DISGRACELAND – Bonus Episode: Music and Monsters
Host: Jake Brennan, Double Elvis Productions
Date: October 16, 2025
Episode Overview
This After Party bonus episode bridges the gap between regular DISGRACELAND episodes, focusing on the intersection of music’s dark side and the concept of “monsters”—both literal and metaphorical. Host Jake Brennan discusses notorious offenders in music history, draws lines between true crime and musical legend, and interacts with listener stories and recommendations, all in the lead-up to Halloween. The show covers the recent murder of Lostprophets’ ex-frontman Ian Watkins, highlights upcoming and recent DISGRACELAND content, and turns to “monstrous” music recommendations from the ‘90s. As always, Jake mixes gallows humor with empathy and community-building, keeping the tone both entertaining and reverent.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Real-Life Monsters in Music History
- Ian Watkins’ Death in Prison
- Jake covers the recent news (Oct 11) of Ian Watkins, the disgraced Lostprophets singer and convicted pedophile, being murdered in England’s so-called “Monster Mansion” prison.
- He recounts Watkins’ horrific crimes and discusses how dark subject matter like this takes a toll even on those who report it:
- “…my head in places like this for long periods of time…and you know, for some it’s not…I’ve done similar episodes in the past as you know, on some really dark stuff…and your soul takes a beating.” (12:20)
- Brennan struggles with narrating such disturbing stories but affirms:
- "I believe it's important to cover the worst of the worst. And this is one of those reminders this Halloween season that true monsters walk among us." (15:20)
- He commits to eventually producing a full episode on Watkins, promising it will confront evil honestly and without sensationalism.
Notable Quote
- "If you belong to me, so does your baby. Let that sink in... Just a special kind of evil." (11:10 – Jake Brennan quoting Watkins' text)
2. Monsters: Literal, Literary, and Musical
- Jake flips from the harsh reality of real monsters like Watkins to the “fun” and literary monsters that populate Halloween media, music, and pop culture.
- Promises a segment (exclusive for All Access members) on ‘90s-era “monster music” – songs about “the worst of the worst”, promising deep cuts that avoid the usual Halloween staples and instead tug on Gen X nostalgia.
- "We're not going to be recommending the Monster Mash or Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult, even though I love both of those songs..." (17:00)
Notable Quote
- “Monsters, they come in all shapes and sizes. The real life monsters like Ian Watkins and the make-believe kind. The less literal, the more literary types of monsters that happen to me be more fun when this month rolls around.” (16:25)
3. Listener Engagement: Community Q&A and Spooky Stories
Music Recommendations for Halloween
- Jake reads and responds to texts, emails, and voicemails from listeners about their favorite spooky or “heebie-jeebie” inducing music, as well as personal ghost stories.
- Genre shout-outs: Psychobilly (Necromantics, Horror Pops, Coffin Cats), “Frankie Teardrop” by Suicide, Judas Priest recommendations, Roxy Music, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Queens of the Stone Age live at the Catacombs, The Specials.
- “Say, since you have two Judas Priest songs on your list of great Halloween songs, why not make it three? ‘Beyond the Realms of Death’...” (23:11)
Notable Voicemail
- Jessica (The 480) shares a chilling story about her young son seeing a man standing behind her in their haunted house:
- “…my oldest son was about 2 or 3 years old and…he said, ‘There’s a man…right in back of you.’ There was nobody there. And I completely froze…” (26:32 – Jessica’s voicemail)
Community Spirit
- Jake emphasizes the show as a community for the “obsessed”—people fascinated by the hidden, darker side of music history.
- “This isn’t just content—again, 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.” (40:49)
4. DISGRACELAND and Sister Podcast Updates
Recent & Upcoming Episodes
- Houdini episode with Red Hot Chili Peppers guest appearance (and Slipknot mini-episode for All Access members)
- Upcoming: Norwegian Black Metal, The Misfits (archive rewinds), and next week’s Judas Priest episode—tackling the band’s origins, relationship to the ‘80s “Satanic Panic”, legal troubles, and their metal credentials.
- “Our new episode on Priest—the band's origins, their relationship to the whole satanic panic thing that overtook North America in the 80s…That and, and, and a whole lot of hot leather daddy action that you're not going to want to miss…” (19:00)
Hollywoodland Tribute
- Zeth Lundy’s Hollywoodland podcast pays tribute to recently deceased Hollywood icons Robert Redford and Diane Keaton.
- “…If you want to hear what Zeth has to say about Diane Keaton, who, make no bones about it, was a giant talent, get on over to Hollywoodland…” (35:02)
- Zeth highlights Diane Keaton’s enduring screen presence in ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather’:
- “…one of the greatest non-verbal pieces of acting, of reacting ever on screen.” (37:26 – Zeth Lundy)
5. Sports & Personal Sidebar
- Jake launches into a signature “60-second sports rant” (longer than 60), expressing his frustration with Boston Red Sox management and excitement over the New England Patriots’ prospects.
- “Can I pre-hate the Red Sox for something they haven’t done yet, because I can almost all but guarantee you that this pathetic—yes, I said it—pathetic front office doesn’t make all three of these moves.” (32:05)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 10:05 – 16:20: In-depth account of Ian Watkins’ crimes, prison murder, and the psychological toll of researching such stories.
- 16:25 – 17:00: Jake transitions from real-life to literary monsters and previews the “monster music” segment.
- 18:05 – 20:10: Recap of recent Houdini episode with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and preview of the Judas Priest episode.
- 22:09 – 27:20: Listener Q&A—Halloween music recommendations, personal ghost stories, reader interactions.
- 32:05 – 33:46: Jake’s sports rant about the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox.
- 35:02 – 37:42: Zeth Lundy’s tribute to Diane Keaton on Hollywoodland.
- 40:49 – 41:32: Community-building message, summary of show and upcoming content.
Notable Quotes
- “I believe it's important to cover the worst of the worst. And this is one of those reminders this Halloween season that true monsters walk among us.” (15:20 – Jake Brennan)
- “If you belong to me, so does your baby. Let that sink in... Just a special kind of evil.” (11:10 – Quoting Ian Watkins)
- “…one of the greatest non-verbal pieces of acting, of reacting ever on screen.” (37:26 – Zeth Lundy, on Diane Keaton)
- “This isn’t just content—again, 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.” (40:49 – Jake Brennan)
Episode Flow and Tone
Casual, irreverent, and direct—Jake Brennan navigates heavy material with empathy and humor, creates interactive moments for devoted fans ("Discos"), and balances true crime darkness with lighter, nostalgia-tinged conversation about music and fandom. The inclusion of listener input, spirited sidebars, and nods to the sister podcast indicate a tight-knit, self-aware community.
Summary Conclusion
This DISGRACELAND After Party delivers a mix of grim headlines, community engagement, and playful music talk, all shadowed by the season’s appreciation for the monstrous—real and imagined. From the heinous deeds and prison death of Ian Watkins to beloved “creepy” tracks and communal tales of musical obsession, the episode functions as a heartfelt, irreverent love letter to the weird, dark, and fascinating fringes of music history. True to form, Jake invites listeners further into the fold, encouraging them to share their stories, obsessions, and, inevitably, their own “dangerous at dinner parties” knowledge.