DISGRACELAND Bonus Episode: The Delfonics, the Ringo Connection, and Major Criminal Organizations

September 21, 2023

Episode Overview

This bonus episode of DISGRACELAND, hosted by Jake Brennan, dives into the unvarnished, true-crime-infused backstories at the crossroads of legendary musicians and the underworld. The focus is on:

• The continuing serialized Wu-Tang Clan series, exploring each member's scandalous history and law enforcement scrutiny.
• Listener engagement through voicemails and texts discussing music, crime, and biopics.
• The surprising connection between Ringo Starr and the Wu-Tang Clan.
• Musical influences on Wu-Tang Clan, with specific recommendations for deep listening.
• A rapid-fire Q&A and recommendation segment with listeners.

The episode serves as an "After Party," bridging Disgraceland’s regular episodes with lively audience participation and thought-provoking music history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wu-Tang Clan: Serialized Season Recap

(03:36 – 07:50)

• Current Progress: The first-ever serialized season of DISGRACELAND, focusing on individual Wu-Tang Clan members (RZA, Raekwon, Method Man, Ghostface Killah).
• Episode Highlights:
  • Stories covering shootouts, dice games, drug busts, voodoo rituals, and musical roots.
  • Exploration of how the Wu-Tang Clan became the target of law enforcement investigations, including being labeled “major criminal organization” by the FBI (code 281F, akin to the Gambino family).
  • Upcoming episodes will spotlight Inspectah Deck’s prison journey and Capadonna’s unwitting role introducing a federal informant.
• Host Reflection:
  • “Are you into the serialized storytelling? Do you like having an episode on each member?” (04:17 - Jake Brennan)
  • Soliciting listener feedback for future serialized seasons; possibilities mentioned include Grateful Dead or Rick James, but not more Stones/Beatles.

2. Listener Interaction Segment

(12:19 – 18:13, 22:27 – 27:31)

• Listener Voicemails:
  • Yvette (317): Former punk who now appreciates Bon Jovi due to her husband’s band.
    • Quote: “Now I am actually married to a musician and he is in a Bon Jovi tribute band…Kind of hated the whole hair band thing.” (12:25 - Yvette)
  • Jamie (803): Praises Bohemian Rhapsody’s Live Aid recreation:
    • Quote: “My oldest son was absolutely Addicted to the Queen live performance at Live Aid…” (14:33 - Jamie)
  • Hollow (956): South Texas horrorcore artist, offering to help with a potential episode on the horrorcore scene.
    • Quote: “There's a lot…people have done in this scene that would definitely make a great episode.” (16:04 - Hollow)
• Text Shoutouts & Questions:
  • Topics: Potential episodes on SSD’s Springa, Chicago (the band), Low Cut Connie, disco favorites, singer biopics, Behemoth’s blasphemy scandal, and the Pussycat Dolls’ internal drama.
  • Fun anecdotes: Listener Sarah shares ice cream shop story and snapshot with Glenn Danzig; another listener sends a wild “Springer” TV memory.

3. Deep-Dive Music Recommendations

(27:32 – 31:50) Jake offers song and album recommendations connected to the Wu-Tang Clan’s cited influences:

• The Delfonics: “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)”—“This song left a singeing mark on my heart after I heard it in Quentin Tarantino…Jackie Brown. Incredible.” (28:12 - Jake Brennan)
• The Temptations: Album: Psychedelic Shack—“Weird as fuck and worth checking out from this pretty normie group as they go way off the tracks.” (28:43)
• Big Daddy Kane: “Ain’t No Half Steppin’” from Long Live the Kane (1988).
• Run DMC: “Rock Box” (“Fresh. What? A guitar riff in this song. Eddie Martinez, Respect.”)
• Heavy D: “Now That We Found Love.”
• Stax Records/John Lee Hooker: “Grinder Man” from That’s Where It’s At—“It may propel you into a violent, murderous rage. And don’t say I didn’t warn you.” (29:58)

4. Serial Season Feedback & Future Possibilities

(07:50 – 08:48, 31:51 – 32:36)

• Jake reiterates his openness to ideas for future multi-part series, asking: “Who would you want us to cover in another serialized season if we did this again?” (16:52, 31:51)
• He notes “this Wu-Tang thing may end up being a one time event…I obviously am not going to mess too much with the format, if at all with Disgraceland.” (06:48)
• Ongoing call for voicemail feedback: 617-906-6638.

5. Upcoming and Parallel Episodes

(31:51 – 32:36)

• Next Wu-Tang member episodes: Inspectah Deck and Capadonna.
• Ringo Starr archive episode available now.
• Archive and cross-promotional mention: Bruce Lee-themed episode dropping in conjunction with Badlands podcast.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Wu-Tang’s FBI Infamy:
  “The FBI, who for years labeled Wu Tang Clan internally with the code 281F, which is Bureau speak for major criminal organization as in the Gambino crime family. This is insane.” (06:09 - Jake Brennan)

• On Music Tastes Maturing:
  “I feel like we've stumbled upon a theme here amongst the Disgraceland listeners…later in life open mindedness toward music we hated as kids.” (14:01 – Jake Brennan)

• On Musicians Portraying Icons in Film:
  “Raymond Malik, first of all, is insanely good. I'm a Freddie Mercury junkie and just insanely good. But just shot for shot, that Live Aid thing is outrageous.” (14:45 – Jamie, listener)

• Listener Lyrical Mystery:
  “A well, callous, fretting hand, middle finger can drive a woman. I don't know what this guy's talking about…Check back in with me when you're off the meds.” (25:10 – Jake Brennan reading from listener text)

• Musical Recommendation Spirit:
  “Number one, the Delfonics…gateway drug, it’s Didn’t I blow your mind this time?…Quentin Tarantino used this song in Jackie Brown. Incredible.” (28:12)

Noteworthy Timestamps

• 03:36 – Jake welcomes listeners to the “After Party” bonus format and recaps serialized Wu-Tang season
• 06:09 – FBI labeled Wu-Tang Clan as major criminal organization
• 12:19 – Listener voicemails begin: Yvette on Bon Jovi tribute band life
• 14:33 – Jamie discusses Bohemian Rhapsody’s Live Aid scene & Rami Malek
• 16:04 – Hollow talks horrorcore’s true crime potential
• 22:27 – Q&A/Texts: From Chicago to disco to Behemoth’s stage antics
• 27:32 – Jake’s deep-dive recommendations (The Delfonics, Temptations, etc.)
• 31:51 – Recap and upcoming episode teasers

Tone & Style

Jake Brennan’s delivery is vibrant, irreverent, and conspiratorial—a blend of music-nerd deep dives, dark humor, and genuine warmth in engaging with the DISGRACELAND community. The bonus episode is interactive and conversational, inviting listener participation and celebrating both legends and the lurid.

For Further Listening/Engagement

• Listener hotline: 617-906-6638 (voicemail & text)
• Social: @DisgracelandPod for DMs and show updates
• Musical rabbit holes: Start with “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” (The Delfonics), Psychedelic Shack (Temptations), and “Rock Box” (Run DMC).

This summary captures the energy, humor, recommendations, and audience connection at the heart of DISGRACELAND’s After Party bonus episodes, providing a comprehensive catch-up for new and returning listeners alike.