DISGRACELAND — Bonus Episode: A Brief History of Gun Violence from Music’s Past

Podcast: DISGRACELAND
Host: Jake Brennan (Double Elvis Productions)
Release Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This bonus "After Party" episode serves as a bridge between main DISGRACELAND releases, diving deep into the underreported or forgotten stories buried beneath music history’s glossy surface. The focus for this week: a brief, raw, and riveting history of gun violence in music, spanning from the jazz boogie-woogie of Pinetop Smith to the tragic deaths of icons like Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Tupac, and beyond. Jake Brennan pulls no punches, presenting gun violence as an inseparable, dark thread in the tapestry of American music history.

Gun Violence and Music: A Deadly Relationship

Setting the Tone (04:11)

• Jake reflects on watching the HBO documentary Thoughts and Prayers, centering on active shooter preparedness, and is prompted to recount the countless musicians whose lives and careers were forever marked by guns.
• “[Gun violence] can get you into trouble, but it can’t get you out… Mama said the pistol is the devil’s right hand.” (Jake Brennan, quoting Steve Earle, 04:54)

Timeline of Infamous Incidents (05:36 – 09:10)

Early 20th Century

• James "Pinetop" Smith: Father of boogie woogie; career and life cut short by a stray bullet at a Chicago party, aged 25. Roots of rock and roll literally lost “because of a bullet.” (06:05)
• Lead Belly: In the 1910s, shot and killed Will Stafford during a dispute—did hard time, famously released after touching the Texas governor with a song.

Mid-20th Century

• Johnny Ace (1954): R&B singer fatally shot himself playing Russian roulette alone on Christmas Day.
• James Brown and Otis Redding (1963): Brown nearly shot Redding during a performance (Redding wasn’t the actual target, but Joe Tex, whom Brown hated, was). Both survived, adding to the long, violent legend of the "chitlin’ circuit."

1970s

• Lee Morgan (1972): Jazz trumpeter killed by his wife in a crowded jazz club; Morgan bled out because a snowstorm delayed medical help. (08:40)
• “Lee Morgan could have survived his wife’s bullet were it not for the raging snowstorm outside Slug’s Saloon, where he lay bleeding out.” (Jake Brennan, 08:51)

List Keeps Growing

• Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, Tupac, Biggie, Selena, Jam Master Jay, Dimebag Darrell — “the list of musicians who died by the gun goes on and on and on.” (09:53)
• Names like Spade Cooley, Phil Spector, Tay K47, Jim Gordon, Roger Troutman, and rumors forever swirling around Jerry Lee Lewis.

The Unbroken Thread

• “The eras change, the scenes change. The style of music may change, but the gun remains.” (Jake Brennan, 10:10)
• Even outside musicians, “the most rock and roll filmmaker of all time,” Martin Scorsese, once had to be talked out of shooting his Taxi Driver producer by Steven Spielberg.

Dr. John: From Guitar to Keys (10:30)

• Dr. John (Mac Rebennack): Nearly killed in a gunfight; injury forced him to switch from guitar to piano, which shaped his legendary career. A rare "positive" career redirection born of violence.

Listener Mailbag: The Music That Heals

Prompt: What music heals you or pulls you out of a dark place?
(12:38 – 19:10)

Ben from the 541 (12:38)

• Ben, a counselor, uses music actively to manage mood:
  • Sad → Delta Blues (Lead Belly, Son House, Muddy Waters)
  • Angry → Rage Against the Machine, Tool
  • Happy → Grateful Dead, Sublime, Hank Williams Jr., Dolly Parton
  • “It’s the vibe of the person, it’s the vibe of the band more than the genre…”
• "I hadn’t heard anybody produce a show like you. I hadn’t [heard] anybody tell a story like you, with the music and the beat…I’ve been hooked ever since, brother.” (Ben, 13:20)

Host’s Reply:

• Jake does the opposite—uses music to counter-program his feelings (when sad, listens to upbeat disco).
• Unpaid endorsement: SiriusXM’s Studio 54 station as the best place for rare, mood-lifting disco.

Scotty from the 313, Detroit (15:30)

• Funk, soul, R&B heal him—specifically, Eels' album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations, especially “Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living),” got him through tough times serving overseas.
  • "Anytime I was feeling down…I would put that particular song on and then I would cry and then I would be somewhat healed…twenty years later, I still listen.” (Scotty, 16:32)

Host’s Reply:

• Jake promises to listen to the album, thanks him for his service, and asks Eels fans to send Scotty’s story to the band.
• “Every time I’ve ever heard a song, I’ve gone like, ‘Oh, what’s this? This is very interesting. I kind of like it a lot.’ And then I find out it’s the Eels, and then I don’t dig in any deep.” (Jake Brennan, 17:11)

Chris from the 612 (17:47)

• Life-changing moment: Released from jail, attended a Government Mule concert at the Minnesota Zoo. Realized the healing power and simplicity of music.
  • “Life’s pretty simple. All you got to do is go see good music, enjoy the beauty around us, and do the best you can…my life’s been stellar ever since.” (Chris, 18:08)

Audience Q&A and Texts (19:10–23:30)

• Jake’s Recording Method: In response to 775, Jake discusses how sitting vs. standing might be affecting his narration cadence.
• Listening While Traveling: Nathan from Houston (512) listens to DISGRACELAND on long Texas drives to fencing tournaments. All Access subscription improves listening experience. Jake plugs subscriber options (get in before price goes up).
• Tech Troubles: Listener 623 writes about All Access episodes showing up with ads. Jake invites them to email for help.
• Controversial Opinions: 615 thinks most Led Zeppelin songs are boring, prefers Thin Lizzy and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Jake disagrees, but celebrates bold opinions and agrees the Zeppelin documentary dragged.

Host Recommendations: Book, Album, Documentary (23:30 – 27:00)

New Segment: “Quick Recommendations”

1. Documentary: Mr. Scorsese (Apple TV+) — “If you have not…run, don’t walk. It’s incredible.”
2. Book: Made Men (story of the making of Goodfellas) — Details Scorsese’s soundtrack choices; recommended especially for background on his musical influences.
3. Album: Jericho by The Band (early ‘90s, no Robbie Robertson), featuring a powerful cover of Bruce Springsteen’s "Atlantic City.” Jake notes a superior live version, possibly from Austin City Limits.

Upcoming Content and Announcements (27:00–34:00)

• New Show Teaser: Jake and Seth are launching a video podcast: This Film Should Be Played Loud, diving into music in film—needle drops, scores, soundtrack legend.

  • First episode is all about Goodfellas and Scorsese’s musical genius.
  • Will be Patreon (All Access) exclusive in December, audio possibly on Apple later.

• Exclusive Mini-Episode Preview: A taste of All Access content—Dr. John escaping a psych ward and surviving New Orleans’ wild, violent scene. Vivid, unsanitized storytelling connects Dr. John’s experiences to the gun violence theme.

Notable Moment:

• “He himself looked down the barrel of Art Blakey’s 9 millimeter, which Art pulled on him when he was caught sneaking through the drummer’s place at night on the hunt for dope…’You gonna shoot him? Not yet,’ came Art Blakey’s reply.” (Exclusive Mini-Episode Preview, ~32:20)

Listener Emails and Community Corner (34:00–38:30)

• Email: The Fish from Vermont
  • Daniel Shea lauds Jake’s storytelling on Phish (“I thought you were going to trash them…”), shares subcultural joke involving “the fish from Vermont” and anecdotes about Phish pranking ABC news live on air.
• Email: Radiohead Tragedy Episode Suggestion
  • Matt suggests covering the 2012 Radiohead stage collapse and subsequent court drama.

Lightning-Fast Sports Rant (38:30–39:30)

• Jake admits being wrong about Patriots’ trade deadline strategy after surprise breakout by running back Trayvon Henderson.

Closing Recap & Final Thoughts (39:30–End)

• Jake confirms a future Disgraceland deep-dive on Lee Morgan’s tragic story.
• Points listeners to WHERE to find episodes on artists mentioned in the gun violence segment.
• Highlights upcoming episodes: Dr. John, a mini-episode about Dr. John escaping a psych ward (All Access only), Scorsese as rock and roll’s ultimate filmmaker.
• Previews the Thanksgiving episode on The Last Waltz and The Band, and invites listeners to share favorite concert films.

Closing Community Message:

• "This isn’t just content. It’s a community. A community of the obsessed. No one cares about music, books, records, and the crime and grime that ties them all together like you do. And, well, that’s a disgrace, all right.” (Jake Brennan, 41:15)

Noteworthy Quotes & Segments

• "Music history is outlaw history. And this history is fascinating. Something more akin to a Scorsese movie than what was inside those history books..." (Jake Brennan, 05:12)
• "The eras change, the scenes change. The style of music may change, but the gun remains." (Jake Brennan, 10:10)
• “He had to be talked out of shooting his producer on Taxi Driver by none other than Steven Spielberg.” (Jake Brennan on Scorsese, 10:47)
• "Life's pretty simple. Just listen to the music." (Jake to Chris, 18:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Main gun violence narrative: 04:11–10:30
• Listener calls and the “music that heals” theme: 12:38–19:10
• Host’s music discussions/recording process: 19:10–23:30
• Quick Recommendations: 23:30–27:00
• Announcement of new show (music in films): 27:00–30:00
• Mini episode preview: 30:45–32:45
• Community emails/texts: 34:00–38:30
• Sports rant: 38:30–39:30
• Closing recap and message: 39:30–End

Closing Vibe

True to the DISGRACELAND ethos, this episode is unvarnished, darkly entertaining, but delivered with reverence for the music and its messier-than-you-thought history. Jake Brennan’s passion for music, crime, and community shines, making the stories feel both freshly shocking and embedded within a much larger cultural fabric.

If you love music history, and you want it unsanitized and bursting with the kind of stories everyone else skips, this After Party is a must-listen.