Lou Reed was fascinated and inspired by all kinds of real people who existed on the edges of society — junkies, street hustlers, gender non-conformists — but he fell in love with trans woman Rachel Humphreys, a beautiful mystery even to him.
This episode contains references to heavy drug use, abuse, and suicide.
Sources for this episode can be found on our website.
For more info on About a Girl and other great shows, visit the Double Elvis website and follow Double Elvis on Twitter and Instagram.

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Rachel Humphreys & Lou Reed

About A Girl is a scripted narrative anthology series about women whose stories have long been eclipsed by the legends of their famous partners. Bowie, Elvis, 2Pac, Prince, Miles, Biggie. Each of these icons created some of the most celebrated and enduring music of the modern age. But there's more to their stories than you know. About A Girl brings focus to the many women without whom the landscape of popular music might be very different.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Music

Relationships

On the backs of one of rock ‘n roll’s greatest innovators and one of its greatest ringmasters, Van Halen made some of the greatest music of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen chased the perfect sound while lead singer David Lee Roth chased the next party. They were also ruthless when it came to protecting the unique thing they had created. Nothing was allowed to stand in their way. Not bullies, bootleggers, cynical guitar manufacturers, record producers – even the members of Van Halen themselves.
To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com.
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Van Halen: Bootleggers, U.S. Marshals, and Protecting Innovation at Any Cost

America’s girl next door meets the leader of America’s wildest rock band. As Valerie Bertinelli struggles with her career as an actress, Eddie Van Halen and his band skyrocket to success, and he faces his own challenges by leaning into his drinking. Valerie moves to help him, but when the lifestyles they lead and the demands of work cause a rift, she finds she has her own demons to face.
Sources:
Enough Already: Learning to Love the Way I Am Today, by Valerie Bertinelli
Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back, One Pound at a Time, by Valerie Bertinelli
1982 PM Magazine interview
2001 Entertainment Tonight interview
Valerie Bertinelli Talks Tragic Death of Brother at 17 Months Old (People Magazine)
 
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About A Girl is a scripted narrative anthology series about women whose stories have long been eclipsed by the legends of their famous partners. Bowie, Elvis, 2Pac, Prince, Miles, Biggie. Each of these icons created some of the most celebrated and enduring music of the modern age. But there's more to their stories than you know. About A Girl brings focus to the many women without whom the landscape of popular music might be very different. For more shows like About A Girl, check out www.doubleelvis.com. 
 
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ENCORE - Valerie Bertinelli & Eddie Van Halen

We've paired this Disgraceland episode on George Harrison with About A Girl's episode on Patti Boyd.  To learn more about Disgraceland, visit disgracelandpod.com.  
George Harrison famously survived the dissolution of the Beatles, a bust by London’s drug squad, a potentially bloody visit from the Hell’s Angels, and a few rounds with cancer. But on the final day of the 20th century, his strength and faith were put to the ultimate test. A crazed fan, convinced that the Beatles were evil and George was a sorcerer who had possessed him, broke into George’s Friar Park estate in the dead of night with one goal: to murder George Harrison.
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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Presenting DISGRACELAND - George Harrison: Surviving the Beatles, the London Drug Squad, and a Home Invasion

Pattie Boyd is one of the best known rock star partners, having married both Beatle George Harrison and then Harrison’s close friend Eric Clapton. She famously inspired the Beatles’ “Something” and Clapton’s “Layla.”. But less publicized is the infidelity and turmoil that infected both marriages. Find out how she responded and finally emerged from it all.

Sources:
Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd
George Harrison: Behind the Locked Door by Graeme Thompson
Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton
BeatlesBible.com Timeline
Miss O’Dell: My Hard Days and Long Nights with The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and the Women They Loved by Chris O’Dell
Jennifer Juniper by Jenny Boyd
This episode originally aired on October 27, 2023.
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ENCORE - Pattie Boyd, George Harrison, & Eric Clapton

Welcome to DISGRACELAND in 2024. Jake Brennan will continue to bring you the most insane stories about rock stars getting away with murder and behaving very badly ... and will also tell other stories about icons from beyond the world of music who possess dangerously compelling rock 'n roll hearts. Like Anthony Bourdain. Andy Warhol. Hunter S. Thompson. Kobe Bryant. Garth Brooks. Public Enemy. Van Halen. And so many more. Get the scoop on the exciting 2024 we have planned for you, the biggest and most iconic year in DISGRACELAND history. Rocka rolla.
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Rachel Humphreys & Lou Reed

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