Death By Music Podcast artwork

Death By Music Podcast

285 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★ - 20 ratings

NEW FULL EPISODES starting January 2024! MINI episodes every Monday - topical music stories with a bit of off-topic chit chat. This show is for the morbidly curious music fan - it's a combination of true crime and music history. Death By Music Podcast covers death in the music industry, from overdoses to plane crashes to cold-blooded murder. Go to www.patreon.com/deathbypodcastteam for a $5/mo bonus content! 

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Episodes

Mr. Bungle's Theo Lengyel Arrested for Murder + Other Musicians Who Have Served Prison Time| Mini 150

March 25, 2024 20:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MB

Since the information on Mr. Lengyel's involvement is limited, we combine this episode with other musicians who have served time like Ian Watkins of Lostprophets, Ronnie Radke, Jim Gordon of Traffic, and more. Support the show

The Strange History of t.A.T.u | Mini 149

March 18, 2024 19:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MB

This teen girl duo took the world by storm when they made out in the music video for "All The Things She Said," - as it turns out, it was all an act. Support the show

When John Fogerty Was Sued For Plagiarizing Himself | Mini 148

March 11, 2024 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MB

John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival had a dispute with his former label after one of his NEW songs sounded suspiciously similar to an old CCR tune... That he ALSO wrote. Support the show

6.3 - Ian Curtis (Joy Division)

March 06, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 51.9 MB

Joy Division was exploding on the scene in 1980 and about to embark on a North American tour when their frontman Ian Curtis was found dead at age 23. Listen to the accompanying playlist on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7kMfciTD1sY2KVpsYeeDNh?si=7aed6d0ba85b49de . Support the show

Rick Astley Sues Yung Gravy For Voice Imitation | Mini 147

March 04, 2024 05:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

Is it legal to recreate a song and imitate someone's voice? This one ended up getting settled out of court. Support the show

Travis Barker's 2008 Plane Crash | Mini 146

February 26, 2024 05:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MB

In this mini episode, we discuss the plane crash that Blink-182 drummer and DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) narrowly survived, and the aftermath. Support the show

Martha Wash, Most Famous Unknown Singer of the 90's | Mini 145

February 19, 2024 15:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MB

You've heard her voice, but maybe not her name - Martha had to fight for credits and royalties after her voice was used on a number of huge dance hits in the 1990's like "Everybody Everybody" by Black Box and "Gonna Make You Sweat" by C+C Music Factory. Support the show

6.2 - Chevalier Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges

February 14, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MB

This man was most impressive; a master at fencing, violin, conducting, and even at leading battle. His extraordinary life defied all odds for a black composer in 1700's France, and his legacy has not been given the attention it deserves. [email protected] . Listen to the accompanying playlist on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6PHlYPKinnZxivuSjCLJzv?si=d36d861014b54f4f . Support the show

Florida Shock-Jock Radio Show Cancelled After Sex Tape Scandal | Mini 144

February 12, 2024 05:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MB

Adjacently related to last week's episode on Macho Man Randy Savage's rap album, this week we cover Bubba The Love Sponge's cancellation after a Hulk Hogan sex tape release... It's a juicy one! Support the show

Macho Man Randy Savage's Rap Album | Mini 143

February 05, 2024 19:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MB

Requested by Blake, this week we cover the wrestler-turned-rapper's album Be A Man  that came out back in 2003. Support the show

Disco Demolition Night | Mini 142

January 29, 2024 05:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MB

SKIP TO 8:30 FOR MAIN EPISODE CONTENT. On Thursday July 12, 1979, scorned radio DJ Steve Dahl invited thousands of fans to a White Sox game to blow up their disco records in a gimmick gone sideways. Support the show

The Milli Vanilli Lip Synching Scandal | Mini 141

January 22, 2024 05:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MB

They won a Grammy in 1990, and later had to return it after word got out about a lip synching scandal... Learn all the details and who the real singers were on Milli Vanilli's album. Support the show

The Interesting Story of Stitches + His 2022 Arrest Explained | Mini 140

January 15, 2024 05:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MB

Miami rapper Stitches had quite the backstory when he came up on World Star Hip Hop with "Brick In Yo Face." Hear about the wild stories and the incident behind his arrest that was eventually dropped in court. At the end of the episode, Jake, Cassie, and Alex go over their 2023 Spotify wrapped stats. Support the show

6.1 - Randy Rhoads

January 10, 2024 05:00 - 1 hour - 45.2 MB

Randy was a young and highly gifted guitarist that got his start playing with Quiet Riot, before rising to major fame with Ozzy Osbourne. However, he suffered a tragic death at the age of 25 before he really got the chance to break free. [email protected] Listen to the accompanying playlist on Spotify at: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ESYregrJRGqUFtNNM5BH3?si=ccfb261fe6064ed5 Support the show

Musicians Electrocuted On Stage, Rolling Stone 1978 | Mini 139

January 08, 2024 05:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MB

Thankfully, this is not nearly as much of an issue as it was back in the 1970's... Today's mini-episode covers the risks associated with ungrounded microphones and amplifiers that have shocked and even killed musicians. Support the show

Snoop Dogg's Murder Trial | Extendo 4

January 03, 2024 05:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MB

In 1993, at the same time his first album was hitting the charts, Snoop Dogg was charged with murder. Support the show

How Does Tone Deafness Work? A Discussion About Amusia | Mini 138

January 01, 2024 05:00 - 25 minutes - 17.8 MB

Is it about musical ability, or some sort of hearing problem? Take the test at www.tonedeaftest.com and let us know your results! Support the show

The Story Behind "Bodies" by Drowning Pool | Mini 137

December 25, 2023 05:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

Drowning Pool shot up the charts with their energetic single "Bodies," but then faced the loss of their singer Dave Williams and were banned by Clear Channel. Support the show

Onstage Brawl with The Brian Jonestown Massacre | Mini 136

December 18, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.8 MB

Members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre broke out into a fistfight in Australia during a show, as one member was fired on stage. Support the show

The Disaster of TomorrowWorld Fest 2015 | Mini 135

December 11, 2023 05:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MB

The team revisits the infamously chaotic festival that took place in Atlanta in 2015, leaving thousands stranded in the mud overnight. Support the show

Musician Arrests: When Paul McCartney Was Busted In Tokyo | Mini 134

December 04, 2023 05:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MB

In 1980, Paul McCartney was undoubtedly feeling absolutely untouchable to authorities; his own cockiness got him locked up in a Japanese jail facing 7 years. Support the show

Band Breakups: The Everly Brothers | Mini 133

November 27, 2023 05:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MB

These two brothers had been performing since their teens as one of the most beloved bands in the 1950's, but it all culminated in a fiery on-stage breakup at an amusement park show. Support the show

How Cocaine Almost Ruined Stevie Nicks's Life | Mini 132

November 20, 2023 05:00 - 22 minutes - 15.2 MB

The 70's were fueled by coke for many superstars, and Stevie's habit nearly ended her life. Support the show

Ozzy Osbourne Exonerated After Fan Death Lawsuit | Mini 131

November 14, 2023 05:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MB

In 1986, a young fan took his own life - the parents tried to pin the responsibility on Ozzy Osbourne. Support the show

The Story Behind "Detachable Penis" by King Missile | Mini 130

November 06, 2023 05:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MB

This 90's alt hit popped up at a time when record labels didn't know WHAT the kids were into. Support the show

When Queens Of The Stone Age Played Most Underground Show Ever, Literally | Mini 129

October 23, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MB

They took it 2,300 feet below the earth's surface for this underground gig. Support the show

Was Blondie's Debbie Harry Almost Abducted By Ted Bundy? | Mini 128

October 16, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17 MB

Debbie describes a scary encounter with who she THINKS was serial killer Ted Bundy back in the early 1970's. Support the show

The Sheryl Crow Tuesday Night Music Club Death | Mini 127

October 09, 2023 04:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MB

After Sheryl Crow appeared on Letterman in support of her new album, author John O'Brien committed su*cide. Somehow, Sheryl was blamed. Support the show

5.14 - Cold Case: Teen Hitchhikers Missing After Music Festival

October 04, 2023 04:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MB

50 years after they went missing at Summer Jam, nobody really knows what happened to Mitchel Weiser and Bonnie Bickwit. One last-ditch effort is opened to find any information on their whereabouts. article link: https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/mitchel-weiser-bonnie-bickwit-missing-teens-summer-jam-1234798437/ in memoriam website: www.mitchelandbonnie.com Support the show

BRRF Update, 69 Million Melodies Copyrighted & Stored On One Hard Drive | Mini 126

October 02, 2023 04:00 - 32 minutes - 22.7 MB

In a time where plagiarism lawsuits are flying, two men wrote a program to document every possible melody to release to the public domain. Also, festival news! Support the show

Musician Arrests: Rage Against The Machine's Bassist Protested Limp Bizkit at MTV VMA's | Mini 125

September 25, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

Tim Commerford was NOT very happy that Limp Bizkit won the award for best music video in 2000... He ended up getting arrested over it. Support the show

What Happened At Blue Ridge Rock Fest? | Mini 124

September 18, 2023 04:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MB

Today we cover a couple of articles regarding the disastrous Blue Ridge Rock Fest in Alton, Virginia this past weekend - as well as incorporating some listener stories! Were you there? What do you think happened?  Support the show

Jimmy Buffett's Three Near-Death Experiences | Mini 123

September 11, 2023 04:00 - 21 minutes - 14.7 MB

MAIN EPISODE CONTENT STARTS AT 10:00. While Alex and Jake were at DragonCon, we got the unfortunate news of Jimmy Buffet's passing. Turns out the guy's been cheating death for decades! RIP Jimmy. Support the show

5.13 - Jean-Baptiste Lully

September 04, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 45.8 MB

This composer went from rags to riches, working his way to the top of the French aristocracy to compose for King Louis XIV at Versailles. He didn't HAVE to die at age 55, but to Lully, it was better than not being able to dance. Listen to the accompanying playlist for this episode on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3O4csYYf4tAHECR6CIH0XB?si=fb4ef8ddca3a49ac . Support the show

GG Allin Clears Out Austin's Scuzziest Punk Venue In 24 Minutes | Mini 122

August 28, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MB

This show at the Cavity Club in Austin Texas is one for the books... Blood, feces, and a naked dude on stage - the details of one of MANY GG Allin arrests are within. Support the show

Brass Against Singer Pees On Audience Member, and Other Stage Toilet Incidences | Mini 121

August 21, 2023 15:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MB

MAIN EPISODE CONTENT STARTS AT 7:00. Sophia Urista isn't the first, nor will she be the last artist to pee on fans during a performance. Support the show

Musician Feuds: Slipknot vs. Mushroomhead | Mini 120

August 14, 2023 20:00 - 23 minutes - 16.3 MB

Alex and Jake take it back to Slipknot's infamously violent show in Cleveland, and revisit the feud between the two strikingly similar Nü Metal acts. Support the show

Musician Arrests: Boy George Arrested For Imprisoning Man | Mini 119

August 07, 2023 04:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MB

After Boy George served time for imprisoning a man against his will, he appeared on a reality TV show. Support the show

5.12 - Michael Hutchence (INXS)

August 02, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MB

Michael Hutchence was the frontman for Australia's highest-selling musical group of all time - INXS. He suffered a tragic accident as an adult, and the aftermath may have played a role in his death years later. Listen to the accompanying playlist on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/41GMGkTzARgEF8y1Z8uXfc?si=12a7174a5709486f . Support the show

Musician Arrests: The Clash's Joe Strummer Arrested On Stage | Mini 118

July 31, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 17.1 MB

MAIN EPISODE CONTENT STARTS AT 8:30. This mini-episode continues our musician arrest stories with the time Joe Strummer hit a rowdy fan with his guitar on stage.  Support the show

Musician Arrests: Johnny Cash Arrested Picking Flowers | Mini 117

July 24, 2023 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MB

New minisode series! Today we start with Johnny Cash's arrest while picking flowers in Mississippi - there's of course much more to the story than what he tells on Live At San Quentin. Support the show

Dead Kennedys Singer Jello Biafra "Wins" Obscenity Trial | Mini 116

July 17, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MB

Back in 1985, Jello was put on trial after the inclusion of a so-called "pornographic" poster in Dead Kennedys' Frankenchrist album. The case was dropped, the damage had already been done to DK's career. Support the show

5.11 - The Ramones Part 2

July 12, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 54 MB

Here we pick up at the band's first show... But it wasn't smooth sailing from there. The Ramones could hardly get along with each other, but managed to carry on for 20 years before all parting ways. As of 2014, none of the original Ramones survive. Listen to the accompanying playlist on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4qW5EpTXmE1E1O5UWvA5h8?si=d3c082d978e84996 . Support the show

The Riot at The Rite of Spring Premiere | Mini 115

July 10, 2023 04:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB

When this ballet premiered in 1913, a riot broke out between the rich folks and the hip, art crowd. We dig into why this may have happened. Support the show

The Story Behind "The Way" By Fastball | Mini 114

July 03, 2023 04:00 - 22 minutes - 15.8 MB

MAIN EPISODE CONTENT starts at 8:10. It seems like a sweet song about two lovers and a road trip, but the story that inspired it took a morbid turn. Support the show

5.10 - The Ramones Part 1

June 28, 2023 04:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MB

Hey ho, let's go right into episode 10 with another series, this time on The Ramones! Part one delves into the early lives of the original members, how they all met, and the formation of the band. Support the show

The History of Music Festivals & The First Bonnaroo | Mini 113

June 26, 2023 04:00 - 42 minutes - 29.6 MB

Alex's radio stations (WNOB/WUSH/WROX) were all on site for this year's Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, so we thought it only appropriate to cover the history of music festivals and how Bonnaroo came to be. Support the show

10 Bands That Successfully Replaced Their Singers | Mini 112

June 19, 2023 04:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MB

This mini covers rock and metal acts that found success despite replacing the most visible member: the vocalist. What other bands do you know that apply? Support the show

The Story Behind "Billie Jean" By Michael Jackson | Mini 111

June 12, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

Main episode content starts at 4:10. Today we discuss the grim backstory to Billie Jean, and also learn a bit about the science of twins. Support the show

The Story Behind "Smoke On The Water" By Deep Purple | Mini 110

June 05, 2023 04:00 - 18 minutes - 12.5 MB

Main episode content starts at ~5:10.  Another story behind a song! This one is quite autobiographical, and also involves Frank Zappa. Support the show