Podcast · Music

DISGRACELAND

by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · English · Music

New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 36 min
Latest: 6 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026 · 43 minNew

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: Was Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Murdered?

He was an operatic vocalist made famous by his song “I Put A Spell on You,” a song he performed throughout the conservative 1950s while jumping out of a coffin on stage. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins will live on in infamy after it was discovered he fathered 57+ children over the course of his life as not only a singer, but a soldier, a boxer, and an actor. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was a lot of things before he died in 2000, but was the man in the coffin actually the victim of a murder, as some have alleged? We find out in this special Halloween episode of Disgraceland.…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S3 · E26 · 4 Oct 2026 · 35 min

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love Pt. 2: Suicide Samurai

Grunge, grief, the Grateful Dead and a “teenage whore.” Part 2 of the Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love story picks up with Courtney’s ascent and the couple’s heroin-hazed pregnancy. An escape from rehab and a punk as f*ck group hug for Gen X. This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. To see a full list of contributors, visit disgracelandpod.com. This episode was originally published on…
S3 · E25 · 4 Oct 2026 · 41 min

Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love Pt. 1: No Direction Home

Kurt Cobain is a celebrated and defiant icon of Generation X. His wife, Courtney Love, was once the most hated woman in America. Courtney, like Kurt, was unapologetic, fierce, determined, ambitious, authentic, and a total hypocrite. They were both totally in love and for a minute shined brighter than most. They challenged gender norms and the music industry patriarchy and reluctantly played the roles of their generation’s John and Yoko by way of Sid and Nancy all while making great music, but only one of them would make it out of the nineties alive. To see a full list of contributors,…
S28 · E288 · 1 Oct 2026 · 36 min

Bonus: Old Rockstars With No F*cks Left To Give

We go deeper into the claims Quincy Jones made later in his life, but we also discuss one of the most important music and entertainment figures of the 20th century. And as always, your voicemails, texts, DMs, and emails and more. Disgraceland has been nominated for a Signal Award! Vote for us here: Best Writing Best Music Podcast For more great stories from the intersection of music and true crime, check out our archive, featuring episodes on Alice Cooper , Chuck Berry , and more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E288 · 29 Sep 2026 · 50 min

Quincy Jones: True or False? His Wild Life and the Stories Behind His Wildest Claims

Quincy Jones brought truth through music. We heard what America really felt like in the albums he produced, and in the films he scored. At the end of his life he made wild claims; that Michael Jackson was a thief (“he stole a lot of songs”), that the Beatles were frauds (“no-playing motherfu*ckers”), and that he knows “who killed Kennedy” in part because of his relationship with Frank Sinatra. In this episode we dive into these crimes—-musical and otherwise—to determine if arguably the greatest producer who ever lived, the man who claimed…
S7 · E75 · 27 Sep 2026 · 35 min

Lil’ Peep (Rewind): A new hip-hop and emo fusion; trap beats, tender lyrics, too much Xanax and an overdose that’s still mysterious.

Lil’ Peep was a once-in-a-generation talent. Poised to become a new Cobain, Bowie or Dylan, but whose life was cut short by an overdose that’s still mysterious. Depression, anxiety and a unique fusion of hip-hop, emo, grime and raw, empathetic lyrics resulted in a deep connection to fans that in the end, may have done him in at the tender age of 21. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com. This episode was originally published on March 9, 2021. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to exclusive bonus content and more, become…
S28 · E287 · 24 Sep 2026 · 36 min

Bonus: Real “Emo” Notes from the Punk Rock Museum, DIY Recording, and More Bobby Fuller

Notes on the emotional impact from Jake’s trip to the Punk Rock Museum, Bobby Fuller and DIY recording recs, plus your voicemails, texts, dms, and emails on how Bobby died and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E287 · 22 Sep 2026 · 47 min

Bobby Fuller: Who Killed Bobby Fuller?

How did Bobby Fuller die? Ask four different people and you’ll get four different answers. Wikipedia will tell you that Bobby’s death was an “accident”. The LAPD will tell you Bobby committed suicide. YouTube will tell you a lot of things with big, dumb sensationalized thumbnails, but in the end, won’t really tell you anything at all. The rock ‘n’ roll history books––all but one anyway––will tell you that Bobby Fuller’s death is an unsolvable mystery. They’re wrong. Bobby Fuller’s death is completely…
S20 · E200 · 20 Sep 2026 · 36 min

Travis Scott and Astroworld: The Devil Went Down to Houston (Rewind)

Travis Scott’s 2021 Astroworld music festival turned out to be a deadly disaster. Was it greed? Satanism? Or was something even more mysterious and evil behind the events that took the lives of ten concertgoers and injured and traumatized many others? This episode was originally published on October 1, 2024. 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 content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership. Visit www.disgracelandpod.com/merch to see…
S28 · E286 · 17 Sep 2026 · 33 min

Bonus: Mysterious Crosby Cowboy, Robin Thicke Bank Robbery, and More

Surprise! David Crosby isn’t who we thought he was. Same goes for Robin Thicke apparently as well. Lil’ Wayne though? What about Wayne Coyne? All of this and more plus your voicemails, texts, DMs, emails, and more in this week’s bonus After Party episode of Disgraceland. For more great stories at the intersection of music and true crime, check out these stories from our archive: John Denver Chris Cornell See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S23 · E234 · 15 Sep 2026 · 35 min

David Crosby: The Folk Singer Who Became an FBI Fugitive

The man who made sweet, soft, harmonious music with Stephen Stills and Neil Young was actually a crazy rock ‘n’ roll animal. Listen to hear how David Crosby wound up addicted, escaped authorities, and went on the lam. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. This previously exclusive episode was originally published on May 22, 2025. 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 . Sign up for…
S21 · E219 · 13 Sep 2026 · 41 min

Blink-182: Tom Was Right. Aliens Exist. (Rewind)

Everyone thought Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge was a joke, until he proved them all wrong. This is the story of government control, aliens, an arrest, a plane crash, a cancer diagnosis, redemption, and (of course) anti-authority punk rock. Do you believe in Non-Human Intelligence? Have you had an experience with UFOs? Let Jake know and tell your story at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod. This episode was originally published on January 28, 2025. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and…
S28 · E286 · 10 Sep 2026 · 32 min

Bonus Episode: Another Biopic Bites the Dust

What good is a Queen biopic if it reveals nothing real about Freddie Mercury? Are biopics just Marvel movies for music lovers? This and more, plus your voicemails, text, dms, and emails in this week’s After Party bonus episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E286 · 8 Sep 2026 · 42 min

Queen: Will the Real Freddie Mercury Please Stand Up?

Queen is one of the biggest-selling bands in music history, and Bohemian Rhapsody is one of the highest-grossing biopics of all time. But did the movie give us a true portrait of Freddie Mercury – or is the real story so debauched, so insane, that it borders on unbelievable? To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership . Visit www.disgracelandpod.com/merch to see the latest Disgraceland merch! Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other…
S7 · E70 · 6 Sep 2026 · 29 min

Tupac Shakur Pt. 2: Life Behind Bars, Suge Knight Saves The Day, East Coast/West Coast Beef, and What Could Have Been (Rewind)

In part two of the Tupac Shakur story, we see the young star trying to deal with life behind bars and giving in to the patronage of the notorious Suge Knight of Death Row Records while getting into the mud with the Notorious B.I.G. in a deadly game of East Coast West Coast beef. We also get a glimpse of what Tupac Shakur might have achieved had he not gone to Las Vegas on that fateful night back in 1996. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . This episode was originally published on February 2, 2021. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get…
S7 · E69 · 6 Sep 2026 · 34 min

Tupac Shakur Pt. 1: 1960s Radicalism Gives Way to Socially Conscious Rap, a Charismatic Screen Star, and Deadly Violence (Rewind)

Tupac Shakur was many things. He was a supremely talented MC and was wildly charismatic in front of the camera. He was also violent, angry and completely unable to keep himself out of trouble. Part one of his story traces his rise through the radical influence of his Black Panther lineage, the deadly violence that seemed to follow him wherever he went, and the inevitability of both prison and superstardom. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com . This episode was originally published on January 26, 2021. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get…
S28 · E285 · 3 Sep 2026 · 35 min

Bonus Episode: Tupac Shakur Case Closed?

Finally! The mystery is over! We know who killed Tupac and why. Or do we? This and more, plus your voicemails, text, DMs, and emails in this week’s After Party bonus episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E285 · 1 Sep 2026 · 31 min

Special Episode: Reggie Watts and the Artists You Want to Hear in Disgraceland

A special look at the new artists we’re covering in the second half of 2026, along with a peek into the breaking Reggie Watts story, and how you can be directly involved in the choosing of Disgraceland episode subjects. 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 . Visit www.disgracelandpod.com/merch to see the latest Disgraceland merch! Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTER…
S28 · E281 · 30 Aug 2026 · 43 min

Dolly Parton (Rewind): How the Country Icon Nearly Became the Subject of Her Own Murder Ballad

They tried to take her songs. They tried to take her fame. They even threatened to take her life – not once, but multiple times. Listen to find out how Dolly Parton avoided becoming just another tragic heroine in a murder ballad – and instead became one of the most commercial and critically acclaimed artists in music history. This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. This episode was originally…
S28 · E284 · 27 Aug 2026 · 34 min

Bonus Episode: A Tribute to Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has passed away. Dolly Parton was a musical giant, an American songwriter worthy of a place on the same page in the music history books as Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, or anyone else you can think of. More importantly, she was a first-class human, and an inspiration to me and many, many others. For more great stories at the intersection of music and true crime, check out these episodes: The Go-Gos Bob Dylan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E284 · 25 Aug 2026 · 42 min

Alice Bag: The Punk Rock Scene That Soundtracked a Serial Killer

In 1977, punk rock took root in Los Angeles just as a prolific serial killer began to terrorize the city. For months, the bodies of young women were being discovered on hillsides – including one woman who was a regular at an underground punk club in Hollywood where seminal L.A. bands like The Bags cut their teeth. Listen to hear how the story of the leader of that band, Alice Bag, overlaps in terrifying and unexpected ways with the story of the infamous Hillside Strangler, who had L.A. gripped with fear for over a year. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to a monthly…
S17 · E179 · 23 Aug 2026 · 35 min

R. Kelly: Superstars, Super Predators, and a 20-Year Reign of Sexual Terror (Rewind)

R. Kelly openly groomed teenage victims while on trial for child pornography – a trial based on sex tapes that were once sold at Tower Records. He wrote a song designed to help Michael Jackson turn attention away from his own troubling allegations, and he wrote that song while he was illegally married to a 15-year old. That marriage eventually brought about his downfall. But not before R. Kelly went on a 20-year reign of terror – all conducted in plain sight while he was one of the biggest R&B artists in the world. This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some…
S28 · E283 · 20 Aug 2026 · 32 min

Bonus Episode: A Murder On Tour, Southern Bands and Brother Bands

The murder from Allman Brothers Band history that didn’t make it into our full episode, your take on the greatest southern bands, and more on this bonus episode of Disgraceland. For more great stories from the intersection of true crime and music, check out our archive, including episodes like: Oasis part 1 Oasis part 2 Derek & the Dominos See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S23 · E230 · 18 Aug 2026 · 36 min

The Allman Brothers Band: Drug Beefs, the Dixie Mafia, and the Making of a President

When The Allman Brothers Band arrived on the scene in Macon, Georgia in 1969, they made an immediate impression. They rehearsed at full volume all day long, and spent their nights taking mushrooms together in a graveyard. To top it off, their band was integrated, which ruffled a lot of feathers in the deep South. But the biggest transgression the Allman Brothers would make was crossing the Dixie Mafia, a loose confederation of criminal gangs that spread from Austin to Atlanta. This episode was originally published on April 24, 2025. For the full list of contributors, visit…
S14 · E152 · 16 Aug 2026 · 34 min

Blondie (Rewind): Punk vs. Disco, Held Hostage by Phil Spector, and Riding with Ted Bundy

Blondie got their start as part of New York’s fertile punk scene in the late ‘70s, a time of great musical innovation. Also a time of great fear. Violent crime had the five boroughs in a stranglehold. Muggers, rapists, thieves, criminal deviants of all stripes ran wild in the streets. Or so they said. True New Yorkers like Blondie were tough, jaded, immune to the fears foisted upon tourists. Blondie’s Debbie Harry, in particular, was not a victim and not a mark. But she nearly became a victim to a soon-to-be infamous serial killer when she accepted a ride from a stranger.…
S28 · E283 · 13 Aug 2026 · 34 min

Bonus Episode: Addressing the Tila Tequila Rumor, Billy Corgan’s Shapeshifter, and a Glorious Rock ‘N’ Roll Jimmy Kimmel Performance.

I wanted to talk this week about Billy Corgan’s outrageous shapeshifting claim and how it relates to who he is as a musician, but the Internet had other plans. It was all about to go to sh*t until Low Cut Connie saved us all on national television. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S28 · E283 · 11 Aug 2026 · 41 min

Smashing Pumpkins: Billy Corgan and the Shapeshifter

This is the story about how a drug-related death led to the fracturing of the ‘90s alt-rock giants, how competing narratives amongst band members complicated their legacy, and what Billy Corgan’s strange interaction with a shapeshifter has to do with it all. 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 . Visit www.disgracelandpod.com/merch to see the latest Disgraceland merch! Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events,…
S8 · E91 · 9 Aug 2026 · 41 min

Woodstock Pt. 2: A Disaster Movie (Rewind)

The original Woodstock was a literal disaster, declared so on its first day by the state of New York. There were fights, onstage, armed black-shirted hippie gestapo on patrol, and most notably, two dead kids on record. The festival was born of violence, sparked into existence out of organizer Michael Lang’s standoff with hillbilly armed guards and cops from down in Florida. The lasting image of Woodstock as a time of idyllic harmony is a nostalgic gimmick, as is the 1970 documentary about the events that took place up in Bethel, New York that fateful weekend. If any director were to…
S8 · E90 · 9 Aug 2026 · 45 min

Woodstock Pt. 1: A Disaster Movie (Rewind)

Woodstock is remembered as the generation-defining moment when the baby boomers demonstrated to the world the power of peace, love and communalism. In reality, what went down at Old Man Yasgur’s farm in August 1969 involved extortion, deaths, countless overdoses, near-mass electrocution, and a state of emergency. Not to mention a restless crowd that doubled in size seemingly every time festival producer Micheal Lang lifted his head to survey the drug-addled chaos. All he wanted was a new kind of festival—a celebration of utopian hippie idealism. Instead, for three long, lawless…
S28 · E282 · 6 Aug 2026 · 36 min

Bonus Episode: Tribute to Sick of it All’s Lou Koller, Plus More John Frusciante and River Phoenix

We pay tribute to Sick Of It All’s Lou Koller, dive deeper into the theories surrounding River Phoenix’s death and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist John Frusciante’s alleged involvement, and of course answer your questions, voicemails, texts, emails and more, See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About DISGRACELAND

DISGRACELAND is an award-winning music and true crime podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. Jerry Lee Lewis's 5th wife? Dead. Sid and Nancy? Both dead. Why? Because musicians are insane, and insane things happen to them. Why did we lose Amy Winehouse at 27? Was Debbie Harry really abducted by Ted Bundy as she claims? Is Patti Smith not just the "Godmother of Punk", but also the "Original True Crime Girl"? What really happened the night of the Jay Z nightclub stabbing? What do the Diddy indictments truly reveal? All these stories and more, on artists from every genre and their true crimes, in our massive 260-plus story archive. The Dead, the Stones, Johnny, Willie, Frank, Kurt, Courtney, Gaga, Lana, Taylor, and too many to name. DISGRACELAND is music history come to life through audio storytelling as you've never heard it before, with revealing facts: yes, assassins are the real reason the Beatles quit touring—reclaimed myths: no, Mama Cass didn't die from choking on a ham sandwich––and constant reckoning between art and artist––all told through the lens of true crime. This is the podcast for the self-proclaimed "Disgos", the musically obsessed and the true crime heads; the outsiders, the independent thinkers who know that the best history is the history that gets buried. DISGRACELAND is where host Jake Brennan tells the stories they didn't want told. The kind you'll end up telling someone else. Get ready to…

DISGRACELAND is a English music podcast from Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Language: English
Category: Music
New episodes: Several times a week
Typical length: 36 min
Latest episode: 6 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1275172907
Rights: 2026 Double Elvis Productions

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