1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. The stories about 2 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: Tommy James and the Chandells are insane. He was obsessed 3 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: with guns, His hits were sanctioned by the mafia. He 4 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:29,000 Speaker 1: was heavily addicted to pills, and a one time supplier 5 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: of speed to the Vice President of the United States. 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 1: Tommy James came up during a time when the music 7 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: industry was in part controlled by New York's Italian mafia, 8 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: and for a period in the nineteen sixties that power 9 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: was centralized at Roulette Records. The record label was run 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 1: by convicted extortionist Mars Levy and operated in partnership with 11 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: the Genovese crime family. This was where Tommy James made 12 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,840 Speaker 1: some of his greatest hits. Great music, unlike that music 13 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 1: played for you at the top of the show. That 14 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: wasn't great music. That was a preset loop for my 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:11,440 Speaker 1: mellotron called Frank's Nice and Sleazy MK two. I played 16 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,040 Speaker 1: you that loop because I can't afford the rights to 17 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:17,959 Speaker 1: Monday Monday by the Mamas and Papas. And why would 18 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: I play you that specific slice of Wrecking Crew Cheese? 19 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 1: Could I afford it? Because that was the number one 20 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 1: song in America On May twenty one, nineteen sixty six, 21 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: and that was the Dave. Billboard magazine reported that the 22 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,040 Speaker 1: rights to re release Tommy James and the Schondell's regional 23 00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 1: hit Hanky Panky had been purchased by Roulette Records, an 24 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: event that would drastically alter the chorus of Tommy James's 25 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 1: life and very nearly lead to his death. On this 26 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: episode music the Mafia, Mony, Mony and Tommy James and 27 00:01:54,960 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 1: the Shondells, I'm Jake Brennan and this is disgraced. Tommy 28 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: James was exhausted. The Black beauties helped, That's what they 29 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:37,359 Speaker 1: were called on the street anyway, speed amphetamines, late sixties 30 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: heads used them to stay up all night to counter 31 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: the grass. Soldiers over in Vietnam relied on them to 32 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: stay awake on overnights and the shit. The soldiers were 33 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: also relying on Vice President Hubert Humphrey to get them 34 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: out of the mess that President Lyndon Baines Johnson had 35 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,079 Speaker 1: landed them in. It was nineteen sixty eight and there 36 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: didn't seem to be an end in sight for the 37 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: Vietnam War. But if the VP and current candidate to 38 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: replace President Johnson had a plan a country didn't yet 39 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: know about it. Tommy James waited in his Midtown high 40 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: rise for the car, struggling to keep his eyes open 41 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: despite the late morning hour. He contemplated another pill. The 42 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,240 Speaker 1: car would be on time the Vice President had sent it. 43 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: Tommy James had been up all night. There's another sold 44 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: out Colisseum show the night before. His group, Tommy James 45 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: and the Chondells were flying high, one of the biggest 46 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: in the country and abroad, with massive top ten hits 47 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: beginning in nineteen sixty six with Hanky Panky, continuing into 48 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: sixty seven with I Think We're Alone Now, and into 49 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: sixty eight with the Monster Smash Money Money. Currently, the 50 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: song was everywhere. Tommy heard it that morning on the 51 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: radio in his apartment. While waiting for his ride. He 52 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: remembered back to writing that song in that very apartment, 53 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,680 Speaker 1: Stuck with this songwriting partner for hours, trying to find 54 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: a word to hang the chorus on. Boney, Boney, that 55 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: would do? What about phony? Phony? Now? That didn't make 56 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: much sense. They sat on Tommy's outdoor patio, sharing a 57 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 1: joint overlooking the Manhattan skyline, searching for an answer to 58 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: unlock the riddle. That was their song. And there it was, 59 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 1: in big neon letters staring back at them, the flashing 60 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: Mutual of New York sign atop the Insurance Company's building 61 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 1: at seventeen forty Broadway, a couple of blocks from Tommy's building. 62 00:04:34,520 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: The first letters of each word spelled it out for them. 63 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 1: M O N why money, moony money moony. Yeah, that's it, Yes, 64 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 1: that's it. They had their hit. The song went like 65 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 1: gangbusters up the charts and solidified Tommy James and the 66 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 1: Chondell's as one of the biggest pop groups of the day, 67 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: so big and with such influence over American teenage that 68 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: the Vice President came calling upon Tommy and his group 69 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,159 Speaker 1: to help him boost attendance at the VP's campaign rallies 70 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: that summer. It worked. Tommy and the Chandells could take 71 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: a Humphrey campaign event, and with their jaw balloon the 72 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 1: size of the event from a couple thousand to more 73 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: than ten thousand, sometimes twenty thousand. Today's event was going 74 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 1: to be different. Tommy knew it. He'd done many for 75 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: Humphrey by this point, it would do many more. Whatever 76 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: was necessary to defeat Richard Nixon from gaining entry into 77 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: the Oval office. Tommy knew that today the VP was 78 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: going to ask him for a favor, and where Tommy 79 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 1: came from, favors were a currency. He didn't ask for 80 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:41,559 Speaker 1: them unless you were prepared to pay, and he didn't 81 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: grant them unless you were prepared to collect. When the 82 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: limo arrived in the back seats, the party was in 83 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: full effect. Comedian Alan King played at nonchalant, something cool 84 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: and wet, tumbling in the rocks glass in his hand. 85 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:58,719 Speaker 1: He acknowledged Tommy with a hey kid, It went back 86 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: to staring out his window. Actress Shelley Winters just stared 87 00:06:02,640 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: at Tommy. She was clearly sauced, even at this early hour. 88 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: She eskewed the formality of the glass and pulled Jack 89 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 1: Daniels straight from the bottle. Whatever Alan King was annoyed with, 90 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: it seemed to Tommy that the very drunk Shelley Winters 91 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: was quite possibly at the top of that long list. 92 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 1: Tommy sat back and played it cool, popped a pill, 93 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 1: shot it back with the snort of Jack, rested his 94 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:29,279 Speaker 1: head back on the leather headrest and made like Alan 95 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: King and ignored Shelley Winters when they were on stage 96 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: an hour or so later, before Tommy said introducing the 97 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: Vice President, Shelley almost fell over right there on stage 98 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 1: in front of the audience. She was slurring her words. 99 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,600 Speaker 1: I'm Shelley Winters, and I'm an actress, and I can 100 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:49,360 Speaker 1: say any damn thing I want, and I say, Hubert 101 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: Humphrey is going to be the next President of the 102 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:56,279 Speaker 1: United States. Behind him on the stage, Alan King leaned 103 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: over and quietly said to Tommy, at least she got 104 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 1: his name right. Every time this fucking broad shows up, 105 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: we lose ten thousand votes. The crowd roared with laughter. 106 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: Alan and Tommy and everyone else in attendance all realized 107 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: at that moment that the stage minkes had picked up 108 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 1: Allan's commentary, and ten thousand plus people had just heard 109 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: him shit talk Shelley Winters in real time. It didn't matter, 110 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: if anything, it helped. The crowd loved it, and they 111 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:25,679 Speaker 1: loved Tommy and the Chandelle set, and they loved Hubert 112 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 1: Humphrey as well. The VP came on and rapped Harmony, 113 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,520 Speaker 1: rapped power to the People, rapped non committal Vietnam strategy, 114 00:07:32,760 --> 00:07:36,680 Speaker 1: rapped tricky Dick in unemployment. Tommy James, like everyone else 115 00:07:36,720 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 1: in attendance, lapped it up. Later that night, backstage, he 116 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: sat with the Vice President and a small group of others. 117 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: Humphrey asked Tommy if he would lead the President's Council 118 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: on Youth Affairs. It was a sub cabinet position, but 119 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:56,600 Speaker 1: an important one, nonetheless, and here was Tommy James, singer 120 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: of pop songs with nonsensical titles like money, Money, Hanky Panky, 121 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: accepting the prestigious position. The Vice President was happy to 122 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 1: hear Tommy's answer. He was also tired. He confided in Tommy, 123 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: as he had come to do more often on their 124 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: trips from campaign stop to campaign stop, that he was 125 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: exhausted and had no idea how he was going to 126 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: stay up all night writing this new speech. Tommy, ever, 127 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: the pleaser, saw an opportunity to help out and further 128 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: embed himself in the VP's good graces. You know, when 129 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: I have to stay up, I sometimes take these little 130 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:36,200 Speaker 1: stay awake pills. Tommy reached into his pocket and pulled 131 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 1: out a vial of Black Beauties and gave one to Humphrey, 132 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: who happily accepted. Needless to say, the VP's next speech 133 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: killed Tommy James was opportunistic. Life, especially in America, presented 134 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: you with opportunities. It was like a game of cards. 135 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:58,000 Speaker 1: Since Tommy, it was all how you played them. He 136 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: played his first break back in nineteen sixty six into 137 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: a winning hand. He recorded a local single back on 138 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 1: his home turf, Michigan, Hanky Panky. It sold okay, but 139 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: failed to set the world on fire, so his band, 140 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 1: the Chondell's Split abandoned him for the straight world, the 141 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: service marriage, et cetera. Tommy was a drift alone, broke 142 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,560 Speaker 1: and busted. It stung. He thought he and his bandmates 143 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: were boys a gang in it to conquer hearts and 144 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: the charts. But in the end, Tommy James and his 145 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: Hanky Panky were nothing but a fad to the rest 146 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: of his band. When you get the call from Pittsburgh's 147 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: famous DJ, the larger than life on their personality from 148 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: wzumam Mad Mike, Mike laid it down for him, real simple, 149 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: Tommy James, your song Hanky Panky, It's a bona fide 150 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: smash man. I can't stop playing it. My listeners won't 151 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: let me get your ass over to Pittsburgh with the 152 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: rest of the Chondell's and come on my show. The 153 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: station will put together a concert for you to play 154 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: to your fans. Fans Tommy James had fans. He didn't 155 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: even have a band anymore. That didn't matter. Instinctively, Tommy 156 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: knew this was his opportunity. Sure, mister Mike, me and 157 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: the band will be there for sure, right away, sir. 158 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: Tommy wasn't about to tell the DJ he no longer 159 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: had a band, that they'd left him in the lurch. 160 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: He'd figure the band thing out later. He'd find a 161 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,640 Speaker 1: band in a club thirty miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Hey, 162 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: you guys want to be the Chandell's. Sure great, and voila. 163 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: Tommy James once again had a band. And when he 164 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: came to Mad Mike in the radio appearance, Tommy James 165 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: was all yes, sir, sure sir, and right away, sir, 166 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: you can count on me. Sir. Tommy sees the opportunity, 167 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:35,080 Speaker 1: just like he would later with the Vice President, and 168 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,840 Speaker 1: just like he would after Pittsburgh in the Big Apple, 169 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: when another larger than life personality would make him an 170 00:10:41,160 --> 00:11:08,720 Speaker 1: offer he couldn't refrain. The office phones wouldn't stop ringing. 171 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: Mister Levey can't speak at the moment. Mister Levee can't 172 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: speak at the moment. Mister Levey can't speak at the moment. 173 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: Oh sure, mister gigonte one moment, Please let me grab 174 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 1: mister Levy. There was a constant hum of action in 175 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: and around every corner of the record label's headquarters. Tommy 176 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,360 Speaker 1: James's young, pretty head felt like it was on a swivel, 177 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: and there were songwriters, publishers, accountants, and tax men all 178 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: buzzing about, and every last one of them was there 179 00:11:41,400 --> 00:11:44,840 Speaker 1: for the same reason to speak to Marris Levey, head 180 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: of Roulette Records and its various sister labels, whose stable 181 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: of stars included Frankie Lyman, Bill Haley, and Ronnie Hawkins, 182 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: among others, and were responsible for early rock and roll 183 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 1: hits and dance craze songs like the Peppermint Twist, among others. 184 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: But at the moment, Marris wasn't seeing anyone, not even 185 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: Tommy James and his manager, who he Mars Levey had 186 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 1: requested to see. Tommy had come all the way from Niles, 187 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: Michigan to meet with him, as well as with all 188 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: the other labels. After it was clear that the hanky 189 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: panky was no fluke, no fat, and now he was 190 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,480 Speaker 1: being made to wait. Tommy, just nineteen at the time, 191 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: didn't know much, but he knew this felt like disrespect. 192 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: Then he heard the yelling, screaming, really from Marris's office 193 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 1: by a very angry man who he could only assume 194 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: was mister Marris Levey himself. Then the sounds rough sounds, 195 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: big bangs, violent shuffles, clanging, more yelling, and unbelievably screams 196 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: from someone clearly not Mars Levey. All of it was 197 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,839 Speaker 1: fully out of place in this business environment. But no one, 198 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: not the secretary's, not the accountants, not the publishers, not 199 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: any of the waiting guests, acknowledged the sounds as even 200 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: being there. They all just kept going about their business 201 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: while mob Bell's choir kept ringing in the background, soundtracking 202 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: what was some sort of midtown madness, the likes of 203 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 1: which Tommy James could not comprehend. He was a long 204 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: way from the Midwest, he knew that much, and he 205 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: also knew this was all very exciting. He'd been in 206 00:13:13,360 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: New York City for less than twenty four hours. The 207 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: goal was to find a record label to sign to. 208 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: Getting meetings was easy. The regional success of Hanky Panky 209 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: opened the right doors Columbia Records, Kamasutra Records, Redbird Records, 210 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: Atlantic Records, and RCA. They met with the heads at 211 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: all the labels except Roulette. Mars Levy was not available, 212 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: so they simply left a copy of Hanky Panky with 213 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: his very attractive secretary and went about the rest of 214 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: their meetings. Atlantic was hot to trot, so was Columbia. 215 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:45,920 Speaker 1: Word got back. Not only did Atlantic and Columbia want 216 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: to sign Tommy James, but so did every single other 217 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,599 Speaker 1: label they met with. It was a whirlwind. Tommy was 218 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: hot on Atlantic, he would just as soon as signed 219 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 1: with them on the spot during their first meeting, but 220 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,319 Speaker 1: his manager knew better make him wait, sweat it out, 221 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: get a better da that sort of thing. But that 222 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: was yesterday, the day before. This was today, and now 223 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: suddenly the labels were no longer interested, all except Roulette. 224 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: It made no sense, not to Tommy James and his 225 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: Midwest hick manager anyway. In New York, though, it made 226 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: perfect sense what happened in between Tommy's meetings with the 227 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: heads of the music industry's biggest record labels the day before, 228 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: and his jet cooling stint on the sofa inside the 229 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,080 Speaker 1: Roulette Records waiting room was that Maurice Levy had heard 230 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: Hanky Panky, loved it, and decided unilaterally that Tommy James 231 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:40,160 Speaker 1: was to be a Roulette artist, and called the heads 232 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: of the other labels and collectively told them all that 233 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,440 Speaker 1: back the fuck off, mincing no words of Atlantic's Jerry 234 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:48,440 Speaker 1: Wexler telling him this is my fucking record, leave it alone. 235 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,160 Speaker 1: And now Tommy had been sent for and was waiting 236 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: patiently to learn of his fate. The fate of whoever 237 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 1: was on the other side of Maris Levey's door, however, 238 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,840 Speaker 1: was seriously question The sounds continued, it was clear that 239 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:06,080 Speaker 1: there was some sort of violent confrontation happening, and then 240 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 1: Morris's office door opened and the sound ceased out. Limped 241 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 1: a haggard looking young man. He didn't look much older 242 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: to Tommy than himself, mid twenties, greaser workmen's clothes, and 243 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,760 Speaker 1: fresh wounds on his face. Two big Italian looking men 244 00:15:21,800 --> 00:15:25,120 Speaker 1: in suits followed him. Take them back to Flatbush, came 245 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: the booming voice from out of Morris's office. Behind them, Flatbush, 246 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:37,440 Speaker 1: the Brooklyn bootlegger was making good bread. Most kids didn't 247 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:40,400 Speaker 1: care what label covered the records of their favorite songs, 248 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: as long as they got to spin them on their 249 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 1: turntables while they did the mystery dance, the mashed Potato, 250 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: or the haggy panky. Bootlegging records was big business in 251 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 1: the fifties and sixties, and if you were trying to 252 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:55,240 Speaker 1: make your money running a record label, a bootlegger could 253 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: put you out of business by printing up and selling 254 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 1: off brand copies of the music you finance to the 255 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: unsuspecting record buying public. Mars Levey's men located the bootlegger, 256 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: no problem. He was right where they said he'd be, 257 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: in Flatbush. They stormed the makeshift pressing plant with baseball bats, 258 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 1: grabbed a little dude of the press by the shirt collar, 259 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: beat the living piss up and treating him like the 260 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: unseen stitches on a white Ford fastball. And when they 261 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: got done swinging for the fences, they tied him to 262 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: a chair, grabbed his illicit inventory of vinyls, spread it 263 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: out all around him, doused it with gasoline, and lit 264 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,720 Speaker 1: a match. It quickly went up in flames. They found 265 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:34,360 Speaker 1: the bootlegger's partner cowering in the corner of the office. 266 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: They grabbed him as a souvenir for their boss and 267 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: headed back to the Roulette offices in Midtown. And now 268 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:45,680 Speaker 1: that bootlegger was walk of shaming it out of Mars 269 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: Levey's office and back to his torched misfortune, having no 270 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: doubt worked out some sort of devil's bargain to save 271 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 1: his life. Marris appeared in the doorway of his office, 272 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 1: looked out into the waiting room, and no one in 273 00:16:57,640 --> 00:17:01,960 Speaker 1: particular asked this. The kid Tommy said nothing, neither did 274 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: anyone else. Neither did Mars. He just turned and went 275 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:08,440 Speaker 1: back into his office. Tommy and his manager were soon 276 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,959 Speaker 1: after ushered in behind him, and once inside Mars Levey's 277 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: inner sanctum, they were pleasantly surprised. All the intimidation of 278 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,360 Speaker 1: the experience thus far had been replaced by Mars Levey's 279 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: sizeable charm. Hanky Panky was a smash whether more where 280 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: that came from. Tommy was clearly the next big thing 281 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: with all that talent, and Roulette was just the record 282 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: label to make it happen for all of them. Mars 283 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:33,199 Speaker 1: laid out his vision for Tommy James and the Chondells, 284 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: another pressing of Hanky Panky on Roulette, with proper promotion, 285 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: nationwide radio play, a publishing deal in advance, a tour, 286 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 1: a certain stardom, and then more hits. Tommy was all years. 287 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 1: He immediately took to Marris. It was hard not to 288 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: when Mars Levey wanted you to feel the love. You 289 00:17:49,680 --> 00:17:51,560 Speaker 1: felt the love and he seemed like the only guy 290 00:17:51,600 --> 00:17:53,440 Speaker 1: on the planet who could give it to you, who 291 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: could give you whatever it was you wanted. Marris Levey 292 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,880 Speaker 1: was boisterous, larger than life, and despite his gruff demeanor 293 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,760 Speaker 1: cigar chomping voice, he had a kindness to him with big, round, 294 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:07,320 Speaker 1: soft eyes, the kind that said, don't worry about nothing, 295 00:18:07,480 --> 00:18:09,679 Speaker 1: don't worry about the thing earlier with that guy, just 296 00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:11,600 Speaker 1: a little trouble. We had to take care so that 297 00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 1: you can realize your dreams, dreams that I'm going to 298 00:18:14,280 --> 00:18:17,480 Speaker 1: make come true for you. Kid. Marris Levy pulled from 299 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: an endless reservoir of confidence. A jew, he came up 300 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: in the Bronx, working Italian ma Bone nightclubs and other 301 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,240 Speaker 1: mafia controlled rackets, the most infamous being the Manhattan jazz 302 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: club Birdland, which operated under the protection of the Genovese 303 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: crime family. It was one of New York's most successful 304 00:18:35,600 --> 00:18:38,320 Speaker 1: clubs at the time, but it wasn't without its problems. 305 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:41,879 Speaker 1: Marris's brother was murdered there on some beef that was 306 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 1: never entirely clear, but Mars pressed on. He commissioned a 307 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: theme song for the club, the Lullaby of Birdland by 308 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 1: George Shearing. It was a quick hit in an occasion 309 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: to start a publishing company for Mars, a publishing company 310 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 1: that Mars Levy quickly, by a combination of cunning and force, 311 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: turned into an empire. Marris aligned himself with the most 312 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: successful disc jockey in the country, Cleveland's Alan Freed. Marris 313 00:19:08,840 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 1: brought him to New York, wined and dined, and proceeded 314 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 1: applying with the lavish lifestyle Freed felt he deserved. Morris 315 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,920 Speaker 1: and Scottsdaalin a WIMS radio, and Alan Freed was now 316 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: the most influential DJ in New York. DJs all over 317 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: the country followed his lead. Played what he played with 318 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 1: Alan Freed in the fold. In Marris's pocket and thus 319 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: in the pocket of the Genevese family. Marris was able 320 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:33,680 Speaker 1: to get freed to play whichever of his records he 321 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 1: wanted as frequently as he wanted, all but guaranteeing hits 322 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 1: for the songs Mars published. So Marris then formed Roulette 323 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,680 Speaker 1: Records to grab a bigger piece of the royalty pie 324 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:46,120 Speaker 1: from the sale of records that featured the songs he 325 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,399 Speaker 1: published and that were generating performance royalties from their massive 326 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 1: radio play. Mars was smart. He needed to make that money. 327 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:56,719 Speaker 1: He was an earner, a top earner for the Genovese family, 328 00:19:56,760 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 1: as he'd always been, going all the way back to 329 00:19:59,040 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: his time as a kid the Bronx. He knew how 330 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 1: to make his bosses happy. First there was Salvator Marenzano, 331 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: then Lucky Luciano put a bullet in him. Lucky went 332 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: away and Vito Geneviz took over. Then Vito went away, 333 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,240 Speaker 1: and Frank Costello tried stepping into his shoes but got 334 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: clipped by Jim Chacante. Frank survived, and so did the 335 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: man who arranged to whack him out, Tommy Ebily, who 336 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: is now sitting next to Tommy James and his manager 337 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,560 Speaker 1: in Mars Levy's office, seemingly out of place. A fly 338 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:29,200 Speaker 1: on the wall observing his charge. Mars Levy take charge 339 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 1: back to teeing up the conversation, Marris came around from 340 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: his desk and motioned to young Tommy James to stand up. 341 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:39,639 Speaker 1: Mars Levy hugged the nineteen year old he had just 342 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 1: met and told him everything was going to be all right. 343 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: He could go back to his hotel and arrest, come 344 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,040 Speaker 1: back in the morning, and they had talk producers for now, though, 345 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,760 Speaker 1: Marris wanted some time alone with Tommy's manager so he 346 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: and his boys could work it all out. We'll be 347 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:05,080 Speaker 1: right back after this word word word. It wasn't so 348 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 1: much that the contract as manager worked out with him 349 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: was bad. It was that the guy mars Levy, who 350 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:16,320 Speaker 1: Tommy's manager contracted him with, was bad. Some musicians signed 351 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: bad contracts and in the process sign over everything profits 352 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: from their record sales and profits from their songwriting royalties 353 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: aka their music publishing. That wasn't the case with Tommy. 354 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: He maintained his right to make money off of his songwriting. 355 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: It's just that the man who is responsible for administering 356 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,440 Speaker 1: the money that his songs generated, i e. The man 357 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 1: responsible for collecting and paying him only kept up with 358 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: one of his duties. Mars Levy collected, but mars Levy 359 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 1: didn't pay, and by nineteen sixty nine there was a 360 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: lot of songwriting publishing money to be collected on behalf 361 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 1: of Tommy James. Since signing with Roulette. Everything mars Levy 362 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,960 Speaker 1: had promised Tommy James in that first meeting he had delivered. 363 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:04,240 Speaker 1: Hanky Panky was reissued and distributed through Roulette, and it 364 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,679 Speaker 1: was a hit, rising to number one on the charts 365 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: and selling more than a million copies going gold. Tommy 366 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,720 Speaker 1: backed up that breakout success with a string of seven 367 00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 1: hit singles, including I Think We're Alone Now, Mirage and 368 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:19,920 Speaker 1: Getting Together, Climaxing with Money Money. In nineteen sixty eight, 369 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:22,760 Speaker 1: Mony Mony hit big on both sides of the pond. 370 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 1: It peaked at number three in the US but went 371 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:27,239 Speaker 1: all the way to number one in the UK. Had 372 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: left such a cultural mark that Billy Idol's cover version 373 00:22:30,040 --> 00:22:33,240 Speaker 1: would repeat the chart topping performance almost twenty years later, 374 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: and by the end of the sixties, as pop music 375 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: transitioned from a forty five singles market to an album 376 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: oriented market, Tommy adjusted with the times. His second single 377 00:22:46,000 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: off the album, Crimson and Clover, Crystal Blue Persuasion climbed 378 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 1: to number two on the charts, and hitting number one 379 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 1: was the album's title track, Crimson and Clover. On radio stations, 380 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:03,360 Speaker 1: it was heard over and over. Yeah, his career such 381 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: a sweet thing. Tommy James could do everything, Tommy James 382 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: couldn't miss, But Tommy James couldn't get paid, at least 383 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: not what he was owed. Mars Levy kept him satiated 384 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,359 Speaker 1: with a couple grand in cash here and a couple 385 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 1: granding cash there, and covered touring expenses, where Tommy and 386 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,080 Speaker 1: his band were free to make whatever money they wanted 387 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: from performance fees, and Mars paid for studio time and 388 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 1: recording and other living and lifestyle expenses. But those out 389 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,920 Speaker 1: of pocket expenses were pocket change compared to the millions 390 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: Tommy James was owed and back publishing money millions Marris 391 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: used to finance his lavish lifestyle, expensive parties, prostitutes, a 392 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,280 Speaker 1: huge spread upstate, and massive legal bills to fend off 393 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: a constant swarm of IRS agents prowling around trying to 394 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,280 Speaker 1: bust Mars for tax evasion. And of course there was 395 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,159 Speaker 1: the long standing protection deal he had with the Geneva 396 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:02,879 Speaker 1: family and whatever money he needed to pay out monthly 397 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,440 Speaker 1: to satisfy that arrangement. Mars had a healthy overhead and 398 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 1: a stable of songwriters he deemed expendable parts necessary for 399 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,600 Speaker 1: him to do the real work of marketing and selling 400 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 1: music through a mix of intimidation, force Paola and other scams. 401 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,280 Speaker 1: And Tommy James was his favorite. Sure, like a son 402 00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,440 Speaker 1: to Mars, But Tommy James was as expendable as the rest. 403 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy Rogers who got too big for his songwriting bridges, 404 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,440 Speaker 1: and that junkie you couldn't keep his dick in his pants, 405 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,240 Speaker 1: Frankie Lyman. Tommy would take what he was given and 406 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: shut up about it. What was he going to do 407 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,359 Speaker 1: complain to who he wouldn't dare. Over the years, Tommy 408 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: broached the subject of getting paid with Mars numerous times, 409 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: but got nowhere, and he wouldn't dare bring the business 410 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 1: outside of the walls of Roulette. Tommy saw firsthand what 411 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,640 Speaker 1: happened to the bootleggers who crossed Mars, and he heard 412 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,639 Speaker 1: the rumors too about other not so fortunate souls who 413 00:24:52,720 --> 00:24:54,760 Speaker 1: dared get on the wrong side of Mars Levy. And 414 00:24:54,800 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 1: of course Tommy heard what Mars was capable of straight 415 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:03,800 Speaker 1: from the horse's mouth. So Tommy James took whatever money 416 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:06,240 Speaker 1: you could get his hands on and indulged one of 417 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:13,639 Speaker 1: his growing fascinations guns. He'd amassed a small arsenal in 418 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,680 Speaker 1: his apartment. He loaded his prized piece, a thirty two 419 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,720 Speaker 1: caliber police pistol from nineteen oh two, the one with 420 00:25:19,760 --> 00:25:22,600 Speaker 1: the rubber handle in the eight inch barrel. He stood 421 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 1: on his balcony high above Manhattan, took gain and fired. 422 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: Under normal circumstances, this would only be a little scary, 423 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: but under the current circumstances it was terrifying. Tommy had 424 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 1: a head full of speed and was trying to process 425 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 1: his overwhelming sense of anger at being screwed by Mars 426 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 1: Levy and unable to do anything about it. The whole 427 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: thing lent itself to a little cyclone of violence swirling 428 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: around Tommy James in nineteen sixty nine, and Tommy fired 429 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: off another round, and the shot was loud with each 430 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: pull of the trigger. Tommy imagined himself settling his beef 431 00:25:58,280 --> 00:26:01,720 Speaker 1: with Marris. Imagine taking charge and taking control of the 432 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:05,159 Speaker 1: money Marris owed him shedding himself with Mars and this 433 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,159 Speaker 1: impossible predicament of having his creativity preyed upon and exploited. 434 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: It pulled the trigger over and over. With each shot, 435 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:17,240 Speaker 1: Tommy felt a little better, felt Maris Levey's shackles loosened. 436 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: The black beauties had him amped. The weed did little 437 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,679 Speaker 1: to level of him off. It made him paranoid, and 438 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:25,480 Speaker 1: the boozy sipped in between rounds complimented the air of 439 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: invincibility that his peace in his hand inspired. Tommy's wife 440 00:26:29,880 --> 00:26:32,720 Speaker 1: screamed at him to stop. He didn't listen. She screamed 441 00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:36,119 Speaker 1: some more. He listened less. He kept shooting, over and over. 442 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,719 Speaker 1: Scared to death, Tommy's wife, unable to call the cops, 443 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,280 Speaker 1: called the only person she knew who Tommy would listen to. 444 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: She called Mars Levey. Mars made it over in no time. 445 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,560 Speaker 1: The last thing he needed was his star attraction getting 446 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:54,119 Speaker 1: busted into the stockpile. Believe a weaponry what he bounded 447 00:26:54,119 --> 00:26:57,399 Speaker 1: through their apartment door. Tommy immediately snapped too. But this 448 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,679 Speaker 1: was his home, So fuck Mars Levey, give me the 449 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: fucking guns, was all Marris said. Fuck you. Mars grabbed 450 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:06,280 Speaker 1: Tommy by the neck, lifted him off the ground with 451 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: one hand, and slammed him into the wall. Now you 452 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: listen to me, you little cocksucker. You gonna shoot these 453 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 1: guns off into the night sky. That's one kind of stupid. 454 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: You're gonna fantasize about shooting me. Well, that's another kind 455 00:27:16,640 --> 00:27:19,440 Speaker 1: of stupid. Entirely. You insult me in a dream, and 456 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: you gotta wake up and apologize. You hear me? How 457 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,359 Speaker 1: did he know? Tommy wondered, Marris was in his head, 458 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 1: fucking with him on repeat. Marris tightened his grip to 459 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,280 Speaker 1: drive home his next point. Do you know what I did? 460 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,560 Speaker 1: Ut bum who killed my brother at Birdland? Tommy couldn't 461 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: say anything, He couldn't breathe, his eyes widened. Mars squeezed tighter. 462 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,960 Speaker 1: I fucking took a knife and stuck it in his 463 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: fucking stomach and twisted it. Mars shaped his free hand 464 00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 1: into a fist and ground it slowly and painfully into 465 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: Tommy's stomach. I stuck it in his fucking stomach until 466 00:27:50,280 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: his fucking guts fell out. Tommy's eyes got bigger, his 467 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:58,440 Speaker 1: face was plumb red. Marris leaned in closer to Tommy's 468 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: ear and whispered, Now, you ain't gonna hurt me, are you. 469 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,439 Speaker 1: He didn't wait for an answer, He just loosened Tommy 470 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:11,160 Speaker 1: from his grasp, who crumbled onto the floor. Marris quickly 471 00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,639 Speaker 1: went in a savior mode and began caring for Tommy. 472 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: He picked him up to his feet, dusted him off, 473 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,960 Speaker 1: told him to leave the pills alone, and that he 474 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,119 Speaker 1: was taking his guns, but if he ever wanted to 475 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:22,359 Speaker 1: shoot them, he could do so up at Mars's place 476 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 1: up state. And then if you were worried about protection 477 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,679 Speaker 1: in the city for whatever reason, then Marris would assign 478 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:30,600 Speaker 1: some men to accompany him and watch his back. And 479 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 1: just like that, Tommy James Popstar had a full time 480 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 1: Genevie's family bodyguard accompanying him wherever he went, looking out 481 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:42,719 Speaker 1: for him, protecting him. It was a good thing because 482 00:28:42,720 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: Tommy was gonna need the protection. It was commonly known 483 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: that in nineteen seventy one there were five families mafia families, 484 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:17,040 Speaker 1: that is Gambino, Luksi, Genevez, Bonano, and Colombo. What is 485 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:21,160 Speaker 1: uncommonly known is that Roulette Records was the unofficial sixth family, 486 00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: headed up by Mars Levy, at least that's how he 487 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 1: saw it. Years later, creators of the greatest television show 488 00:29:28,480 --> 00:29:31,600 Speaker 1: of all time, the Sopranos would base the character of 489 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: hash Rabkin on mars Levy, But back in the late 490 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,320 Speaker 1: nineteen sixties, all anyone needed to know was that mars 491 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:41,400 Speaker 1: Levy had created a mini empire in the music industry 492 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: that was throwing off mountains of cash and operating under 493 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:49,360 Speaker 1: the protection of the Genevize crime family, a family whose 494 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:57,600 Speaker 1: leadership in very existence was currently under fire. In nineteen 495 00:29:57,680 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: sixty nine, Vito Genevese, leader of the one of these 496 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:03,800 Speaker 1: crime family, died in prison. For the past few years 497 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 1: there had been a type of peace between the Genevese 498 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:08,720 Speaker 1: family and the rest of the New York families, but 499 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 1: now it seemed that peace was unraveling. The Gambino family 500 00:30:13,080 --> 00:30:16,440 Speaker 1: was on the rise, consolidating their power, and the Gambinos 501 00:30:16,440 --> 00:30:19,400 Speaker 1: took over the Profacci family, and the Banano family was 502 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: on the run, and the Gambino Schacho Colombo, boss of 503 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: the Columbo family, in the head in the middle of 504 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: Columbus Circle, and as far as the Genovese family went. 505 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: With their leader of Vito recently departed with unsteady leadership, 506 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:35,120 Speaker 1: the Gambinos smelled blood and were gunning for more power. 507 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,560 Speaker 1: Roulette records would make for a shiny new piece in 508 00:30:38,640 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 1: the crown of jewels. The Gambinos were consolidating throughout New 509 00:30:42,080 --> 00:30:46,520 Speaker 1: York in nineteen seventy one. But first Mars Letty would 510 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: have to go. And if Mars couldn't be found, then 511 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 1: perhaps the Gambinos could snake away something he cared about 512 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:54,959 Speaker 1: to try and coax him out of hiding and leverage 513 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,400 Speaker 1: him into some sort of illicit swap or bargain. Perhaps 514 00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:05,160 Speaker 1: that leverage could be found in capturing Tommy James. Tommy 515 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:07,600 Speaker 1: James couldn't believe what he was hearing sitting in his 516 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: lawyer's office. The meeting was supposed to be about developing 517 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: a strategy for Tommy to extract from Marris the money 518 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: he owed him via a clever audit. It was recently 519 00:31:17,080 --> 00:31:20,280 Speaker 1: learned by Tommy and his lawyers that Mars likely owed 520 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 1: Tommy a total of forty million dollars. But now Mars 521 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: was gone in the wind, rumored to be in South America, 522 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: but maybe also as far away as Australia, lamming it 523 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:35,080 Speaker 1: away from the Gambino soldiers in New York who had 524 00:31:35,120 --> 00:31:37,440 Speaker 1: gone to the Mattresses and likely wanted him dead or 525 00:31:37,560 --> 00:31:40,960 Speaker 1: kidnapped and forced him to signing away ownership of Roulette Records. 526 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,720 Speaker 1: Tommy's lawyers made it clear his life was in danger 527 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: and he needed to get out of New York. Now 528 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 1: the Gambinos were a real threat. Marris was gone, they 529 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:53,920 Speaker 1: could try and use Tommy to get to Mars. So 530 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,000 Speaker 1: just playing kill Tommy to send Marris a message. It 531 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,400 Speaker 1: was a threat the likes of which Tommy James had 532 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: never felt. But whenever anything to that point in his 533 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: career had threatened Tommy, Marris was the guy who took 534 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:07,880 Speaker 1: care of it. And now Marris was gone and there 535 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: was no one to take care of the threat or 536 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: take care of him personally, never mind his career. Without Mars, 537 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 1: the gig was over and forget about money. Tommy would 538 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: now never see what Marris o do. He was sunk, 539 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: so he headed to Nashville to drown his sorrows and 540 00:32:22,560 --> 00:32:25,920 Speaker 1: speed and booze and to naturally make a country album 541 00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: without Marris's involvement. The country album sold like ice in 542 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:37,120 Speaker 1: the middle of a blizzard. After some time, the five 543 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:40,440 Speaker 1: families warring ways calmed down and Marris was allowed to 544 00:32:40,520 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: return to New York. Tommy wasn't sure of the arrangement, 545 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:46,440 Speaker 1: but he wouldn't have been surprised if the Gambinos were 546 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,120 Speaker 1: now profiting off of his songs via Roulette records, just 547 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:52,320 Speaker 1: as the genovies were. In exchange for Mars being allowed 548 00:32:52,360 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: to continue operations with Roulette. Tommy couldn't truck with it anymore. 549 00:32:56,800 --> 00:32:58,960 Speaker 1: He told Mars he wanted his money, and if he 550 00:32:58,960 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: couldn't get it, he wanted his freedom, and the confrontation 551 00:33:02,680 --> 00:33:05,960 Speaker 1: was brutal. Tommy unloaded years of resentment on to Mars 552 00:33:05,960 --> 00:33:10,160 Speaker 1: about being taken advantage of, effectively stolen from Marris unloaded 553 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:13,040 Speaker 1: right back. Reminded Tommy that had it not been for him, 554 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:15,400 Speaker 1: that little Tommy James would still be hanky panking it 555 00:33:15,480 --> 00:33:19,480 Speaker 1: in Midwest dive bars. And Marris wasn't wrong, and he 556 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:22,520 Speaker 1: was unfazed by Tommy's demands. He knew he had Tommy 557 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:26,040 Speaker 1: where he wanted him, enslaves to his lifestyle. It wasn't 558 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:27,760 Speaker 1: everything he was old, but it was worth more than 559 00:33:27,760 --> 00:33:31,280 Speaker 1: his life was before he'd met Marris. So Tommy James 560 00:33:31,320 --> 00:33:38,400 Speaker 1: played the only hand he had left he retired. He 561 00:33:38,520 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 1: refused to make any more records for Roulette, proving to 562 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 1: Mars in the process that he was dead serious. Not 563 00:33:45,040 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: making records and not getting paid was better than making 564 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: records under the exploitative black hand of the mafia and 565 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,240 Speaker 1: not getting paid anyway he looked at it, he wasn't 566 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:56,040 Speaker 1: getting paid and the rush of fame didn't matter anymore, 567 00:33:56,040 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: and the live shows paid the bills. And though the 568 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,480 Speaker 1: hit he took in relevance due to not having any 569 00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:03,200 Speaker 1: new hits to support, caused his live fees to drop, 570 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 1: it was still enough to get by and he was 571 00:34:05,560 --> 00:34:09,440 Speaker 1: still Tommy James, and Mars couldn't take that away. He 572 00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:13,080 Speaker 1: also couldn't take away the memories. Tommy, despite all of 573 00:34:13,120 --> 00:34:16,800 Speaker 1: Marris's conniving ways, still looked back at those early days 574 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:20,719 Speaker 1: of hits with reverence and strangely gratitude, and they were 575 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:23,360 Speaker 1: the most exciting days of his life. All the glitz, 576 00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: the fame, and yeah, of course, even the crime. It 577 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:27,880 Speaker 1: was a thrill a minute when Tommy James was on 578 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:32,880 Speaker 1: the come up with Roulette records. Years later, after Tommy 579 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:36,319 Speaker 1: had professionally divorced Marris Levy, and after Marris had been 580 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 1: arrested by the FBI for an extortion scam that had 581 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,480 Speaker 1: him fending off a long federal prison sentence. Marris succumbed 582 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,880 Speaker 1: to liver cancer in nineteen ninety. Before doing so, Marris 583 00:34:47,880 --> 00:34:50,720 Speaker 1: sold off Roulette Records in all of his holdings, including 584 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:54,840 Speaker 1: his publishing company that included Tommy James's songs. Now in 585 00:34:54,880 --> 00:34:58,000 Speaker 1: the hands of professional publishers who not only collected, but 586 00:34:58,040 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: who also paid, Tommy James saw windfall of cash. He 587 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: was helped by a resurgence of popularity of his songs 588 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 1: in the nineteen eighties due to the fact that two artists, 589 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 1: Billy Idyl and Tiffany, had both recorded and racked up 590 00:35:12,239 --> 00:35:15,480 Speaker 1: simultaneous hits with cover versions of Tommy James and the 591 00:35:15,560 --> 00:35:20,120 Speaker 1: Chandell's songs Mony, Moony and I Think We're Alone Now. Remarkably, 592 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:23,600 Speaker 1: when Billy Idol's Tommy James cover hit number one, the 593 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 1: song it knocked off was Tiffany's Tommy James cover. Back 594 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:35,920 Speaker 1: in sixty eight, Marris had summoned Tommy James to his office. 595 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 1: It was a thing that happened regularly, but this time, 596 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:44,280 Speaker 1: as Tommy was approaching, something felt different. The surrounding office 597 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,239 Speaker 1: lacked its usual buzz. As Tommy made his way in 598 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,200 Speaker 1: to see the boss. He was young and naive, but 599 00:35:50,520 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: not without instincts. When he opened Marris's door and entered, 600 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: he immediately realized the reason it all felt different. Inside 601 00:35:58,640 --> 00:36:02,280 Speaker 1: Marris's office, there were five serious looking Italian men sitting 602 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:08,120 Speaker 1: on Mars's l shaped sofa. Mars looked more serious than usual. Hey, kid, 603 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:15,600 Speaker 1: come on in. Tommy did as he was told. Tommy, marsaid, 604 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,160 Speaker 1: these men would like to meet you. This is mister Gigante. 605 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 1: Tommy knew who he was meeting. It was the fearsome 606 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:26,600 Speaker 1: geneviz Capo, one of the boss's most loyal soldiers, Vincent 607 00:36:26,760 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: the chin Gigante. And this is mister Cirillo. Tommy then 608 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:34,479 Speaker 1: shook hands with quiet Dawn Sorillo and mister Celeermo wanted 609 00:36:34,520 --> 00:36:37,280 Speaker 1: to meet you as well. Tommy's hand was then gripped 610 00:36:37,280 --> 00:36:40,359 Speaker 1: by the massive mit of fat Tony Cealermo, who would 611 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 1: go on to eventually become the inspiration for the Sopranos. 612 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 1: Tony Soprano and mister Vistola wanted to say hello, and 613 00:36:47,320 --> 00:36:51,200 Speaker 1: of course you know mister Ebilie already Mars addressed them all. 614 00:36:51,480 --> 00:36:53,800 Speaker 1: He's a good kid. He's got the number one record 615 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:57,759 Speaker 1: this week. Tommy Ebily spoke for the group. We're all 616 00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:00,319 Speaker 1: proud of you, Tommy. That thing you do in Vice 617 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,160 Speaker 1: President Humphrey, it's a good thing, and we're all very 618 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:06,400 Speaker 1: proud of you. Mars then gave Tommy a nod as 619 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:09,040 Speaker 1: if to say, you're free to leave now with your 620 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:13,120 Speaker 1: life because me and these men in this room say so. 621 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 1: Tommy then told them it was nice to meet you 622 00:37:15,480 --> 00:37:17,759 Speaker 1: all and quickly made his way out of the office. 623 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:23,640 Speaker 1: Sitting back now years later, enjoying his newfound success, Tommy 624 00:37:23,719 --> 00:37:27,360 Speaker 1: James remembered that day. He remembered that while walking away 625 00:37:27,400 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: from those very scary men, the upper echelon of the 626 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:33,399 Speaker 1: Genevese crime family, that he didn't feel frightened at all. 627 00:37:34,040 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: He felt accepted, and that was all he really wanted 628 00:37:37,239 --> 00:37:40,360 Speaker 1: in life and his career was to feel accepted, to 629 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:43,680 Speaker 1: feel like he was part of something. The original Chandell's 630 00:37:43,719 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 1: betrayed that feeling when they abandoned Tommy James back in 631 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 1: his teens and later as an adult, Marris Levy and 632 00:37:49,520 --> 00:37:53,000 Speaker 1: the Sixth Family Roulette Records fulfilled that feeling for him. 633 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 1: They accepted him, but not out of love or friendship 634 00:37:56,920 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: or some sense of honor or family but for price, 635 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:07,680 Speaker 1: and that was a disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan and this 636 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:53,200 Speaker 1: is Disgraceland. Disgraceland was created by Yours Truly and is 637 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:56,800 Speaker 1: produced in partnership with Double Elvis. Credits for this episode 638 00:38:56,880 --> 00:38:59,640 Speaker 1: can be found on the show notes page at disgracelandpod 639 00:38:59,719 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: dot com. If you're listening as a disgracelan All Access member, 640 00:39:03,760 --> 00:39:06,239 Speaker 1: thank you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. 641 00:39:06,560 --> 00:39:08,799 Speaker 1: And if not, you can become a member right now 642 00:39:08,840 --> 00:39:13,359 Speaker 1: by going to disgracelampod dot com Slash Membership. Members can 643 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:17,279 Speaker 1: listen to every episode of disgracelan ad free, Plus you'll 644 00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: get one brand new exclusive episode every month, weekly unscripted 645 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:25,600 Speaker 1: bonus episode, special audio collections, and early access to merchandise 646 00:39:25,719 --> 00:39:30,640 Speaker 1: and events. Visit disgracelampod dot com slash membership for details, 647 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:33,560 Speaker 1: Rate and review the show, and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, 648 00:39:33,560 --> 00:39:37,640 Speaker 1: Twitter and Facebook at disgracelampod and on YouTube at YouTube 649 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:45,240 Speaker 1: dot com slash at disgracelampod Rock a Roller, He's adn