Ron "Pigpen" McKernan Episode 0: 27 Club Season 5 Official Trailer

Ron "Pigpen" McKernan Episode 0: 27 Club Season 5 Official Trailer

Author: iHeartPodcasts and Double Elvis June 2, 2022 Duration: 2:46

Get ready for Season 5 of the 27 Club to take the strange and not-so-long trip of Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Pigpen wasn't just a member of the Dead. He was the Dead. But just like Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones or Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd, Pigpen felt his role in the Grateful Dead shrink as the rest of the band members expanded their minds and their sound. The story of Pigpen is about a major musical and cultural shift that took place as the 1960s gave way to the 1970s. It’s a story of acid tests and bottles of Thunderbird, of angels from hell and a nine-fingered wizard, of busts down on Bourbon Street and shakedowns in the Haight…and of the man who tried to pull his band back down to earth as they continued to get pulled higher into the cosmos. It's a story that ends tragically...at the age of 27.

The 27 Club is hosted by Jake Brennan, creator and host of the award-winning Disgraceland podcast, and produced by iHeartRadio and Double Elvis. Season 5, all about Ron "Pigpen" McKernan and the Grateful Dead, launches Thursday, June 9, 2022.

For more info on the 27 Club and other great shows, visit the Double Elvis website and follow Double Elvis on Twitter and Instagram.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


The 27 Club podcast, from iHeartPodcasts and Double Elvis, digs into the haunting cultural phenomenon of musicians who died at age 27. Host and creator Jake Brennan, known for his award-winning work in music storytelling, guides listeners through the complex lives of figures like Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. This isn't just a chronicle of tragedy; it's an exploration of how these scandalous, tortured, and dramatically talented artists lived at a blinding intensity, irrevocably shaping music and society before their early deaths. Each season focuses deeply on one artist's story, weaving together their artistry, personal struggles, and lasting impact. The fourth season turns its detailed lens to the profound legacy of Amy Winehouse. When you listen to this podcast, you'll hear a narrative that respects the music while unflinchingly examining the difficult, often chaotic paths these icons walked. It's a series for anyone fascinated by the intersection of brilliant creativity, cultural myth, and human vulnerability, offering a sobering yet compelling look at the price of genius and the stories that forever bind these artists together.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 66

27 Club
Podcast Episodes
Presenting Disgraceland: Icons (Trailer) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45
Welcome to DISGRACELAND in 2024. Jake Brennan will continue to bring you the most insane stories about rock stars getting away with murder and behaving very badly ... and will also tell other stories about icons from bey…
Introducing: Amplify Color [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05
Charlamagne Tha God. Wendy Williams. Robin Quivers. The names are familiar, but the stories of their trials and triumphs in the radio industry may not be. Amplify Color reveals the empowering and inspirational stories of…
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan” Episode 10: Good, Old, Grateful, and Dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan’s lifelong devotion to drinking wasn’t the cause of his medical issues – chalk those up to a genetic disease. But no matter how he tried, Pig couldn’t kick the illness, he couldn’t repair the damage…