Why was the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir a member of the secretive Bohemian Club? Maybe the answer lies in the Epstein Files or in early MK Ultra efforts? Listen to find out why a counterculture icon, one of the architects of the most consequential communities in music history, was part of a community that included conservative presidents and war criminals.

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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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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.

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This episode was originally published on April 16, 2019.

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The Clash were once described by their manager as a news organization first, and entertainers second. They were, as their record label put it, “the only band that matters.” They were on the front lines at the dawn of punk rock, but were adventurous enough to quickly branch out into reggae, dub, and hip-hop. They were arrested on suspicion of terrorism in London. Chased out of Jamaica by local drug lords armed to the teeth. Caused a near riot in Times Square when their week-long takeover of a disco was shut down by the city after night one. For Joe Strummer, one of the Clash’s two songwriters and the group’s political avatar, all this insanity came with the territory when you were disrupting the status quo. But the weight of it all, the importance of the only band that mattered, became too much to bear, and at the height of the band’s commercial success…their frontman went missing.

To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at ⁠www.disgracelandpod.com⁠.

This episode was originally published on February 13, 2024.

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There are countless musicians mentioned in the “Epstein Files”; a dozen or so are bold-faced names. A whole lot more are not. Some of the mentions are innocuous, a few of the mentions are highly suspicious, and all of them require context, something painfully missing from the social discourse at the moment. Have no fear, though, we’re giving it to you straight, from Jack White to Mick Jagger, and Jimmy Buffett, Elton John, and more—we make sense of the rockstars named in the Epstein Files. Plus, as always, your voicemails, texts, and correspondence.

For more great Disgraceland stories, check out our extensive archive, including episodes like:

Episode 151 - U2

Episode 51 - Jay Z

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We're sharing the audio from our new video podcast "This Film Should Be Played Loud." "This Film Should Be Played Loud" is a new monthly video podcast where Jake and Zeth discuss the convergence of music and film. Each episode explores the great music from one great film and the needle drops, the scores, and the soundtracks that heighten storytelling and enrich the viewing experience.
"This Film Should Be Played Loud" is only available on Patreon. To see what you've been missing and to get access to ad free listening of Disgraceland and Hollywoodland as well as other exclusive bonus content, become an All Access member by visiting disgracelandpod.com.

For a limited time, you can receive 20% off your monthly or yearly membership by using the code "DISGO" at checkout.

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The great writer Hunter S. Thompson was nearly beaten to death by Hell's Angels, and then nearly electrocuted in a hotel bathtub when he pissed off the wrong people. He dropped acid with the Merry Pranksters, hunted deer with his car, and carried around an alcoholic monkey in his pocket. He was an outcast, a rebel, and a hellraiser, motivated by anger and the constant need for attention – the latter of which he received in spades when a whole new word had to be created to describe his entirely subjective journalism style.

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 assault and 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 published on February 29, 2024.

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Though they were one of the first so-called “grunge” bands to sign to a major label, Alice in Chains were something of an outlier in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s Seattle scene. They didn’t fall directly into the punk camp, or the hair metal camp, and even the true metalheads thought they weren’t hardcore enough. This became painfully evident when the band opened a tour for Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, and were hazed, spat on, and booed. Alice’s lead singer, Layne Staley, could take the criticism. He had a prankster’s spirit, not to mention a rock ‘n roll attitude that paired well with his killer rock ‘n roll voice. But newfound fame was overwhelming, as was the destructive addiction to heroin Layne developed to deal with it all. Soon Layne Staley found himself lost in a jungle of his own making, not unlike the jungle that he sang so convincingly about in one of Alice in Chains’ most endearing songs.

This episode was originally published on March 28, 2024.

Which Seattle artist or band hits you the hardest? Why? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, [email protected], or on socials @disgracelandpod.

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What can we take away from the new report on Kurt Cobain’s cause of death? And which rockstars gone too soon mattered to you the most? All this and more in the After Party.

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An uncompromising voice, silenced at the dark end of the street. A city looking for a killer in all the wrong places. And a scene that suddenly made little sense. From Seattle basements to European squat tours to record-label lunches and back again, through memory and justice. Listen to find out how Mia Zapata’s story refused to end where everyone thought it did.

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