Best Backmasking Podcasts (2025)

1
Bonus Episode: Backmasking and the Death of the Dangerous Rockstar 37:28

Play Pause

26d ago37:28

37:28

This week in the After Party, Jake looks back at the 1980s satanic panic and the uproar over supposed "backmasking" – the spurious claim that rock stars were hiding demonic messages in their music. Plus, we hear from you on your favorite Heavy Metal bands. Next week we're bringing you an episode on The Exorcist, and Jake wants to know: what movies …

51
Tommy James and the Shondells: Mony Mony and Mafia-Sanctioned Hits 43:16

4d ago43:16

43:16

Tommy James came up during a time when the music industry was in part controlled by New York’s Italian mafia. And for a period in the 1960s, that power was centralized at Roulette Records. The record label was run by convicted extortionist Morris Levy and operated in partnership with the Genovese crime family. Tommy James’ hits were sanctioned by t…

1
Bonus: From the Nitrous Mafia to the Italian Mafia, the Criminal Enterprises That Infiltrate Music Culture 35:49

5d ago35:49

35:49

Gangsters, rude boys, drug dealers, soviet bootleggers, ticket scalping syndicates, and psychedelic chemists—why do criminals like the “Nitrous Mafia” associated with Phish, and the Italian Mafia linked to Tommy James, so often infiltrate and influence music culture? This topic, along with your voicemails, texts, and emails, and in the All Access p…

1
Phish: Community, Hippie Crack, and the Nitrous Mafia 39:17

7d ago39:17

39:17

A parking lot ruled by shady nitrous oxide dealers. And a bandleader whose addiction nearly killed him. This is the story of Trey Anastasio and Phish – and their improbable comeback. For a full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To listen to Disgraceland ad free and hear an exclusive mini-episode that further explor…

1
U2: Death Threats, a Song that Inspired a Killer, and the Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer 40:05

10d ago40:05

40:05

Years before a free album made them the most unpopular popular band on the planet, U2 ran into the arms of America. In 1987, touring behind their blockbuster album The Joshua Tree, their songs became lightning rods for violence. They received death threats in the States and became targets of terrorists back in their native Ireland. But it was the s…

1
Bonus: The Next Incel Killer Already Has A Playlist 37:01

10d ago37:01

37:01

This episode is being published for the first time on Friday, November 7th. An episode of the same title was mistakenly published previously. The media blamed AC/DC for inspiring a serial killer. Rebecca Shaefer’s murderer claimed inspiration from a U2 song. When the next incel murder happens, will we blame Morrissey? Radiohead? Or will we finally …

1
AC/DC Pt. 2: Dirty Deeds, Dead Friends, and Murder for Hire 41:52

14d ago41:52

41:52

This is the story of the greatest rock ’n’ roll band on earth. AC/DC was forged in discipline, sharpened by grief, resurrected by obsession … and nearly undone by one final dirty deed that no one saw coming: murder. For a full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To listen to Disgraceland ad free and hear an exclusive m…

1
AC/DC pt. 1: A Satanic Serial Killer, A Police Man Hunt, and a Media Witch Hunt 40:35

18d ago40:35

40:35

In the 1980s, AC/DC’s biggest fan was a notorious serial killer. The band was an international best-selling hit machine, and members like the late Bon Scott and die-hard Angus Young became rock icons. But when the press caught wind of the disturbing fandom of the serial killer Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez, the news quickly dragged the world’…

1
Bonus Episode: Why Does Hollywood Ignore The Most Impactful Music? 35:41

19d ago35:41

35:41

This week in the After Party, Jake wonders why horror film soundtracks, despite their importance to the mood of their films, are so often ignored by Hollywood when it comes to award season. Plus, we hear from you on the movies that scare you. Next week we're bringing you a brand new part 2 episode on AC/DC. AC/DC's Back in Black is the biggest sell…

1
The Exorcist: Demonic Possession, Mass Hysteria, and NYC’s Unsolved Murders 40:56

20d ago40:56

40:56

William Friedkin's film The Exorcist terrified audiences upon its release in 1973. They fainted, vomited, and went into hysterics in the theaters. Some overwhelmed viewers left early, only to return the next day, buying another ticket to see if they could make it to the end. But the story behind The Exorcist is just as compelling as the story on th…

1
Robert Johnson: Voodoo, Delta Blues, Cursing God, and a Crossroads 43:44

25d ago43:44

43:44

Robert Johnson didn’t just play the blues. He embodied them. He drank and womanized his way through the South, New York, and Chicago in the 1930s, until he finally met the devil at the crossroads for a little trade. So the legend goes, anyway. With the same soul he supposedly sold to the devil, Robert Johnson belted lightning blues that captured tr…

1
Judas Priest: Satanic Panic, Censorship, Heavy Metal Suicide, and Defenders of the Faith 44:55

28d ago44:55

44:55

They helped create the genre of heavy metal, and then Satan and the censors tried to destroy them. Judas Priest defended the metal faithful on stage and in the courts, and became icons in the process. For a full list of contributors, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, inc…

1
Episode 6: Poltergeist - Suburban Fear, and the Ghost Story That Came Home 1:16:26

25d ago1:16:26

1:16:26

The 1982 horror blockbuster that made America afraid of its own homes. We explore Spielberg's (or was it Hooper's?) masterpiece of suburban terror, the tragic deaths that haunted the production, and why the ghost story moved from Gothic castles to tract housing. From white flight to TV static, from swimming pool graves to the bodies buried under th…

1
The Misfits: Robbing Graves, Night of the Living Dead and the Teenagers from Mars 48:59

30d ago48:59

48:59

The Misfits were truly unique. Scary. Violent. Angry. Nihilistic. These words can easily describe not only their music, but also the band as people, particularly frontman Glenn Danzig. Rumored to have been arrested for grave robbery, locked up abroad and inciting riots here in the States, the Misfits blazed a path of annihilation trading on fiction…

1
Norwegian Black Metal: Satanic Rebellion, Murder and Worse 34:51

1M ago34:51

34:51

Never has there been a more extreme form of musical rebellion than Norwegian Black Metal. The genre’s founding band, Mayhem, its sister act Burzum and supporting cast of musicians with names like Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, and Dead horrified Norway in the early nineties with supreme acts of terror, satanic ritualism, murder, arson, and cannibalism. …

1
Bonus Episode: Music and Monsters 38:35

1M ago38:35

38:35

This week in the After Party, Jake is thinking about monsters – the fictitious kind and the kind that are all too real. Plus, we hear more spooky stories from you and get your recommendations on scary music. Next week we're bringing you an episode on Judas Priest and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, and Jake wants to know: who is your favorite heavy…

1
Becoming Fela Kuti 55:36

22d ago55:36

55:36

Sharing an episode of the new podcast Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.When the world is on fire… what can music actually…do? Host Jad Abumrad recounts the true tale of one of the great political awakenings in music. Fela Kuti was a classically-trained Nigerian musician who traveled to America, only to return to Nigeria and transform his sound into a batteri…

1
Harry Houdini: A Ghost Story 37:40

26d ago37:40

37:40

Harry Houdini was the world's greatest escape artist and at the height of his powers was one of the world's most famous people. His unearthly ability to escape any prison and to break free of any bondage was matched only by his aggressive self-promotion. Anyone who tried to get in his way, rewrite his story, steal his thunder or question his abilit…

1
Bonus Episode: Musical Sherpas and Spooky Sounds 39:57

1M ago39:57

39:57

This week in the After Party, Jake suggests some songs for spooky season and wonders if ChatGPT will replace the musical sherpas who guided us in our youth. Plus, we hear your stories about who turned you on to your favorite music. Next week we're bringing you an episode on Harry Houdini (with a side of Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Jake wants to kno…

1
Pentagram: Demons, Curses, and Doom 40:20

1M ago40:20

40:20

By Double Elvis Productions

1
Episode 5: Season of the Witch: The Halloween Movie That Broke the Franchise 56:57

1M ago56:57

56:57

In this episode Dave explores Halloween III: Season of the Witch — John Carpenter and Deborah Hill’s controversial attempt to turn the franchise into an anthology and the film’s dark fusion of Celtic myth and corporate control. He summarizes the plot (Dr. Dan Chalice and Ellie Grimbridge uncover Silver Shamrock’s plan to use Stonehenge-embedded chi…

1
Bonus Episode - Spooky Stories and Superbowl Shows 38:37

2M ago38:37

38:37

This week in the After Party, Jake reacts to the news that Bad Bunny will perform at this year's Superbowl halftime show. And as we kick off spooky season, we hear from you about our recent Led Zeppelin episode, your creepy stories, and more. Next week we're bringing you an episode on Pentagram, and Jake wants to know: who was your musical sherpa? …

1
Disgraceland All Access - New Mini-Episodes Available Now 2:54

1M ago2:54

2:54

Big news for Disgraceland All Access Members! Rocka Rolla subscription members on Apple Podcasts and Patreon will now receive a special, exclusive mini-episode in their feed on Tuesdays, immediately following the release of that week's new full episode. In Disgraceland, you know we dive deep to uncover the wildest true stories about music legends. …

1
Led Zeppelin Pt. 2: The Haunting at Headley Grange 41:12

2M ago41:12

41:12

In 1971, Led Zeppelin holed up in an old English house in the countryside to make the album that would crown them the biggest rock band on earth. But they weren’t alone inside Headley Grange. This is a story about obsession, occult rituals, and music made in the shadows. About pentagrams. About black magick. About a song that felt like it was being…

1
Bonus Episode - Bad Men, Good Music, and the Developing D4VID Saga 36:54

2M ago36:54

36:54

This week in the After Party, takes a look at the latest true crime and music in the news. Plus, your voicemails, DMs, and emails on rock 'n' roll movies and lots of other subjects. Spooky season is just around the corner, and we've got an episode on Headley Grange, the haunted estate where Led Zeppelin created their greatest work. Jake wants to he…

1
Episode 4: Videodrome (1983) - The Prophet of the New Flesh 50:00

2M ago50:00

50:00

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of graphic body horror, sexual violence, and disturbing imagery. In 1983, David Cronenberg released a film that seemed like pure science fiction. Today, we're living in it. When sleazy cable TV programmer Max Renn discovers a pirate broadcast featuring real torture and murder, his investigation lead…

1
Bonus Episode - Rock 'n' Roll Movies, Music Headlines, and Buford Pusser 38:35

2M ago38:35

38:35

This week in the After Party, Jake is thinking about movies that have a rock 'n' roll attitude. Plus, your voicemails, DMs, and emails on what artists you couldn't stand, but now kind of like. Jake wants to know: What are your favorite rock 'n' roll movies? Share your thoughts at 617-906 6638, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

Backmasking Podcasts

1
Spooky Times with Eric D

Eric Dwinnells

1
My Bloody Love Letter

Dark Arts

1
DISGRACELAND

Double Elvis Productions

1
The Wicked Society

Luke Morgan

4
The Mix Tape (Music and Pop Culture)

The Mix Tape

1
Bonus Episode: Backmasking and the Death of the Dangerous Rockstar 37:28

51
Tommy James and the Shondells: Mony Mony and Mafia-Sanctioned Hits 43:16

1
Bonus: From the Nitrous Mafia to the Italian Mafia, the Criminal Enterprises That Infiltrate Music Culture 35:49

1
Phish: Community, Hippie Crack, and the Nitrous Mafia 39:17

1
U2: Death Threats, a Song that Inspired a Killer, and the Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer 40:05

1
Bonus: The Next Incel Killer Already Has A Playlist 37:01

1
AC/DC Pt. 2: Dirty Deeds, Dead Friends, and Murder for Hire 41:52

1
AC/DC pt. 1: A Satanic Serial Killer, A Police Man Hunt, and a Media Witch Hunt 40:35

1
Bonus Episode: Why Does Hollywood Ignore The Most Impactful Music? 35:41

1
The Exorcist: Demonic Possession, Mass Hysteria, and NYC’s Unsolved Murders 40:56

1
Robert Johnson: Voodoo, Delta Blues, Cursing God, and a Crossroads 43:44

1
Judas Priest: Satanic Panic, Censorship, Heavy Metal Suicide, and Defenders of the Faith 44:55

1
Episode 6: Poltergeist - Suburban Fear, and the Ghost Story That Came Home 1:16:26

1
The Misfits: Robbing Graves, Night of the Living Dead and the Teenagers from Mars 48:59

1
Norwegian Black Metal: Satanic Rebellion, Murder and Worse 34:51

1
Bonus Episode: Music and Monsters 38:35

1
Becoming Fela Kuti 55:36

1
Harry Houdini: A Ghost Story 37:40

1
Bonus Episode: Musical Sherpas and Spooky Sounds 39:57

1
Pentagram: Demons, Curses, and Doom 40:20

1
Episode 5: Season of the Witch: The Halloween Movie That Broke the Franchise 56:57

1
Bonus Episode - Spooky Stories and Superbowl Shows 38:37

1
Disgraceland All Access - New Mini-Episodes Available Now 2:54

1
Led Zeppelin Pt. 2: The Haunting at Headley Grange 41:12

1
Bonus Episode - Bad Men, Good Music, and the Developing D4VID Saga 36:54

1
Episode 4: Videodrome (1983) - The Prophet of the New Flesh 50:00

1
Bonus Episode - Rock 'n' Roll Movies, Music Headlines, and Buford Pusser 38:35