Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis.

The stories about New Order are insane.

They hired a notorious crime family to police their Manchester nightclub when it

became overrun with gang violence. Their manager did so much cocaine that he suffered a mental

breakdown and fought eight police officers when they fitted him for a straitjacket. Their base

player struggled with his own drug habit

that led to an undercover police sting

and an arrest at the height of the band's fame.

They proved that a rock band could make dance music

and actually become cooler in the process.

And the musical hybrid that they created

not only defined part of what the 1980s sounded like,

it remains great music. Some of the best music of all time. Unlike that music I played for you

at the top of the show, that wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my Melotron

called Bathtub Grits, MK1. I played you that loop because I can't afford

the rights to upside down by Diana Ross. And why would I play you that specific slice of round and

round cheese could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in America on September 20th, 1980.

And that was the day that the Manchester band, formerly known as Joy Division, played their

first show in the United States, just months after the sudden death of their former lead

singer.

On this episode, notorious crime families,

mental breakdowns,

...