DISGRACELAND – AC/DC pt. 1: A Satanic Serial Killer, A Police Man Hunt, and a Media Witch Hunt

Host: Jake Brennan
Date: October 31, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of DISGRACELAND dives into the real-life collision between the legendary rock band AC/DC and one of America’s most notorious serial killers, Richard Ramirez—the "Night Stalker." Host Jake Brennan investigates how sensationalist media, true crime, and rock mythology intertwined in 1985, resulting in a satanic panic and a witch hunt that haunted the band for years. The episode blends music history with true crime, revealing the dark ways pop culture and violence sometimes feed off each other.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The AC/DC & Richard Ramirez Connection (02:29–06:30)

• AC/DC’s music, specifically “Night Prowler,” inspires and is linked to Ramirez’s crimes.
  • The killer’s moniker “Night Stalker” derives from the AC/DC song.
  • The only clue at a homicide scene was a midnight blue AC/DC hat.
• Media sensationalism takes over, directly implicating AC/DC in Ramirez’s crimes.
  • Bon Scott, AC/DC’s lead singer, wore a pentagram on the Highway to Hell album cover, fueling satanic rumors.
  • “The headlines were ridiculous. Mass killer driven by rock and devil worship.” (Jake Brennan, 04:32)
• Angus Young’s frustration with ignorant press questions.
  • Example: “Did AC/DC stand for ‘Antichrist Devil’s Child’?”
  • Angus Young: “Uh, no. We got ACDC off of our sister’s sewing machine. It stands for power.” (05:02)

2. AC/DC’s Image vs. Reality (06:30–08:35)

• Despite darker imagery, AC/DC are “salt of the earth” types—grounded, working-class, and fun-loving.
• Host argues AC/DC shared more musical DNA with Chuck Berry than with Satanic metal acts.
• But public perception was controlled by the media narrative:
  • “The truth didn’t matter… it was all about the narrative.” (Jake Brennan, 06:44)

3. Richard Ramirez’s Descent and Violence (10:00–15:32)

• Vivid storytelling of Ramirez’s crimes juxtaposed with his AC/DC obsession.
  • Description of his appearance and presence: “His band’s music drove him… he wore all black… a dark, near black, midnight blue ACDC hat.” (12:05)
  • Ramirez sees himself as chosen by Satan; AC/DC’s lyrics become his mantras.
• Retelling of the infamous double assault:
  • Maria Hernandez survives thanks to her keys blocking a bullet.
  • Dale Akazaki is killed after hiding in the kitchen—underscoring Ramirez’s cold brutality.
  • “Taking it was where the juice was… He needed to feed the devil.” (Jake Brennan, 13:28)

4. AC/DC’s American Rise & Bon Scott’s Dangerous Life (16:12–22:29, 22:52–25:45)

• Chronicling AC/DC’s success despite media derision.
• Bon Scott’s archetypal rockstar persona:
  • “Bon Scott looked like he’d fight you, fuck you, be your best friend and break your heart all on the same night, regardless of what sex you were.” (20:02)
• Anecdotes of Bon living the wild life:
  • From brawls at festivals (“Bond took on the lot of them bare knuckled…”) to outrageous TV appearances in drag (“Australia would never be the same…”).
  • All was “a put on”—the darkness and chaos were performance, not belief.

5. The Night Stalker’s “Satanic Rituals” (28:12–37:05)

• Ramirez’s crimes devolve further into torture and mutilation:
  • From carving pentagrams to forced “pledges” to Satan.
  • “Don’t swear to God. Swear to Satan. I am the Night Stalker.” (32:42)
• Host details the sexual and violent rituals, deepening public horror.
• Ramirez’s run-ins with apparent divine intervention (survivor Whitney Bennett):
  • “For once, Richard Ramirez was the scared one. The blue haze over the girl’s body, it freaked him out.” (35:01)

6. Media Frenzy and Moral Panic (37:05–45:13)

• The dropped AC/DC hat and the “Night Stalker” name solidify the media’s narrative.
• Press links AC/DC’s album covers, especially Highway to Hell, to Satanism and Ramirez’s acts.
• Critique of superficial connections:
  • “You’d have to be a complete fucking idiot to take the image of him seriously. But then again, we are talking about the American media.” (41:00)

7. Legacy: Courtroom Theater and Cult Celebrity (45:13–end)

• Ramirez’s behavior during his trial—flaunting pentagrams, shouting “Hail Satan,” and cultivating a fanbase.
  • “After he pleaded innocent… Richard Ramirez yelled out ‘Hail Satan’ to the judge and the rest of the court.” (45:52)
• Rise of “rock star” killers and a new kind of notoriety.
• AC/DC’s vehement denials of any “devil worship” influence.
• Final contrast:
  • Bon Scott’s wild but ultimately human story vs. Richard Ramirez’s true evil.
  • “Richard Ramirez spent 20 more years on this earth than Bon Scott… But only one of these men died a disgrace.” (49:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Angus Young, on accusations of Satanism:
  "Uh, no. We got ACDC off of our sister’s sewing machine. It stands for power." (05:02)

• Jake Brennan, on Bon Scott as a rock archetype:
  “Bon Scott looked like he’d fight you, fuck you, be your best friend and break your heart all on the same night, regardless of what sex you were.” (20:02)

• Richard Ramirez, in court:
  “I love all that blood. I love to kill people. I love watching them die. I believe in Satan. I am beyond good and evil. Satanists need to have more faith than Christians.” (46:10)

• Jake Brennan, comparing media vs. reality:
  “You’d have to be a complete fucking idiot to take the image of him seriously. But then again, we are talking about the American media.” (41:00)

• On media narrative:
  “The truth didn’t matter… it was all about the narrative.” (06:44)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment Description | Timestamp | |--------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction & Setup: AC/DC / Night Stalker Connection | 02:29–06:30 | | Angus Young’s Interview about AC/DC meaning | 05:00–05:20 | | Maria Hernandez & Dale Akazaki Attack | 12:20–15:32 | | Bon Scott: Persona & Stories | 19:30–22:52 | | Ramirez's Rituals, Satanism, and Night Stalker acts | 28:12–37:05 | | Discovery of AC/DC Hat – Media Panic | 37:05–39:00 | | Satanic Panic, Trial, Ramirez’s Statements | 45:13–47:15 | | Closing Reflection: Bon Scott vs. Ramirez | 49:00–end |

Tone and Final Thoughts

Jake Brennan employs a gritty, irreverent, but deeply researched and empathetic tone. He’s fascinated by how quickly cultural narrative distorts truth—how America’s need for drama and villains dragged AC/DC into a true crime spectacle. Dark humor mingles with horror and outrage, especially in descriptions of media hypocrisy and the tragic fates of both Bon Scott and Ramirez’s victims.

This episode weaves rock history and true crime into a cautionary tale about fame, myth-making, and society’s need for easy answers when confronted with real evil—sometimes at the expense of the innocent and the misunderstood.