DISGRACELAND – Bonus Episode: Lady Gaga, Elvis Presley, and the Orion Conspiracy

Host: Jake Brennan
Release Date: January 8, 2026

Overview – Episode Theme and Purpose

This wildly entertaining bonus “After Party” episode of Disgraceland digs into the lore and conspiracy theories surrounding two pop icons: Lady Gaga and Elvis Presley. Host Jake Brennan parallels the tabloid-fueled urban legends that swirl around both artists, focusing specifically on how their towering fame inspired elaborate public myths—especially “Elvis is alive” rumors. Jake unveils the bizarre, little-known true crime saga of Orion—a masked Elvis-soundalike who became the spark for these conspiracies. Alongside this, the episode celebrates Disgraceland listeners, gives behind-the-scenes updates, and takes time to answer listener texts and voicemails.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Enduring Power of Music Conspiracies

(Start – 07:34)

• Jake opens by reflecting on failed music predictions and why he’s more compelled by history’s chaos than forecasted trends.
• He links the mass denial of Elvis's death to society’s penchant for creating larger-than-life stories around stars that become too big to simply die.
• Memorable Quote:

  “With Elvis’s passing came the conspiracies about his death and the conspiracy claims that he was still alive... You remember these theories, these sensational claims that screamed from tabloid newspaper covers and supermarket checkout lines for decades. Elvis spotted working at Burger King. Elvis seen in New Mexico.” – Jake Brennan (03:48)

2. Tabloid Fuel and Childhood Memories

(07:34–09:53)

• Jake shares personal memories of standing in grocery store lines in the '80s, bombarded by Elvis-sighting tabloid headlines.
• He draws a parallel to the current-day wild rumors about Lady Gaga:
  • Lady Gaga in the Illuminati
  • Lady Gaga stealing her identity from Lina Morgana
  • Even false gender rumors
• Memorable Quote:

  “Lady Gaga is just too damn famous and too compelling, too interesting for the public to not fabricate wild stories that supposedly explain her success... All of these are real conspiracy theories, even that last one, I swear to God, and wait to hear what she had to do to disprove it.” – Jake Brennan (07:57)

3. The Orion Conspiracy—Where "Elvis Is Alive" Begins

(09:53–13:00)

• Jake uncovers the origin of the Elvis-is-alive myth: an artist named Orion, signed to Sun Records (the original Elvis label), who appeared in 1978:
  • Orion looked and sounded strikingly like Elvis, but always performed masked and only ever called himself “Orion.”
  • Orion’s persona was partially inspired by a then-recent novel about a rock star, Orion, who fakes his own death.
  • Despite obvious differences, the mystery fueled public speculation.
• Orion (real name: Jimmy Ellis) was later murdered in 1998, the same year Elvis would have been 63—leading to fresh tabloid headlines (“Elvis Dead at 63”).
• Jake teases a deeper dive into Orion’s murder and legacy for Disgraceland All Access members.
• Memorable Quote:

  “…in the case of Orion, the truth, as they say, is stranger than fiction. Because the man who was Orion, who many claimed to be Elvis… that dude was murdered and by the time that happened in 1998, it was too late. Part of the public had already taken the bait and firmly believed that Elvis Presley was, as Orion established back in 1978, alive.” – Jake Brennan (11:25)

4. Upcoming Content Preview

(13:00–14:31)

• Season preview: Upcoming episodes will feature Johnny Thunders, the Runaways, Mia Zapata, and more.
• The next “rewind” episode will cover Chet Baker—another tragic, mysterious music figure.
• Jake invites listeners to weigh in via text/voicemail on which first-generation punk band had the biggest impact (New York Dolls, Stooges, Ramones, etc.), and theories on Johnny Thunders’ & Chet Baker’s deaths.

5. Listener Appreciation and Community Involvement

(14:31–17:08, 28:49–31:57)

• Jake thanks listeners for Apple Podcasts & Spotify reviews, offering free Disgraceland merch for featured reviews.

• Shouts out specific listeners ("Lazy R Squared", "Matt Bell") and urges all to leave new reviews for a shot at reading and prizes.

• Notable Moment:

  “We here at Double Elvis appreciate the reviews on Apple Podcast, and not just because I’m an egomaniac narcissist who loves hearing about how fricking awesome I think I am. No, I’m kidding. Though I am certainly that. No, I’m not.” – Jake Brennan (15:22)

• Celebrates a listener-curated playlist (by Mark), cataloging every song mentioned on Disgraceland to date, now 10 hours long.

• Jake rewards Mark with a year-long All Access subscription.

6. Lower East Side, Lady Gaga Backstory & Book Recs

(17:08–20:10)

• Discusses Maureen Callahan’s “Poker Face: The Rise and Rise of Lady Gaga” as the definitive account of Gaga’s myth-making origins in mid-2000s downtown NYC.
• Jake recalls the shift when dance music suddenly became cool among indie kids:
  • Draws a parallel to the era chronicled in “Meet Me in the Bathroom.”
• Previews a deeper Lady Gaga episode coming soon.

7. Listener Q&A and Reflections

(20:10–25:11)

• Engages with texts about future episode topics (interest in Black Flag, Henry Rollins).
• A listener (“Sherry F. from the Central Coast of California”) shares how Matthew Perry’s death profoundly affected her because of a deep connection to "Friends."
• Jake gets reflective about the Disgraceland episode covering Matthew Perry and the broader themes of addiction and grief.

8. Hollywoodland and the Wrap Party

(25:11–26:36)

• Zeth Lundy (host of sibling podcast Hollywoodland) drops in to preview his episode on River Phoenix, discussing the cultural loss when Phoenix and Kurt Cobain died so close together.
• Listeners are encouraged to check out Hollywoodland’s various movie- and true crime-centered offerings.

9. Community-Building and Patreon Content

(31:57–36:36)

• New All Access members are welcomed, and perks for joining at higher tiers are explained (e.g., exclusive video podcasts like “This Film Should Be Played Loud”).
• Listeners are reminded that the community drives the show’s subject matter and are invited to help curate future episodes.
• Notable Quote:

  “Don’t forget, discos. 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.” – Jake Brennan (36:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On music conspiracies:

  “…Elvis is alive and pretending to be an Elvis impersonator. That last one from the Weekly World News is my favorite.” – Jake Brennan (04:47)

• On Lady Gaga myth-making:

  “Lady Gaga is just too damn famous and too compelling, too interesting for the public to not fabricate wild stories…” (07:57)

• On Orion:

  “Who was Orion? Well, in 1978, the year after Elvis Presley died, Orion was a Sun Records musical artist who looked and sounded a lot like Elvis Presley. And I mean a lot… the only difference being that this artist, Orion, wore a mask…” (10:38)

• On the Disgraceland playlist:

  “This playlist is amazing. Mark is pulling every tune that we mentioned that he can find on Apple Music, every tune that we mention in our episodes, and putting them into what is so far a 10 hour playlist…” (29:08)

• On the show’s mission:

  “Our mission? To uncover the truth, to confront the myth, and to reclaim the story.” (01:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–01:07 — Introduction & framing the After Party concept
• 01:07–07:34 — The lineage of “Elvis is alive” conspiracy theories; cultural resonance of music myths
• 07:34–09:53 — Lady Gaga conspiracies and tabloid culture, linking the feverish rumor environments
• 09:53–13:00 — The Orion conspiracy: how Orion’s existence sparked decades of public belief in Elvis’s survival
• 14:31–17:08 — Listener reviews & community engagement
• 17:08–20:10 — Lady Gaga New York roots; book recommendations & era discussion
• 20:10–25:11 — Listener topics: Black Flag, Matthew Perry, the impact of deaths in pop culture
• 25:11–26:36 — Hollywoodland preview: River Phoenix & cultural loss
• 28:49–31:57 — Listener Mark’s epic playlist & community highlights
• 31:57–36:36 — Patreon plug, community-building, and recap
• 36:36–End — Brief Billboard chart recap from Elvis’s death week (for trivia/historical context)

Tone and Style

Jake’s voice remains energetic, conversational, and brimming with both giddy curiosity and reverence for music’s underbelly. The episode speaks directly to the “musically obsessed, outsiders, [and] independent thinkers” who crave mythology, true crime, and above all, stories that “didn’t want told” (01:25). References are peppered with nostalgia, irreverence, and pop culture humor.

Conclusion

For anyone fascinated with how urban legends and conspiracy theories grow from grainy truth, this episode serves both as a primer and a springboard. By connecting the enduring myths of Elvis and Lady Gaga, and dissecting the strange real-life story of Orion, Jake Brennan delivers another classic Disgraceland mix of scandal, history, and heartfelt listener interaction. Whether you’re here for the wild stories, the music lore, or the sense of belonging, this After Party delivers—and invites you to become part of the ongoing cultural conversation.

Quick Links to Notable Segments

• Elvis Conspiracies & Orion Origin Story – 01:07–13:00
• Lady Gaga’s Lower East Side Roots – 17:08–20:10
• Mark’s Ultimate Disgraceland Playlist – 28:49–31:57
• Listener Engagement & Upcoming Content – 31:57–36:36