The Temptations: Fame, Drugs, and Paranoia

DISGRACELAND

Jake Brennan

True Crime, Music, Society & Culture

4.6 • 13.1K Ratings

🗓️ 31 May 2022

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The Temptations were one of Motown’s signature vocal groups, and they remain one of the most successful R&B acts of all time. But fame and drugs corrupted them from the beginning. Lineup changes were as frequent as their chart-topping hits. Eventually their rocky road led to drug addiction, crippling paranoia, routine backstabbing, and one of the most tragic deaths in the history of the Motor City. This episode contains themes that may be disturbing to some listeners, including discussions about suicide. If you’re thinking about suicide or are worried about a friend or loved one, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at www.disgracelandpod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Double Elvis.
0:05.0	This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners.
0:11.0	Please check the show notes for more information.
0:14.4	Disgraysand is a production of double Elvis.
0:36.6	The stories about the temptations are insane. They are one of the most successful and beloved RMB groups of all time, despite the fact that group members were tragically corrupted by fame and drugs.
0:42.3	David Ruffin in particular battled a 20-plus year cocaine habit.
0:47.6	His ego was so huge that he rode in a private mink-lined car and hired his own manager and bodyguard. He was so volatile
0:56.3	that it's been long rumored that he was responsible for the most tragic death
1:00.5	in Motown history and he was so paranoid that he believed the death of a fellow temptation was not an accident,
1:08.0	but a warning to those like him who dared disrupt the flow of Motown's famed factory line.
1:16.0	The Temptations made great music.
1:18.9	From their Classic Five lineup with David Ruffin to the psychedelic soul made with Dennis Edwards, great music.
1:25.1	Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show, that wasn't great music.
1:30.3	That was a preset loop from my melotron called Milk Milk Promenade, MK1.
1:38.0	I played you that loop because I can't afford the rights to the morning after by Maureen McGovern.
1:44.6	And why would I play you that specific slice of Noni New Year's cheese could I afford it?
1:51.1	Because that was the number one song in America on August 17th 1973.
1:57.0	And that was the day the temptation Paul Williams was found dead outside his car in Detroit, a death that would raise many
2:05.4	questions and stoke many conspiracy theories. On this episode, cocaine, tall eos, make lined cars,
2:15.0	disrupting Motown's flow in the temptations.
2:19.0	I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceant. Oh, The dollar bill was old. It smelled like oil and sweat. David Ruffin rolled it up with his fingers and then used it to do a line off the table. He tasted iron at the back of his throat. If his nose was about
3:06.6	de Geyser blood all over the place, so be it. It would take his mind off the things he didn't want to think
	...

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