s too late rather touchingly in quite a number of scenes, then they get that far-away look in their little puppet eyes and they start killing everything in sight.

If you know a lot about Charlie you will recognize bits and pieces of direct quotes in the dialogue. If you don’t know anything about Charlie you might learn a little something in between all the mayhem and blasphemy. And if you are lucky enough to see LIVE FREAKY, DIE FREAKY you might just enjoy yourself.

-Mike Z