The Adam Carolla Show

Ricky Nelson’s Legacy, Elvis, and Growing Up with George Harrison

Guests: Matthew & Gunnar Nelson (The Nelson Twins)

Date: December 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the deep legacy of Ricky Nelson, the experience of growing up famous in L.A., stories about Elvis and George Harrison, and the enduring strength of family in the entertainment industry. Adam welcomes Matthew and Gunnar Nelson (the Nelson Twins) for an in-depth conversation about their new book “What Happened to Your Hair?”, their family’s multi-generational musical history, and personal anecdotes from Hollywood’s golden eras to the MTV generation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reminiscing About the Valley & L.A. Upbringing

• Adam and the Nelsons swap stories about growing up in the San Fernando Valley, private school days, and the oddities of celebrity-run-ins as “just a local kid.”
• Adam reveals he went to junior high with “the cool gym coach Mr. Nelson,” who was actually the twins’ second cousin. [33:17]
  • Matthew Nelson: “Yeah, that’s our second cousin. Mr. Nelson the coach…was always cool. Man.” [34:08]

2. Nelson Family Legacy: Ozzie, Harriet, Ricky

• The family’s roots stretch back to showbiz in the 1930s with Ozzy Nelson’s orchestra.
  • Matthew Nelson: “Ozzy had the Ozzy and Nelson Orchestra and they had a number one record in ‘35.” [36:02]
• The evolution from big-band radio to pioneering TV sitcoms.
• Ricky’s meteoric rise as television’s original teen idol and early inventor of marketing music through TV performances.
  • Gunnar Nelson: “He was the first guy to utilize the power of television to market music…He wound up selling half a billion singles in his career.” [37:32], [40:59]

3. Nelsons’ Encounters with Elvis, Frampton & Iconic Musicians

• Stories about Elvis trying to poach Ricky’s guitarist, James Burton, and friendly football games between Ricky and Elvis’ teams (including the time Ricky showed up with the LA Rams as his squad). [46:18], [47:51]
• Unpacking how being “too good-looking” was both a blessing and a curse for musicians like Frampton and their own father, as audiences sometimes overlooked musicianship for image.
  • Adam Carolla: “In a weird way, I wonder if that hurts in that career...like nobody knew what a great guitar player Frampton was, ‘cause they’re so caught up in his blonde hair.” [42:34]

4. The Paradox of Teen Idols and Fame

• The legacy of “Tiger Beat” fame, and reflections on David Cassidy and the Partridge Family, with Gunner sharing how Cassidy found meaning in being people’s “first crush.” [53:29], [53:35]
  • Gunnar Nelson: “The thing that gave me peace about the whole situation was teen idols…are a lot of women’s very first crush…he found a little bit of nobility in that.” [54:06]

5. Inside the Evolution of Music Trends—From Hair Bands to Grunge

• The rapid and often manufactured shift from glam metal to grunge in the early ‘90s, driven in large part by music industry economics and changing fashion.
  • Gunnar Nelson: “It really wasn’t organic, like some people want to believe—the music industry…was run by like six guys. At a certain point, bands…were costing a million dollars a video…it got too expensive. So grunge was the economic answer.” [81:46], [82:46]
• Adam’s theory: music (and fashion) is always a pendulum, swinging from excess to minimalism.

6. The Tragedy of Ricky Nelson’s Death – Setting the Record Straight

• Nelsons recount in detail the tragedy of their father’s fatal DC-3 plane fire, the burden of media speculation about drugs, and the difficult decision to prioritize their bandmates’ families during legal action.
  • Matthew Nelson: “I found out my dad was dead on the car radio…Gunner saw it on TV. It was so horrifying…But what was even more horrifying was how the press handled him and unfairly cited drug abuse as the cause.” [95:34], [95:51]
  • Gunnar Nelson: “The news cycle was 24/7 about all these allegations…And on top of it, we couldn’t really talk about it, because if we did, the families wouldn’t get paid out.” [97:30]

7. Growing Up Surrounded by Legends—George Harrison, Dylan, Laurel Canyon

• George Harrison used to be “Uncle George from next door,” coming over for breakfast while renting the house adjacent to the Nelsons.
  • Matthew Nelson: “Uncle George… turned out to be George Harrison from the Beatles…He would come over and have breakfast with us because he missed his home.” [62:01]
• Bob Dylan and Mama Cass Elliot (their babysitter) were regulars around the house.
  • Dylan’s performance of “Garden Party” as a tribute to Ricky moved the family. [64:27]
  • Gunnar Nelson: “Mama Cass’s first single was ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’. The first person to ever record that song was Ozzie Nelson…” [64:51]

8. The Reality of Sudden Pop Fame & Surviving the MTV Era

• The Nelson twins detail their swift rise when “Love and Affection” hit number one and how overnight they became teen idols with all the chaos and alienation it brings.
  • Matthew Nelson: “We went up in the elevator. The doors opened, and it was like a jet engine…Girls screaming, like the David Cassidy thing…last week we couldn’t get someone to help me buy underwear, and now this.” [75:27]
• Later, grunge killed the hair band scene virtually overnight—described as a “violent” shift orchestrated by label suits.

9. On Sibling Bond and Twinship in the Spotlight

• Twinship as a survival mechanism for the pressures of fame.
  • Matthew Nelson: “He [our father] really could have used a twin brother, you know, and there were times when frankly, I could kick Gunner’s ass a little bit and get him back in line, and vice versa. We pick up each other.” [91:44]
  • Gunnar Nelson: “The difference between us and the Everlys—we really do get along. Sometimes it’s that tension that makes really good art…I actually love the work.” [92:31]

10. Racing, Valley Village Connections, & Enduring Friendships

• Heavy gearhead talk: Adam and Matthew swap Laguna Seca and vintage racing war stories, linking over mutual childhoods in Valley Village and even the original Val Surf skate shop.
  • Matthew Nelson: “My best friend is Zach Brown, the guy that runs McLaren…he’s a Valley Village guy, grew up in North Hollywood…We raced at Willow Springs or Riverside or whatever.” [101:44], [105:25]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the burden of legacy:

  “There’s a little pressure there and stuff, but it’s an honor to have that kind of pressure…we’re apparently the only family in history with three generations of number one hitmakers in it, according to the Guinness Book.” — Gunnar Nelson [67:16]

• On dealing with sudden, overwhelming fame:

  “The difference television makes—it’s amazing how much more attractive you get when you’re on TV. It’s fantastic.” — Matthew Nelson [75:56]

• On the paradox of enduring image and artistry:

  “It’s all important. The image is seriously important. It’s entertainment…But you’re right. The look got in the way.” — Matthew Nelson [43:05]

• On family and surviving together:

  “If one’s having a weak day, the other one is right there… I just recently went through a divorce. I don’t know how I could have done that without my twin and my best friend being my lead counselor and all that stuff and keeping me sane.” —Gunnar Nelson [91:51, 93:11]

• Revelation about Ricky Nelson’s final flight:

  “He was doing post-Christmas shows…we were all set to go with them…He just uncharacteristically said, guys I don’t want you on the plane right now…He said, I don’t want you on my plane right now. Meet me in Dallas…If we’d been with him, we’d be gone.” — Matthew Nelson [93:46]

Important Segment Timestamps

• News & Memorial on Rob Reiner: 02:13–12:03
• Flying Cars & Technology Rant: 12:10–18:01
• Parking/’Poor Tax’ Laws of LA: 18:07–27:02
• Nelson Twins Interview Start: 30:56
• Growing Up Nelson & Valley Roots: 31:07–36:33
• Ricky Nelson as TV/Rock Pioneer: 37:00–41:09
• Stories on Elvis, Frampton, Jordanaires: 41:32–47:51
• Garden Party & Music Industry Shifts: 56:22–59:07
• On David Cassidy & Fame’s Dark Side: 52:54–54:06
• Surreal Fame (MTV Era): 72:16, 74:01–75:56
• On Grunge, Economics, and Suit-Led Trends: 79:34–84:38
• Setting Record Straight on Ricky’s Death: 93:31–100:48
• George Harrison, Bob Dylan stories: 62:01–64:26
• Sibling Bond & Twins Making Art: 91:44–93:11
• Racing/Car Culture & McLaren Friendship: 101:44–105:38

Conclusion

This episode is an engrossing walk through music, family, legacy, and fame—serving up hilarious, heartfelt, and at times sobering tales from both Adam Carolla and the Nelson twins. At the core is a deep affection for the good, the tragic and the outright surreal parts of growing up “in the business.” Through it all, the brothers’ warmth, wit, and bond keep the stories grounded in real emotion. Their new memoir “What Happened To Your Hair?” promises even more insider stories for fans of pop, rock, television, and American cultural history.

Find Nelson tour info, book details, and more at nelsontwins.com.