This is the story of one of the coolest album covers of all time, Sonic Youth’s Goo, and how the band was unaware of the shocking murders behind their own album art. A true crime involving a pair of serial killers and an unlikely hero obsessed with rock ‘n’ roll. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to exclusive weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at ...
Jun 23, 2026•47 min•Season 27Ep. 277
Jennifer Hudson shocked her hometown of Chicago when she was eliminated from American Idol in 2004, only to surpass everyone’s expectations when she later raked in awards and rave reviews for her role in Dreamgirls . Yet grief washed over Chicago again when her mother and brother were found slain in their Englewood home, and the smallest member of the Hudson family was declared missing. Their tragic story begins with betrayal and ends with a heartbreak so severe, only Jennifer’s long-standing fa...
Jun 21, 2026•38 min•Season 10Ep. 110
They were slick, clean cut, conservative compared to the punks, rockers, and metalheads, but they were perhaps more dangerous, more transgressive, more wild, and they sang about infidelity, loss, loneliness, and murder from an incredibly authentic point of view. In many cases, they lived it. I’m talking about hardcore country artists in this bonus episode plus your voicemails, texts, dms, emails and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 18, 2026•37 min•Season 27Ep. 276
George Jones possessed one of the finest and most expressive instruments God ever created: his voice, which is widely considered the greatest in country music. But he was also possessed by demons who haunted him his whole life, and heard voices that tormented and controlled him. His addictions to drugs and alcohol made him legendarily unreliable, earning him the nickname "No Show Jones." But just when George Jones was at his lowest, a song came along that would change everything - proving that h...
Jun 16, 2026•32 min•Season 21Ep. 214
Discover the controversial story behind Marilyn Manson, aka Brian Warner. Accused by multiple women of abuse—allegations he denies—what do his own revelations of past inhumanity reveal about him? And what can those admissions tell us about the serious accusations swirling around his name? Tune in to explore the complexities behind the artist and the allegations against him. This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners, including sexual assault and sexual abuse. This epi...
Jun 14, 2026•37 min•Season 23Ep. 236
Which metal bassist could have been a Soccer star? A Rod Stewart myth busted (no, not THAT one), Sir Elton, the Cartel, and the Battle of Britpop on the pitch and beyond. It’s a special rock ‘n’ roll World Cup bonus episode of Disgraceland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 11, 2026•36 min•Season 27Ep. 276
On April 15th, 1989, 95 men, women, and children were crushed to death during a soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest – two additional victims would later die of their injuries. The Hillsborough Disaster ruined lives and communities. But Hillsborough wasn’t just a disaster. It was a fight for justice. It was a war between the establishment and the people, and a cover-up on the largest scale – one that exploited hooligan culture in order to assassinate the character of thousands. A...
Jun 09, 2026•36 min•Season 19Ep. 190
In the early 1970s, John Lennon was suspected of conspiring to disrupt an American political convention and contributing to a paramilitary terrorist organization. Authorities took notice. So much so that the President of the United States took action to have the so-called “smart Beatle” deported. Lennon’s politics were way more violent and revolutionary than simply imagining all the people living life in peace and harmony. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracel...
Jun 07, 2026•39 min•Season 8Ep. 83
Despite his reputation as “the safe Beatle,” Paul McCartney was a badass. He took wild artistic risks, rubbed elbows with truly dangerous characters and because of his crimes, did hard time in one of the world’s most notorious prisons. His public spats with Beatles bandmate John Lennon are the stuff of legend, as is the “Paul is dead” conspiracy at the end of their time together as a band, but the truth may be even stranger. This episode was originally published on June 15, 2021. To see the full...
Jun 07, 2026•43 min•Season 8Ep. 82
Adele’s love of Al Pacino led us into a Mafia/Music Murder Rabbit Hole. Help us climb out of it in this bonus episode. Plus your voicemails, texts, emails, comments, DMs—and as always, a whole lotta Rosie. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jun 04, 2026•34 min•Season 27Ep. 276
With the release of her smash sophomore album 21, Adele became one of the most beloved pop stars of the 21st century. Her songs were the most played at karaoke bars, weddings, and funerals – not to mention a criminal element in America which sought to use Adele’s newfound fame for their nefarious purposes. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to exclusive bonus content and more, become...
Jun 02, 2026•42 min•Season 27Ep. 276
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. This episode was originally published on Novembe 12, 2024. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclus...
May 31, 2026•33 min•Season 20Ep. 207
How great was 1994 for music? The year Weezer’s “Blue Album” was released? Well, pretty tough to beat. This is a nostalgia episode so turn Beavis and Butt-Head off in the background, throw some Hot Pockets in the microwave, and put down your copy of Sassy magazine, because it’s time to listen to this Disgraceland bonus episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 28, 2026•35 min•Season 27Ep. 275
A frontman obsessed with Kurt Cobain. A band trying to outrun its own dorky image. A bass player who burned hot, disappeared, and later seemed to predict his own death. Harvard isolation, hotel-room debauchery, algorithmic songwriting, and a Weezer T-shirt at the center of an LAPD shooting. Listen to find out how Rivers Cuomo’s perfectly controlled rock band found its dark side. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen to Disgr...
May 26, 2026•45 min•Season 27Ep. 275
Anthony Bourdain had a lust for life. He went all in on adventure, indulgence, food, romance – including the romance of a heroin addiction that he chased through the restaurant kitchens and grimy rock clubs of 1980s Manhattan. For years he was a struggling cook and writer, but his first book, published when he was 43 years old, was an overnight success. He parlayed success as a writer into success as a TV host, traveling all over the world, dining with rockstars, presidents, and everyone in betw...
May 24, 2026•55 min•Season 16Ep. 161
Sonic Youth and the new Rolling Stone Magazine list of 100 Greatest Punk Albums of All Time has us asking about what the definition of punk rock even is—plus a preview of our upcoming Weezer episode—and your voicemails, texts, DMs and more. Check out our huge archive of hundreds of stories on artists like: The Sex Pistols The Clash The Ramones Patti Smith See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
May 21, 2026•32 min•Season 27Ep. 274
Viral YouTube star Christina Grimmie built her career one click, one song, and one fan at a time. Her breakout run on the NBC singing competition show The Voice was watched by millions. But one obsessed fan watched her a little too closely. Listen to find out how viral fame, fan access, and one man’s delusion turned into murder – and why time has never let Christina Grimmie’s story go. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen t...
May 19, 2026•40 min•Season 27Ep. 274
On May 22, 2017, a terrorist detonated a bomb outside Ariana Grande’s performance at Manchester Arena. The blast killed 22 people. It injured over a thousand more. The attack remains one of the most heartbreaking events in music history. Parents were terrified. Younger fans suddenly feared going to concerts. But Manchester’s story doesn’t end on May 22, or in the days that followed. It ends with one woman organizing the One Love concert, healing a new generation of young pop devotees. This is th...
May 17, 2026•35 min•Season 12Ep. 136
The newly revealed evidence from prosecutors detailing the alleged murder of a 14 year old by rising hip hop star D4vd are as shocking as they are dumb. You will not believe what this musician is being accused of. Plus your thoughts on the Mount Rushmore of guitar players, Sean Diddy Combs, and the May-Madness Sitcom Music Slugfest with your voicemails, texts, DMs, and more. For more great music and true crime stories, check out our extensive archive, featuring episodes like: Van Halen The Cramp...
May 14, 2026•41 min•Season 27Ep. 273
By the time he was 27 years old, Stevie Ray Vaughan was the hottest guitar player in Texas. But outside of the Lone Star State, he was practically unknown, with no real audience and no record deal. But all that would change when Stevie Ray Vaughan reached a crossroads and was presented with a fateful choice: be a star in someone else’s universe, or become a guitar god on his own. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen to Disg...
May 12, 2026•34 min•Season 27Ep. 273
The “smart” folks over at The New York Times aren’t the only ones with a list this week. We use the (mostly solid) Times list of Thirty Greatest Living American Songwriters as a jumping off point into a discussion of our Top 5 Most Surprising Musician True Crimes. Warning: You will learn things. Plus your voicemails, texts, dms, emails, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 08, 2026•51 min•Season 27Ep. 272
The story about Ian Watkins of Lostprophets might be the most disturbing I’ve come across in all my music history research. It involves the abuse of children and a monstrous abuse of power and fame. It also takes place in, among other places, an aptly named prison called “The Monster Mansion”, and like most great stories, it involves an unlikely hero and a twisted sort of justice. This episode will shock you. This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including child ...
May 05, 2026•40 min•Season 27Ep. 272
Like the Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins’ death, the details around the Doors Jim Morrison’s death are mysterious. Was a debonair jetset Count responsible for the singer’s death along with the death of Janis Joplin and possibly others? We get into this incredible story along with your voicemails, text, dms and more in this bonus episode. For more rock 'n' roll and true crime, check out our archive, featuring episodes such as: Donny Hathaway Jim Morrison See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
Apr 30, 2026•48 min•Season 27Ep. 271
How is it that one of the most famous drummers on the planet died four years ago and we still don’t have an official cause of death? We have some ideas. Plus, we get into the story behind one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands to ever do it, Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.co...
Apr 28, 2026•45 min•Season 27Ep. 271
In this week’s After Party, we dive into the near-death experience of Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan. After a harrowing moment in 1996, he floated above his body, witnessing paramedics trying to save him. But where do rock stars really go when they die? Is it a dark void or a realm of love? Plus, we hear from you about your favorite unlikely cover songs. Welcome to the After Party, Disgos! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 23, 2026•51 min•Season 27Ep. 270
The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame 2026 inductees were announced, and guess what? You’re pissed! So we are starting our own Hall of Fame. Plus, we are hearing from you through your voicemails, texts, and emails about Tom Waits, Patti Smith, and, of course, this week’s subject, Grace Jones. Welcome to the After Party, Disgos! For more great music and true crime stories, check out our archive, including episodes on: George Michael Madonna Jeff Buckley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Apr 16, 2026•40 min•Season 27Ep. 270
Grace Jones was one of the era-defining multihyphenates of the 1980s, an icon of the music, fashion, and movie worlds. From Jamaica to Studio 54, she broke down barriers and smashed glass ceilings at every turn – but she was also a magnet for true crime in the process. She was arrested numerous times. She was set up, the victim of a home invasion, and she wielded a loaded gun in order to get her way. At the height of her fame, she found herself fighting to defend her honor and her truth in the f...
Apr 14, 2026•39 min•Season 27Ep. 270
Disgos, we’ve got some big news—and you’re hearing it first. Also, Patti Smith has us asking (and answering), which movies about the Chelsea Hotel are worth watching, plus your voicemails, texts, DMs and more on the greatest music memoirs. For more great stories, check out our archive of over 250 episodes, featuring artists like: Mia Zapata Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes Metallica See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 09, 2026•38 min•Season 26Ep. 269
The Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping, Helter Skelter, the .44 Caliber Killers, the crime and grime of 70s New York; Central Park, the Chelsea Hotel, 42nd St., rape, murder, and the influence of junkie poets, and thieving novelists, all of it compelled Patti Smith to create music “for the criminals”, and perhaps to also survive, when so many other artists did not. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to exclusive bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgr...
Apr 07, 2026•57 min•Season 26Ep. 269
Fresh off of reading Patti Smith’s excellent memoir Just Kids in preparation of our upcoming Patti episode, we are discussing our favorite music history memoirs and autobiographies, everything from Henry Rollins to Carrie Brownstein back to Henry Rollins via David Lee Roth and more plus, as always, your voicemails, texts, dms, emails and a new segment we’re calling “New Song Old Song”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 02, 2026•54 min•Season 26Ep. 269
