BAFTA-winning, Emmy and Ivor Novello-
nominated composer Paul Leonard-Morgan has scored CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS. The documentary film debuted on Netflix on March 7, 2025, with the original motion picture soundtrack album available the same day on digital platforms.
Leonard-Morgan says of his score, “My soundtrack to Errol Morris’ film, Chaos, is my 8th collaboration with him. What always drives our work together is searching for that unique sound that makes each one that little bit more different than before. With Chaos, it was a rare opportunity to use a rock band and orchestra at the same time.
In 1968, Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys had co-written a song with Manson before the record deal fell through and Wilson screwed him out of his copyright. A few years ago, I heard about a pump organ which used to belong to Dennis that had been left on the side of the road in LA, so I collected it and was waiting to get round to fixing it! Then, by pure coincidence, this film came up. I simply HAD to use it! So somewhere, buried between the band and the orchestra, is Dennis’s pump organ playing under Manson talking about their collaboration together.
The score consists of electric guitar, drums, bass, and mellotron to fit in with Manson’s own musical style, and then I used synths and a full orchestra to keep the score in Errol’s wheelhouse. Such a unique opportunity to try some really original scoring techniques.”
ABOUT CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS
In Chaos: The Manson Murders, Academy Award-winning director Errol Morris (The Thin Blue Line, Gates of Heaven, Wormwood) delves into the shadowy and complex narrative of the Manson family murders, challenging the official accounts of the most infamous killing spree of the 1960s. The documentary explores the darkest corners of recent history, casting light on newly revealed links between the CIA, LSD, Charles Manson, and the likes of Jack Ruby and Vincent Bugliosi, the prosecutor whose 1974 bestseller Helter Skelter chronicled the Manson trial. Based on the book , CHAOS: Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties by Tom O’Neill with Dan Piepenbring, the film probes the covert motives that may have sparked the murders, bringing a fresh perspective to this chilling chapter of American history. A thought-provoking exploration of the tumultuous era’s cultural and political undercurrents, CHAOS invites viewers to question the roles of well-known players and powerful institutions alike through gripping interviews, shocking archival visuals — and the music of Charles Manson himself.
Chaos: The Manson Murders (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Tracklisting
- Chaos
- Cielo Drive
- Parole Files
- Not a Nice Guy
- The Assassins
- Probation
- Bobby Beausoleil
- Charlie’s Girls
- Give Me My Dues
- Signing Manson
- The Beginning of the End
- Fucking Over Bobby
- Murder Weapons
- Three Knives and a Gun
- PIG
- If You Move, You’re in Trouble
- Same Weapons Same Motive
- Hardcore Followers
- Satan
- Crazed Killers
- Trial
- Cultural Obsession
- Race Wars
- Verdicts
- Mind Control
- So Much Chaos
ABOUT PAUL LEONARD-MORGAN
Paul Leonard-Morgan is a BAFTA-winning, Emmy and Ivor Novello-nominated composer known for his distinctive fusion of orchestral and electronic music. His film scores include DREDD, LIMITLESS, BOSTON STRANGLER, and LAST BREATH, scoring both the 2019 documentary and 2025’s survival thriller of the same name, both films by director Alex Parkinson. He also has a series of collaborations with Academy Award-winning director Errol Morris on projects like WORMWOOD, AMERICAN DHARMA, MY PSYCHEDELIC LOVE STORY, and most recently, CHAOS: THE MANSON MURDERS. He worked closely with legendary composer Philip Glass on TALES FROM THE LOOP and THE PIGEON TUNNEL, earning critical acclaim, as well as other series including Showtime’s FELLOW TRAVELERS for Paramount+ and Netflix’s BODKIN, the first series from the Obamas’ production company, Higher Ground. In the gaming world, his scores for BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE, WARHAMMER: DAWN OF WAR 3, CYBERPUNK 2077, and CALL OF DUTY MOBILE have cemented his reputation as a leading composer in the industry. Beyond film and games, Leonard-Morgan has worked with bands like No Doubt and Simple Minds, and released a 10th-anniversary remix album of DREDD featuring collaborations with artists like Mogwai. In addition to his screen projects, he continues to expand into concert music, with recent commissions for the Orchestre Nationale de Bretagne and a new album of études for piano and cello, currently being choreographed by members of the San Francisco Ballet.
