Arthur Brown reveals he was threatened by Charles Manson’s followers

Arthur Brown says Charles Manson’s followers warned him to stop performing as the “God Of Hellfire”, after his fiery stage persona and hit song “Fire” drew unwanted attention. The singer recalls the encounter as strange and unsettling, and says he did not see the woman who delivered the warning again.

Brown says the incident took place backstage at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium in 1968, a year before Manson’s followers killed seven people, including actress Sharon Tate. “Fire”, released by The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown in late 1968, reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in the US. He also recalls being attacked during an early performance and facing a potential stage rush at another gig.