
DISGRACELAND
Murder, infidelity, suicide, arson, overdose, religious cults, drug trafficking; this award winning podcast explores the alleged true crime antics and criminal connections of musicians we love like Jerry Lee Lewis, Jay Z, The Rolling Stones, Amy Winehouse, Tupac Shakur, the Grateful Dead, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Blondie and many more. Why? Because real rock stars are more like feral, narcissistic animals than functioning members of society and that is precisely what makes them so damn entertaining. If you love music history and you love true crime, then get ready to love this podcast. 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. Special "Rewind" episodes from our archive of over 230+ episodes are re-released on Fridays.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.
Latest episodes

Apr 22, 2025 • 44min
Chris Cornell: Bad Trips, Crooked DEA Agents, and Four Octaves of Sheer Power
As a teenager, Chris Cornell was traumatized by a bad PCP trip that turned him into a recluse for years. Music pulled him out of the darkness when he discovered his four-octave voice by accident – A voice he used to incredible effect as the frontman for both Soundgarden and Audioslave. But the darkness never really went away – it was there in his hometown of Seattle, where tragedies closed the chapter on grunge, and in his music, which was authentic to the very end.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 published on May 22, 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 a monthly exclusive episode, weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership.Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) Facebook Fan GroupTikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 17, 2025 • 42min
Bonus Episode: Books They Don't Want You to Read and Books We Want Them to Write
This week in the After Party, Jake takes your calls on the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and wonders why some celebrity autobiographies are so hard to find. Plus, Jake looks at which major music stars have not yet written their autobiographies and wonders if they ever will.Next week, we're bringing you a story on Chris Cornell, lead vocalist of Soundgarden and Audioslave. We want to know: Which artists followup bands were bigger or as impactful as their breakthrough bands? Tell Jake at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod. For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:Episode 12 - James BrownEpisode 42 - MadonnaEpisode 15 - Motley CrueEpisode 23 - Rick James To hear an extended version of the After Party and unlock access to a monthly exclusive episode and ad free listening, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership. This month's episode (coming next week!) will be on the Allman Brothers Band.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 NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 10, 2025 • 39min
Bonus Episode: 2025 Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Nominees and Helter Skelter
Oasis, Bad Company, Black Crowes, OutKast, White Stripes, Joe Cocker, Joy Division / New Order, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Mana, Phish, Soundgarden, Billy Idol, and Mariah Carey.Which 7 artists would you choose to induct into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Will Billy Idol, the consummate rock 'n' roll animal, make the cut?Next week, we're bringing you a story on Mama Cass Elliot and her connection to Charles Manson and the Tate LaBianca murders. We want to know: Do you believe that the accepted narrative on Helter Skelter is true? Did Manson kill for the reasons they said he did? Tell Jake at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod. For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:Episodes 77 and 78 - OasisEpisode 137 - New OrderEpisode 202 - The CrampsEpisode 156 - Mariah Carey To hear an extended version of the After Party and unlock access to a monthly exclusive episode and ad free listening, become a Disgraceland All Access member at disgracelandpod.com/membership. This month's episode (coming soon) will be on the Allman Brothers Band.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 NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 8, 2025 • 44min
Billy Idol: A Motorcycle Crash, a Rude Awakening in Bangkok, Sexual Deviancy, and Rock ‘n’ Roll Animals
With his spiked blond hair, perpetual sneer, and gloved hands clenched in defiance, Billy Idol seemed like an avatar of punk rock dreamed up by central casting. But Idol's look, his attitude, and especially his music were completely authentic. He was a pure rock 'n' roll animal. Few rock stars lived a life as hedonistic and debaucherous as Billy Idol, and even fewer lived to tell the tale.Who is the most debaucherous star you've heard about in Disgraceland? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, 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.Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) Facebook Fan GroupTikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 7, 2025 • 3min
Introducing: HOLLYWOODLAND…
…the Hollywood and true crime spinoff from the award winning music and true crime podcast, DISGRACELAND, and the newest expansion from the folks at Double Elvis.The most dramatic non-fiction stories ever heard come from the world of entertainment. Specifically the dark side of entertainment. The true crime stories from Hollywood; the mysterious death of Brittany Murphy. The vicious, real-life murder that inspired David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. The three conspiracies surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death. The indecent arrest of John Waters. Dennis Hopper’s easy riding and excessive 70s Hollywood. Woody Harrelson’s Dad’s connection to the JFK assassination. The obsessive murder of Dorothy Stratten. Bill Murray’s bust. Chris Farley burning out too soon. Al Pacino’s armed robbery. The serial killer and Gianni Versace. Heath Ledger’s overdose. The list is endless and now all of these stories and more are available for you to listen to in the Hollywoodland podcast.Hollywoodland is hosted by Jake Brennan, creator and host of the award winning music and true crime podcast, Disgraceland.In Hollywoodland you can expect the same deep research, immersive sound design, and edge-of your seat scripted storytelling that myself and the team at Double Elvis have brought you over the years in Disgraceland. Right now you can binge over thirty episodes of Hollywoodland on James Dean, Paris Hilton, Andy Warhol, River Phoenix, Alfred Hitchcock and more. Episodes of Hollywoodland are released every monday and are available everywhere. Follow and subscribe on the Audacy app, Apple Podcasts and or wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 3, 2025 • 48min
Bonus Episode: JFK, Watergate, and More From Seattle
This week in the After Party, Jake shares his thoughts on the recent release of formerly classified JFK files and how they relate to Watergate and this week's episode on Bob Dylan.Next week, we're bringing you a story on Billy Idol, and we want to know: who is the most debaucherous rock star ever? Tell Jake at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod.For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:Episode 64 - PigpenEpisode 85 - PanteraEpisode 86 - Tommy JamesEpisode 108 & 109 - Sex PistolsTo hear an extended version of the After Party and unlock access to a monthly exclusive episode and ad free listening, 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 NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 9min
Bob Dylan (Pt.2): BREAKING–New JFK Files Link Dylan to Richard Nixon’s Watergate Scandal
Within the recently released "JFK Files” there is a reference to a “Bobby Dyllon” and informant number “T-3390-S." This recent discovery has led to a quick consensus among many JFK assassination scholars that “Dyllon” is the lynchpin between an unknown FBI informant at the heart of a conspiracy theory that scholars are now just beginning to accept as truth: that the “Watergate” scandal was not at all what it seemed; the downfall of a corrupt politician, but was instead, the overthrow of a president––Richard Nixon––who was about to reveal the truth about the Kennedy assassination. Bob Dylan’s––or “Bobby Dyllon’s”––surveilled actions, now unredacted and detailed in the JFK Files, come very close to proving this so-called “conspiracy” theory as historical fact.Bob Dylan was famously called the "voice of his generation." Which artist best spoke for your generation? Let Jake know at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, 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.Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) Facebook Fan GroupTikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 27, 2025 • 57min
Bonus Episode: F#ck, Marry, Kill with Your Favorite Seattle Bands
This week in the After Party, Jake hears from you about the greatest Seattle artists of the grunge era and makes his own list of the top 10 grunge albums.Next week, we're bringing you a special story on "Voice of His Generation" Bob Dylan. We want to know: who is the voice of your generation? Tell Jake at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod.For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:Episode 63 - Chet BakerEpisodes 101 and 102 - Miles DavisEpisode 189 - MetallicaEpisode 6 - Lisa "Left Eye" LopesTo hear an extended version of the After Party and unlock access to a monthly exclusive episode and ad free listening, 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 NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 25, 2025 • 44min
Alice in Chains' Layne Staley: The Rooster, the Jungle, and Dying Young
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, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, 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.Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - GET THE NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) Facebook Fan GroupTikTok To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 20, 2025 • 50min
Bonus Episode - Video Directors, MTV stars, and Big News From Hollywood
This week in the After Party, Jake looks at video directors from the 80s and 90s who went on to have careers in films. Plus, we hear from you about your favorite early MTV artists, and Jake has big news for fans of Disgraceland, Hollywood, and true crime.Next week, we're bringing you a story about Seattle rockers Alice in Chains, and we want to know: Which Seattle band or artist is your favorite? Thirty five years after the peak of grunge, which bands are you still listening to today? Tell Jake at 617-906-6638, disgracelandpod@gmail.com, or on socials @disgracelandpod.For more great Disgraceland episodes, dive into our extensive archive, including such episodes as:Episode 42 - MadonnaEpisode 118 - AC/DCEpisode 135 - AerosmithTo hear an extended version of the After Party and unlock access to a monthly exclusive episode and ad free listening, 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 NEWSLETTERFollow Jake and DISGRACELAND:InstagramYouTubeX (formerly Twitter) To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices