Dark History Episode 144: Death to Disco, Dancing, and Jazz!? The Men Who Ruined Music

In Episode 144 of Dark History, host Bailey Sarian delves into the sinister roles men have played in disrupting and sometimes outright destroying beloved musical genres and movements. Through a series of gripping narratives, Bailey uncovers how various male figures—from church authorities to government officials and biker gangs—have sought to "ruin music," leaving lasting impacts on cultural histories. Below is a detailed summary of the key stories, discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in this enthralling episode.

1. The Dancing Plague of 1518: Church Authorities as Enemies of Joy

Timestamp: [00:00]

Bailey kicks off the episode by revisiting a bizarre historical event: the Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg, France. In a town already beleaguered by poverty, famine, and disease, a peasant woman named Frau Trofia began dancing uncontrollably. This behavior quickly spread, turning Strasbourg into an unintended, endless dance party with up to 400 participants dancing incessantly, often resulting in exhaustion and death.

Notable Quotes:

• Bailey Sarian [05:30]: "The church was bothered by all this dancing, and they tried everything they could to make it all stop, make it just go away, but they weren't having any damn luck."
• Speaker Joan [12:45]: "What was going on with them? Were they possessed? Was it some curse?"

The church's misguided solution involved organizing a grand street festival with professional musicians and dancers, encouraging the afflicted to dance until exhaustion. They even introduced red shoes, symbolizing Saint Vitus's burning feet, in a desperate attempt to invoke divine intervention. While this method did reduce the number of dancers, it did so through increased mortality rather than genuine resolution.

Insights: Bailey highlights the lack of understanding and empathy from the authorities, who instead of seeking the underlying causes—be it psychological distress, mass hysteria, or supernatural beliefs—imposed harsh and ineffective measures that exacerbated the tragedy.

2. Billie Holiday vs. Harry J. Anslinger: Suppression of Jazz and Social Justice

Timestamp: [30:15]

Transitioning from medieval chaos to 20th-century music, Bailey narrates the tumultuous life of jazz legend Billie Holiday and her relentless persecution by Harry J. Anslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN). Anslinger, who harbored deep-seated prejudices against jazz and its African American artists, targeted Holiday particularly after she performed "Strange Fruit," a haunting protest against lynching.

Notable Quotes:

• Bailey Sarian [35:20]: "Harry became so obsessed with Billy that he even tried to intercept her before a gig when she was planning to perform 'Strange Fruit,' but she slipped past him."
• Bailey Sarian [42:10]: "She didn’t even have drugs on her. He was just waiting for his moment."

Billie's early life was marred by hardship, including forced entry into sex work and drug addiction, which Anslinger exploited to tarnish her reputation. Anslinger's vendetta led to multiple arrests, manipulation of law enforcement protocols, and ultimately, arguably, contributing to her untimely death in 1959. Despite her immense talent and significant contributions to music and social justice, Anslinger's relentless crackdown aimed to suppress her voice and, by extension, the powerful messages within her music.

Insights: The episode underscores the intersection of race, gender, and power, illustrating how Anslinger's actions were not only about drug suppression but also an attempt to silence a prominent African American female artist who challenged societal injustices through her art.

3. The Altamont Speedway Concert of 1969: Hell’s Angels and the Free Concert from Hell

Timestamp: [55:50]

Bailey shifts focus to a pivotal moment in rock history: the 1969 Altamont Speedway Free Concert. Organized by the Rolling Stones, the event was intended as a West Coast answer to Woodstock. However, chaos ensued when the Stones enlisted the Hells Angels biker gang as security, leading to unprecedented violence.

Notable Quotes:

• Bailey Sarian [60:30]: "The Hells Angels were on a ‘take no prisoners’ approach."
• Photographer Bill Owens [1:10:45]: "Two angels with their pool cues beat a naked guy. He was bloodied and had his teeth knocked out."

The concert, attended by approximately 300,000 people, descended into mayhem as drug-induced attendees clashed with aggressive Hells Angels. Incidents included the brutal killing of a concertgoer by bikers, destruction of property, and rampant violence resulting in four deaths. The lack of effective leadership and communication among the organizers and security exacerbated the situation, turning what was supposed to be a celebration of music into a night of terror.

Insights: Bailey emphasizes the catastrophic consequences of entrusting security to a group as volatile as the Hells Angels, highlighting the failure of event organizers to anticipate and manage potential threats. The Altamont disaster serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of power dynamics and inadequate oversight in large-scale events.

4. Steve Dahl and the Insane Coholips: The Anti-Disco Riot

Timestamp: [1:25:00]

The final story explores the rise of disco music and the extreme opposition it faced from certain sectors of the rock community. Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl, leading a group known as the Insane Coholips, orchestrated a violent protest against disco's mainstream dominance. On July 12, 1979, Dahl attempted to incinerate disco records at a major baseball stadium, inciting a full-scale riot.

Notable Quotes:

• Bailey Sarian [1:30:15]: "At the clock ticks 8.40pm, a door in centerfield opens up and a Jeep commando drives onto the field."
• Bailey Sarian [1:40:50]: "The audience starts rushing down the stairs, jumping over seats. Those poor nuns lost in the ground, running onto the field by the hundreds."

Dahl's actions, fueled by disdain for disco, led to widespread chaos as fans attacked stadium property, threw fireworks, and engaged in violent confrontations. The event, intended as a symbolic rejection of disco, instead resulted in injury, property damage, and a heightened sense of animosity towards the genre.

Insights: Bailey critiques the intolerance and aggressive actions of individuals like Steve Dahl, who sought to suppress musical diversity through destructive means. This incident reflects broader societal tensions surrounding cultural shifts and the resistance to evolving musical landscapes.

Concluding Thoughts: Patterns of Suppression and Control

Throughout the episode, Bailey Sarian draws connections between these disparate historical events, illustrating a recurring theme: influential men have often sought to control, suppress, or outright destroy musical genres and movements that they deem threatening or undesirable. Whether through misguided religious interventions, government oppression, or violent enforcement, these actions have had lasting impacts on the cultural and social fabric of their times.

Final Quotes:

• Bailey Sarian [1:55:00]: "From the 1500s up through the 1970s, it seems like men have been, in one way or another, trying to ruin music."
• Bailey Sarian [2:00:30]: "It's an injustice what happened to Billy. I'll tell you that."

Overall Insights: Bailey underscores the importance of resisting such oppressive forces and celebrating the resilience of artists and communities who strive to maintain the vibrancy and diversity of music. By uncovering these dark histories, the episode serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles to preserve artistic expression against forces that seek to silence it.

Conclusion

Episode 144 of Dark History effectively weaves together chilling accounts of how men have historically interfered with and tried to ruin music, highlighting the enduring battle between creative expression and oppressive control. Through engaging storytelling and meticulous research, Bailey Sarian not only chronicles these dark chapters but also pays homage to the artists and movements that overcame such adversities to leave an indelible mark on history.