Musicians. Movie stars. Mayhem. Murder. DISGRACELAND is the award-winning podcast that tells the unbelievable but true stories from the dark side of entertainme...
The Grateful Dead Pt. 2: The Ballad of Pigpen and Old, Weird America—an Origin Story
Bootlegging whiskey, acid tests, grass, and songs about murder. The origins of the Grateful Dead are fascinating and not what most people think. Born out of the tradition of “old, weird America”; bluegrass, jug band music and deadly folk tales, the Grateful Dead, as young adults, were into some strange stuff and we are all better for it. The band would go on to create their very own “new, weird America” due in part to the cultural impact they would have over their near 40-year career. But their connection to the traditional music that spawned them was due in large part to their harmonica player, singer, and keyboardist, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, who lived “the life” so authentically that he died at the age of just 27. This is the Grateful Dead origin story and the Ballad of Pigpen.
To view the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
This episode was originally published on October 13, 2020.
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46:12
Grateful Dead Pt. 1: Freedom's Just Another Word for…
The Grateful Dead became one of the most influential bands of all time and propelled themselves with improvisation, LSD and an ethos of “freedom”. Through drug busts and CIA surveillance, they thrived and created one of the largest, most fervent and commercially consequential fan bases of all time. Freedom, LSD and improvised blues in the key of bummed the fuck out on this episode of Disgraceland.
For a full list of contributors, see the show notes at disgracelandpod.com
This episode was originally published on April 16, 2019.
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49:41
Bonus Episode - More Sports, Celebrity Politics, and Diddy's New Digs
This week in the After Party, Jake wonders about celebrities and the sincerity of their political convictions and hears more from you on great sports cities and films. As we ready next week's episode on actor Woody Harrelson and the possible connection between his father and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, we want to know: what's your take on the JFK assassination? Who do you think killed President Kennedy? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, [email protected], or on socials @disgracelandpod.
For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:
Episode 179 - R. Kelly
Episode 125 - The MC5
Episode 87 & 88 - Fleetwood Mac
To hear an extended version of the After Party and to hear more from the DISGRACELAND community, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.
Visit www.disgracelandpod.com/merch to see the latest Disgraceland merch!
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48:35
Aaliyah: Married Illegally at 15, Drugs, Corruption, and a Fiery Crash
Married to R. Kelly at 15 years old and dead by the age of 22. Aaliyah was supposed to be as big as Beyonce, but drugs, corruption, and a fiery crash prevented that from happening.
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual abuse of a minor.
Who are your favorite female R&B singers? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, [email protected], or on socials @disgracelandpod.
To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.
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41:19
Jay Z: Street hustle, a Nightclub Stabbing, a Near Drug Bust and the God MC
Jay Z’s career defies easy categorization. His artistry and business sense are as influenced by his past career as a drug dealer as they are anything else. Jay Z has reached unprecedented heights as an entertainer and an entrepreneur, and it almost never happened. All because of a stabbing. A stabbing that was influenced by that same street hustle that created “Jay Z."
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
This episode was originally published on March 24, 2020.
To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.
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Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND:
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Check out Kikoff: https://getkikoff.com/DISGRACELAND
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Musicians. Movie stars. Mayhem. Murder. DISGRACELAND is the award-winning podcast that tells the unbelievable but true stories from the dark side of entertainment history. Rockstars getting away with murder and behaving very badly. Actors engulfed in scandal. Pop stars plotted against and terrorized. Taylor Swift escaping her stalkers. Jerry Lee Lewis allegedly murdering his wife. Brittany Murphy’s suspicious death. Big Lurch, the hip hop star who ate his roommate. The assassination of John Lennon. The Grateful Dead, the CIA, the LSD that turned on the USA, and the real reason Neil Young gave Charles Manson his motorcycle. Robert Downey Jr.’s redemptive rise from addiction. Anthony Bourdain’s destructive lust for life. The true crime stories that inspired Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska and the serial killer inspired by AC/DC’s Highway To Hell. Welcome to DISGRACELAND, where these stories and more will grip you to the edge of your seat and cause you to binge episode after episode.
DISGRACELAND publishes new, fully scripted, and sound-designed episodes every Tuesday and bonus episodes featuring listener voicemails, texts, and emails on Thursdays.
DISGRACELAND is not a journalistic podcast. It is an entertainment podcast inspired by true events. Certain dialogue and scenes are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes, as they are in most scripted entertainment based on true events. Sources and credits for each episode are available at www.disgracelandpod.com .
To listen to DISGRACELAND ad-free and get access to an exclusive monthly episode, weekly bonus content, and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at www.disgracelandpod.com/membership.