Shannon Hoon: Blind Melon, Bee Girls, and the Courage to Say Yes

Blind Melon's Shannon Hoon lived for freedom—on stage in drag, tripping at Woodstock, or swinging mic stands at security guards. From Lafayette to Los Angeles., his journey was a beautiful, brutal high, until it all came crashing down on a tour bus in New Orleans. This is the story of a voice that wouldn’t say no, and the price he paid for it. To see the full list of contributors, see the show notes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.disgracelandpod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. https://www.disgracelandpod.com This previously exclusive episode was originally published on June 26, 2025. To listen to Disgraceland ad free and get access to weekly bonus content and more, become a Disgraceland All Access member at ⁠disgracelandpod.com/membership⁠ https://disgracelandpod.com/membership. Sign up for our newsletter and get the inside dirt on events, merch and other awesomeness - ⁠GET THE NEWSLETTER⁠ https://mailchi.mp/doubleelvis/disgraceland-email-newsletter Follow Jake and DISGRACELAND: ⁠Instagram⁠ https://www.instagram.com/disgracelandpod/ ⁠YouTube⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@disgracelandpod ⁠X⁠ https://twitter.com/disgracelandpod (formerly Twitter) ⁠Facebook Fan Group⁠ https://www.facebook.com/groups/491024204626127/ ⁠TikTok https://tiktok.com/disgracelandpod See omnystudio.com/listener https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:10Jake Brennan?

  Double Elvis. I like a story with a twist as much as anyone, but some of the best traditions don't have one. They just started and kept going. That's something that's great about Chateau St. Michelle. They've been leading Washington wine since 1967 with wines that are balanced, expressive, and easy to enjoy. Choosing the right bottle shouldn't feel complicated. It should be something you open with confidence every time. So for once, here's a story with no twist, just a good bottle. Redefine your rituals with Chateau St. Michelle.

• 0:45Speaker 01

  Wait, I came in for two things. How is this $47? All right, we're gonna need a plan here.

• 0:53Speaker 02

  Just start simple with Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25.

• 1:01Speaker 01

  Oh, that's actually really simple.

• 1:04Speaker 02

  Safe Balance Banking. One less thing to figure out. Learn more at bofa.com/simplbanking. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC.

• 1:14Speaker 03

  Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.

• 1:45Speaker 04

  This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. Please check the show notes for more information.

• 1:52Jake Brennan?

  Disgrace Land is a production of Double Elvis.

• 2:06Jake Brennan?

  This is a story about finding freedom. Freedom to dress differently, to act differently, to think differently. And as is so often said, freedom isn't free. There's always a price to pay. Because this is a story about Shannon Hoon, the lead singer of Blind Melon. His search for freedom started when he left the suffocatingly small town of Lafayette, Indiana, and it ended on a tour bus in New Orleans just five years later. In between, Shannon went toe to toe with a hard rock icon, and he pissed off security guards and pissed on angry crowds. He captivated audiences while dressed in drag. He smuggled drugs

• 2:50Jake Brennan?

  and started fights with other rock stars. And with his band Blind Melon, Shannon Hoon made great music. Unlike that loop I played for you at the top of the show, that wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my Mellotron called Flannel Over Spandex MK1. I played you that loop because I can't afford the rights to Mariah Carey's "Fantasy." And why would I play you that specific slice of daydreaming cheese? Could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in America on October 21, 1995. And that was the day that Shannon Hoon was found dead on a tour bus in New Orleans at just 28

• 3:31Jake Brennan?

  years old. On this episode, freedom, fantasy, B-girls and bad boys, daydreaming cheese, and Shannon Hoon's tragic search for freedom. I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgrace Land.

• 4:11Jake Brennan?

  The security guards have been added all day. There were 10,000 kids out there in the arena, trying to let loose on a Friday night. And sure, the crowd was pumped up. After all, Guns N' Roses, the biggest rock band on the planet, was due to hit the stage soon. But right now, it was still early. A virtually unknown band was kicking off the night. And so far, outside of a little pot smoke and some crowd surfing, everyone was behaving themselves. Not that it mattered to the security guards. As soon as the gates opened at the arena, a few miles from Mount Rushmore, the security guards made it clear what they thought of this parade of rockers and hippies and freaks that were invading

• 4:52Jake Brennan?

  their South Dakota town. Shannon Hoon noticed it as soon as he walked on stage. Maybe it was because he had an uncanny ability to read other people's emotions. Or maybe it was because he was tripping balls on mushrooms. Either way, as soon as he stepped on the stage, he could sense the hatred vibrating from the security guards who were standing behind the metal barricade between the stage and the crowd.

• 5:19Jake Brennan?

  In April of 1993, Blind Melon, of course, was that virtually unknown band kicking off the night. And even though Blind Melon had released their debut album back in September, if any of the fans in the audience recognized Shannon Hoon, it wasn't because of his own band. It was because of Guns N' Roses. That was Shannon's voice on Guns N' Roses's epic power ballad, "Don't Cry." In addition to appearing in the music video, Shannon had been popping up at Guns N' Roses shows for the last two years to sing that song with the band. It was all thanks to Axl Rose. Despite the singer's growing reputation for excessive behavior, he still had a soft spot for his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana.

• 6:04Jake Brennan?

  Lafayette was where Axl met Izzy Stradlin, back when they were still going by the names Bill and Jeff. It was where he learned to sing in the high school choir, and it was where he befriended a girl named Anna Hoon. But Lafayette held darker memories for Axl, too. Memories of being forced to attend a strict Pentecostal church, of his parents lying to him about who his biological father was, of his stepfather beating the shit out of him and abusing his sisters. So almost as soon as he finished high school, Axl Rose split for Los Angeles. And then, a few years later, just as Guns N' Roses was breaking through, Axl's old friend Anna Hoon reached out to let him know her younger brother was

• 6:46Jake Brennan?

  also leaving Lafayette for Los Angeles. Axl loved Shannon's charisma and his powerhouse voice, and it wasn't long until he was asking Shannon to sing on "Don't Cry." Shannon's vocals helped make the song a top 10 hit, and soon, that effort would bring industry attention to Shannon's own band Blind Melon. By 1992, Blind Melon had a record deal and a debut album. They were opening for one of the biggest bands on the planet. And every night, Shannon was jumping on stage with the headliners for a spotlight performance on "Don't Cry." It was the perfect setup for a band on the rise. But none of that was on Shannon Hoon's mind as Blind Melon kicked into their first song on one of the

• 7:27Jake Brennan?

  first nights of the tour. Shannon had security guards on his mind. Like Axl Rose, Shannon had fond memories growing up in a small town like Lafayette. Back then, Shannon Hoon was a total jock. His family was poor, but that didn't matter as long as Shannon was a winner on the football field, or a wrestling mat, or in karate tournaments. With Shannon's dad pushing him, he became a regional champion wrestler, and he was a black belt in karate. But as he got older, he realized he cared about more than just sports. He liked art. He liked music. He wanted to see the world outside of Indiana, which in Lafayette made him an outcast. After high school, it seemed like Shannon couldn't go anywhere without

• 8:09Jake Brennan?

  getting hassled by some local cop with nothing better to do than throw his weight around. So you can understand why, in that moment, on stage that night, with the security guards acting the way they were, Shannon's blood was boiling, watching those guards roughing up vans in the front row. These people just wanted to get lost in the music, to be free for a few hours on a Friday night. But these security guards weren't going to let that happen. Not without a fight.

• 8:37Jake Brennan?

  Blind Melon was on their last song when it happened. An over enthusiastic fan leaned too far over the flimsy metal barricade that separated the guards from the crowd. A petite brunette toppled over the barricade. She bounced against the burly security guard and fell to the floor. While she struggled to get to her feet, Shannon watched in horror as the guard reared back and kicked her in the ribs. People in the front row started screaming and pointing. And rather than stop, the guard grabbed the girl roughly by the collar of her shirt and threw her against the barricade. The girl's boyfriend was screaming for the guard to stop. Instead, the guard reared back to kick her again. And that's when the boyfriend took a flying leap over the barricade and landed on the

• 9:21Jake Brennan?

  security guard. The guard easily outweighed the boyfriend by 100 pounds. He quickly knocked the kid to the ground and leapt on top of him while the girl tried in vain to pull him back. Blood started pouring from the kid's face as the guard rained down blow after blow after blow. Shannon Hoon's watching it all, and he doesn't have time to think, he just acts. He sprinted across the stage, still holding his microphone stand. When he reached the edge of the stage, he could see the guard's angry red face. He could see his massive fist reared back and ready to land another blow. Shannon Hoon swung his metal microphone stand above his head and brought it down full force on the guard's beefy hand.

• 10:02Jake Brennan?

  He heard a loud snap, and the security guard let out a scream that would have made Axl Rose proud. Then, the guard grabbed his shattered fist with his one good hand. The kid and his girlfriend managed to scramble back over the barricade, and they quickly disappeared into the crowd. For the moment, they were safe. Unfortunately, Shannon Hoon wasn't quite so lucky. Because as soon as he and the band hustled off the stage, Shannon was greeted by one of the grizzled members of the Guns N' Roses road crew. The roadie told Shannon the news. That guy you just hit? He's an off-duty cop. The roadie grabbed Shannon by the arm and pulled him away from the rest of the band and into a storage room filled with huge road cases.

• 10:47Jake Brennan?

  The roadie shoved Shannon into one of the cases and told him to wait it out until he came back. While Shannon waited in the darkness, the tour managers argued with the promoters and the security guard. The promoters swore Shannon would either have to go to jail or fork over some serious cash before they would let anyone leave. Fortunately, the tour managers held firm, and eventually someone from the crew located the boyfriend and girlfriend from the front row. They said they would be more than willing to press their own charges against the off-duty cop slash security guard. With the threat of charges, the promoters eventually backed off. At the end of the night, Shannon Hoon watched Guns N' Roses board their massive tour bus

• 11:30Jake Brennan?

  and drive off while he and the rest of Blind Melon climbed into their shitty little van. But it wouldn't be long until Blind Melon was riding in their own tour bus. And it wouldn't be long until Shannon Hoon found a whole new way to piss off the police. I like a story with a twist as much as anyone, but some of the best traditions don't have one. They just started and kept going.

• 12:13Jake Brennan?

  That's something that's great about Chateau St. Michelle. They've been leading Washington wine since 1967 with wines that are balanced, expressive, and easy to enjoy. Choosing the right bottle shouldn't feel complicated. It should be something you open with confidence every time. So for once, here's a story with no twist, just a good bottle. Redefine your rituals with Chateau St. Michelle.

• 12:36Speaker 03

  Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.

• 13:12Jake Brennan?

  The bus lumbered to a stop at the Peace Arch border crossing 30 miles south of Vancouver. It was a cold day in December of 1993, but it seemed like every car on the customs line had its windows rolled down as passengers craned their necks for a peek at the man stepping off the bus. Some people recognized him from his long, stringy hair and wiry frame. Others had no idea who this guy was, but they could tell just by the way he was standing that this was no ordinary traveler. This man was a rock star. It was obvious, from the dark sunglasses and the tattoos peeking out from under his white t-shirt, or perhaps from the large beaded necklace wrapped around his neck and his high-heel black leather boots.

• 13:56Jake Brennan?

  By now, Shannon Hoon was used to people staring at him wherever he went. It was hard to believe that just six months ago, Blind Melon had been an unknown band opening for Guns N' Roses. And now, just three months after that, still on their journey, despite opening for Guns N' Roses and despite opening for Neil Young and for the Rolling Stones, Blind Melon's debut album was a flop. Their first three singles went absolutely nowhere. Capitol Records was on the verge of dumping the album and bringing the band back into the studio for another shot. That was until a few junior members of the label's promotions team hit the road with the band that summer. They immediately noticed the crowd's reaction to one song. It was a simple little song written by the band's bassist, Brad Smith.

• 14:40Jake Brennan?

  The lyrics inspired by his girlfriend's battle with depression. They were dark, but the melody was so sunny that almost nobody noticed. The song sounded nothing like the rest of the band's material, but at every show, the crowd sang along in full force. The proof was undeniable. The promotions team begged the label to shell out for another music video. This was crazy. In the music industry, on a major label deal, a new band doesn't just get to make a third expensive video if they don't have a hit with the previous two videos. It just does not happen. But somehow, the label agreed to fork over $75,000 for one final push. They even hired Samuel Bear, the director of the iconic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video.

• 15:24Jake Brennan?

  For Blind Melon, Bear picked something far more wholesome than that. He took the cover image from the band's album, a photo of drummer Glenn Graham's little sister dressed up in a bee costume for a school play, and created a sweetly moving tribute to self-expression for the song "No Rain." Shannon loved the video when he first saw it. It reminded him of the rejection and mockery that he felt for trying to be different back in Indiana, and it reminded him of how good it felt to find his band of brothers in Blind Melon after he moved to LA. Shannon wasn't the only one who loved the video. Almost as soon as it was released, it went into heavy rotation on MTV. Within weeks, it was clear. "No Rain" was a massive hit.

• 16:09Jake Brennan?

  By the fall, the song topped the modern rock charts, and a few weeks later, it entered the Pop Top 40, where it went all the way to number 20. Soon, the album had gone multi-platinum, and Shannon Hoon was officially a rock star. So while the rest of the travelers in the customs lines stared, it didn't bother Shannon at all. He leaned against the side of the tour bus and waved to some honking cars. When the customs agent walked up to him, he had his head down as he reached for Shannon's passport. He quickly looked at the photo. Then, in surprise, he looked up at Shannon, and then he looked back down at the photo. Shannon could see the customs agent's brain making the connection. He waited for the words that he knew were coming. The agent stammered for a few seconds.

• 16:53Jake Brennan?

  "Aren't you, aren't you the piss guy?" Shannon could only shake his head. It turned out that in Canada, there was something he was known for even more than "No Rain." The last time Blind Melon had played in Vancouver was just a few months ago on Halloween. It was the last show of a long tour, and they were opening for Lenny Kravitz. Now, you should know that there's a long history of bands playing pranks on each other on the last night of a tour. Mostly, it's all in good fun. Maybe somebody dresses up in a costume and runs onstage, or someone gets a pie in the face or something stupid like that, but if Shannon Hoon was gonna pull off something like that, then Shannon Hoon was gonna go a little further than most people go.

• 17:37Jake Brennan?

  And besides, by Shannon Hoon's estimation, Lenny Kravitz had been an asshole all tour. He had some of the best musicians in the world playing in his band, but every night before the show, he would rehearse them until they were ready to collapse. And every night, Lenny seemed to take just long enough so that Blind Melon never got a sound check. Not like major asshole-level vibes, but just your basic James Brown-level diva behavior. And it made Shannon determined to find some way to upstage Lenny Kravitz, no matter what.

• 18:09Jake Brennan?

  The night was doomed from the start. In addition to being the last night of the tour and also Halloween, it was also Blind Melon guitarist Roger Stevens' birthday. So every member of the band was beyond wasted when they took the stage that night. When Shannon stepped to the microphone, he was in full Iggy Pop mode, wearing a bathrobe, women's panties, and nothing else. The shenanigans started early in the set. The stage was soaked in beer by the third song. One of the band's guitar techs dressed up in a bee costume and tried to sprint across the stage, only to wipe out in a river of beer. Halfway through the set, Shannon abandoned the bathrobe and panties and started performing completely naked.

• 18:52Jake Brennan?

  He winked at Lenny Kravitz, and then he began scaling the massive speaker tower on the side of the stage. With a mixture of beer, acid, cocaine swirling around in his system, Shannon stood on top of the speaker tower screaming his lungs out. The band kept playing, but everyone in the venue was staring at Shannon. Of course, it was clear that now Shannon was gonna have to do something to up the ante, but what? The suspense was building, till finally Shannon Hoon let loose. Well, he let loose his bladder, that is. With his dick in his hand, Shannon Hoon sent a stream of piss burping 10 feet into the air before it landed on the stage, the speakers, and everyone in the first five rows.

• 19:37Jake Brennan?

  And of course, there was pandemonium as people started screaming and pushing backwards out of the line of fire. As the band finished their set, a group of Canadian Mounties were gathering in the wings, waiting to arrest Shannon. But he wasn't gonna give up without a fight. Shannon sprinted off the stage with 15 Canadian cops chasing behind him. This time, there was no grizzled roadie to hide him. This time, he was on his own. Still, he managed to outrun the cops long enough to make it through the backstage door. He sprinted towards the tour bus, the Mounties in hot pursuit. But in Shannon's supremely fucked up state, instead of jumping into the bus, he climbed on top of it. And that's where the cops finally tackled and handcuffed him.

• 20:21Jake Brennan?

  Shannon Hoon spent the next few hours sobering up in a Vancouver prison cell. He was prepared to spend the night in jail. But a few hours later, a cop took him out of his cell and threw him in the back of a car and drove him 30 miles south to the border. Blind Melon's tour bus was waiting for them, and the cops said he would let Shannon go with a warning as long as he got out of Canada immediately. Shannon could only grin and shake his head at the memory as the border patrol agent handed back his passport. Back on the bus, heading north to Vancouver, Shannon turned to the band's tour manager. And with a smirk, he said his feet were killing him. So he slipped off one of his boots and held it up.

• 21:05Jake Brennan?

  And then he pulled hard on the heel of the boot and popped it off. There was a huge brick of hash inside. He didn't really even need the drugs. Every tour stop, it seemed like some fan was always trying to hand him drugs. But smuggling the drugs across the border for Shannon, it was more about being able to play by his own rules. So far, he had always managed to dodge the consequences. But that was just luck, and Shannon Hoon's lucky streak was about to come to an end.

• 21:38Speaker 05

  We'll be right back after this word, word, word.

• 21:44Jake Brennan?

  I like a story with a twist as much as anyone, but some of the best traditions don't have one. They just started and kept going. That's something that's great about Chateau St. Michelle. They've been leading Washington wine since 1967 with wines that are balanced, expressive, and easy to enjoy. Choosing the right bottle shouldn't feel complicated. It should be something you open with confidence every time. So for once, here's a story with no twist, just a good bottle. Redefine your rituals with Chateau St. Michelle.

• 22:14Speaker 03

  Cash flow crunch? OnDeck's small business line of credit gives your business immediate access to funds up to $200,000 right when you need it. Cover seasonal dips, manage payroll, restock inventory, or tackle unexpected expenses without missing a beat. With flexible draws, transparent pricing, and control over repayment, get funded quickly and confidently. Apply today at ondeck.com. Funds could be available as soon as tomorrow. Depending on certain loan attributes, your business loan may be issued by OnDeck or Celtic Bank. OnDeck does not lend in North Dakota. All loans and amounts subject to lender approval.

• 22:52Jake Brennan?

  Shannon Hoon cracked open three beers, one after another. He handed one to Tony Hawk, and he grabbed the other two for himself. "One for each hand," Shannon joked. Shannon thought it was funny, but Tony Hawk just gave him a strange look. Shannon and Blind Melon guitarist Roger Stevens were hanging out backstage at the American Music Awards with Pro Skateboarder and his wife. Blind Melon was up for an award, but Shannon couldn't care less. The ceremony was a bore. By 1994, his band had spent more than two years straight on the road, and now Shannon wanted to be back home in Lafayette. He wanted to be anywhere other than this music industry ego-stroke in Los Angeles. The record label convinced Shannon to attend the award show,

• 23:36Jake Brennan?

  and Shannon sat in the crowd for the first few performances, but he drew the line at Meatloaf. When the plus-size superstar and host of the award show came out for a live performance, Shannon elbowed Rogers, and the pair slipped down the aisle to check out the action backstage. A few minutes later, the pair were planted next to an ice bucket filled with beers, listening to Tony Hawk talk about his quest to land the holy grail of skateboarding tricks: the 900. By the time a handler came to drag them back to their seats before Blind Melon's award was announced, there were dozens of empty beer bottles on the table. Despite the beers, Shannon thought he was in good shape as they were ushered back to their seats. And even though he had snorted more cocaine than Whitney Houston that night,

• 24:19Jake Brennan?

  who was currently fidgeting her way through an acceptance speech, Shannon couldn't help but sing a few bars of "I Will Always Love You" to her while she was onstage, even as a producer glared at him to shut his mouth. Whatever. It didn't bother Shannon at all. In fact, he was feeling so good that nothing bothered him. At least until Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss took the stage to announce the winner of the Favorite New Rock Act Award. It was the award that Blind Melon was up for. Not that Shannon really cared about an award or anything like that, but the idea of going up onstage and giving a speech was bumming him out. When Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons announced the winner, it wasn't Blind Melon, but Stone Temple Pilots. At first, Shannon was relieved, but the more he thought about it,

• 25:04Jake Brennan?

  the more it felt like losing to Stone Temple Pilots was a slap in the face. Stone Temple Pilots, by Shannon Hoon's estimation, were nothing more than a Pearl Jam cover band. Watching Scott Wilden swagger onstage like he was a grunge Mick Jagger, he couldn't help but hate the guy. Christ, that guy had the nerve to thank the Rolling Stones' Little Richard and John Coltrane in his acceptance speech. "What a pretentious prick," thought Shannon Hoon. It made him sick to his stomach, or maybe that was the beer or the cocaine. In any case, when Scott Wilden bumped into Shannon on the way back to his seat, Shannon jumped up. He told Scott Wilden exactly what he thought of him. And within seconds, the two lead singers were nose to nose,

• 25:46Jake Brennan?

  shoving and screaming at each other in the middle of a live television broadcast. Rogers tried to pull Shannon back, but Shannon shrugged him off and poked a finger in Scott's chest. And that's when he felt a large pair of hands grab him from behind. With lightning speed, a massive security guard put him in a headlock. Meanwhile, a second guard grabbed Rogers by the shoulder. They started dragging the pair down the aisle and out of the building. The other celebrities in the audience just stared with their mouths open. The guards pushed Shannon and Rogers through a side door and out of the building. Shannon was fighting and struggling, but he couldn't get free from this guy's vise-like grip. Meanwhile, Rogers had given up the fight completely and gone limp. Despite this, the security guard pushed Rogers to the ground.

• 26:31Jake Brennan?

  It was just at that moment that Shannon finally slipped free of his headlock. He saw the guard shove his guitarist to the ground, and he responded with a right uppercut that connected perfectly with the guard's jaw. The guard fell down in a heap next to Rogers, momentarily stunned. Then he regained his senses, and an all-out brawl broke out. Finally, the two guards managed to overpower Shannon, and they pinned him to the ground. That's when one of the guards reached into his pocket and pulled out a badge. Turned out that these guys were LA cops, and they were arresting Shannon for assaulting a police officer. Now, instead of spending the night hobnobbing with celebrities, Shannon Hoon was being hauled to the Compton City Jail. This time, there was no escape.

• 27:15Jake Brennan?

  Shannon Hoon was spending the night in lockup.

• 27:21Jake Brennan?

  It wasn't long after that disastrous night at the American Music Awards in the spring of 1994 that Shannon Hoon entered rehab for the first time. He spent 30 days at an inpatient rehab center in California. It helped clear his mind and gave him time to relax. But as soon as he got out, Blind Melon hit the road again for a huge European tour. Their first stop, Amsterdam, and there was no way Shannon Hoon was going to pass up the chances to sample that city's famous coffeehouse culture. He relapsed almost immediately. 10 days later, it was clear that Shannon was in no shape to perform. The tour was quickly canceled, and Shannon was headed back to rehab.

• 28:03Jake Brennan?

  During his second stint, Shannon took his recovery more seriously. He and his longtime girlfriend were talking about starting a family. Once again, as soon as Shannon was out, Blind Melon hit the stage. And this time, it wasn't just for a tour, it was for one of the biggest musical gatherings since Woodstock. That's because Blind Melon was performing in front of a quarter million music fans, plus an international audience on MTV at Woodstock 94. Despite his newfound sobriety, Shannon Hoon knew it as soon as his band's appearance was confirmed. If he was gonna play Woodstock, he was gonna do it the way God intended, while tripping his balls off on LSD.

• 28:48Jake Brennan?

  On August 13th, 1994, Shannon Hoon stepped out onto the stage in front of the massive festival crowd. He looked angelic, and that's probably because he was wearing his girlfriend Lisa's white-flowing dress. The fabric billowed and unfurled in the breeze. Thanks to the LSD, it looked to Shannon like waves, or maybe wings. And as the music began, it felt like he was taking flight. The sunlight was fracturing into a million rainbows, and he could feel the heartbeat of every single person in the crowd. He wanted them to know it would be okay, that they could be who they wanted to be, that they could dress how they wanted to dress, they could live how they wanted to live. It was all so beautiful that Shannon wanted to cry.

• 29:31Jake Brennan?

  But instead of crying, he channeled all that beauty into the performance of a lifetime. Shannon Hoon had done what he set out to do. He had lived the Woodstock experience to the hilt, but it came at a huge cost. Because a year later, Shannon Hoon would be dead.

• 30:18Jake Brennan?

  Shannon Hoon lay motionless in the bed. His arms and legs felt like they weighed a ton. He couldn't even lift them. The walls around him were pulsing with colorful lights, and Shannon began to drift upward. He could see his body laying on the bed below, and he wondered if he was dying. His heart was pounding louder and louder, like a bass drum filling the room. And in the distance, he could hear voices echoing, but they sounded like gibberish. Slowly, a low, terrifying rumble was building. And then he heard a scream. Fear filled his body. Shannon knew it. This was the end. Then, just as he was preparing to say goodbye, suddenly, the sound of a guitar shattered his thoughts.

• 31:05Jake Brennan?

  He wasn't dying. He was at home in bed in Lafayette. He was listening to Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon," and he was just tripping on acid. The LSD helped him explore his mind, it helped him get a fix on what was important to him, and it made him feel connected, with every living person, with every blade of grass, and with every note of every song. It also helped keep his mind occupied, which, back then, in 1989, was starting to become increasingly difficult. At 22 years old, Shannon Hoon was growing frustrated with life in this small town. He felt stifled and bored. And when Shannon was bored, he found ways to make his own action.

• 31:49Jake Brennan?

  Usually, that meant getting drunk and starting fights. Soon, he had a reputation with the local cops, and soon, they were ready to blame him for whatever petty crime happened in town, whether he was involved or not. Now, they were threatening to charge him as a habitual criminal if they didn't stay out of trouble. The cops were just like everyone else in this town, so suspicious of anyone who was different, and so quick to put people in boxes. Shannon would rather die than turn out like that. And as Pink Floyd blared from the speakers and the acid kicked in, Shannon had a deep realization about his life. The thing he wanted most was freedom. He wanted the freedom to dress differently, to act differently, to think differently.

• 32:31Jake Brennan?

  And most of all, he wanted the freedom to speak his point of view, even if other people thought that he was insane. Because so far, Shannon Hoon's life had been pretty ordinary. But he was determined that it wouldn't stay that way. So he made a rule for himself. He would never say no. So when a buddy asked him if he wanted to head to Los Angeles in 1990, he said yes. When his sister asked him if he wanted to connect with her high school buddy, Axl Rose, he said yes. When Axl asked Shannon to sing, he said yes. And when anyone, anywhere, offered him a bottle, a bowl, a tab, a shot, a hit, a snort, anything at all, he always said, "Yes."

• 33:14Jake Brennan?

  This newfound freedom led to some memorable nights, into some incredible shows, but it also led to plenty of terrible shows, embarrassing headlines, and more than one canceled tour. Still, everyone thought Shannon would find a way to say no when he became a father. He made another attempt at rehab before his daughter was born in July of 1995. But Blind Melon hit the road again just a month after the baby was born. And just like in the past, Shannon fell off the wagon immediately. On October 20th, Blind Melon played to a packed house in Houston, Texas. After the show, Shannon hung out with fans. He shook hands, and he said yes to anything that was offered to him.

• 33:59Jake Brennan?

  He didn't stop all night. Even when he boarded the tour bus for the overnight ride to New Orleans, he kept saying yes to every impulse, for another snort, for another shot, for another hit. After the bus arrived in New Orleans, nearly everyone headed off the bus to check into their hotel rooms, but Shannon stayed on the bus, asleep. At least, that's what everyone thought, until the band's tour manager tried to wake him up that afternoon. When Shannon didn't respond, his tour manager rolled him over. Shannon's body was still warm, but his face was blue, and he had no pulse. It was too late. Shannon Hoon was dead. Heart attack from a cocaine overdose.

• 34:44Jake Brennan?

  Just five years after Shannon Hoon left Lafayette to Los Angeles, he was dead at 28 years old. And that is a disgrace. I'm Jake Brennan, and this is DisgraceLand.

• 35:19Jake Brennan?

  All right, guys, thanks for checking out this episode on Blind Melon. What did you think? What do you think of Shannon Hoon? One of these artists who a lot of my friends dug. I saw them early on, saw Blind Melon open up for Lenny Kravitz. Never been a big, big Blind Melon fan. Lots of my friends are, I know lots of you guys are. So the question of the week this week comes from our friend Jackie on Patreon, who suggested that we ask, "Is there a band out there that your friends rave about that you just cannot get with?" 617-906-6638. Let us know which bands you just cannot get behind, but all your friends seem to love. 617-906-6638. Voicemail and text at disgracelandpod on the socials, [email protected] on email. Here come the credits.

• 36:03Jake Brennan?

  DisgraceLand was created by yours truly and is produced in partnership with Double Elvis, The Exactly Right Network, and iHeart Podcasts. Credits for this episode can be found on the show notes page at disgracelandpod.com. If you're listening as a DisgraceLand All-Access member, thank you for supporting the show. We really appreciate it. And if not, you can become a member right now by going to disgracelandpod.com/membership. Members can listen to every episode of DisgraceLand ad-free. Rate and review the show and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook @disgracelandpod, and on YouTube at youtube.com/AtDisgraceLandPod. Rockerola.

• 36:47Speaker 06

  He's a bad, bad man.

• 36:51Speaker 01

  Wait, I came in for two things. How is this $47? All right, we're gonna need a plan here.

• 36:59Speaker 02

  Just start simple with Bank of America Advantage Safe Balance Banking. No overdraft item fees, no monthly maintenance fee if you're under 25.

• 37:07Speaker 01

  Oh, that's actually really simple.

• 37:10Speaker 02

  Safe Balance Banking, one less thing to figure out. Learn more at bofa.com/simplebanking. Terms and conditions apply. Bank of America and a member FDIC.

• 37:20Jake Brennan?

  I like a story with a twist as much as anyone, but some of the best traditions don't have one. They just started and kept going. That's something that's great about Chateau St. Michelle. They've been leading Washington wine since 1967 with wines that are balanced, expressive, and easy to enjoy. Choosing the right bottle shouldn't feel complicated. It should be something you open with confidence every time. So for once, here's a story with no twist, just a good bottle. Redefine your rituals with Chateau St. Michelle. Hey, guys, time to dust off your detective skills while unwinding in the Caribbean on Virgin Voyages' second true crime voyage. It's back by popular demand.

• 38:00Jake Brennan?

  This five-night, adults-only escape set sail March 20th, 2027, to Grand Turk in the Beach Club at Bimini. The difference between this year and last will be that I will be on the cruise this year, along with Zeth, and he and I will be taping a live version of DisgraceLand, along with podcast hosts from Exactly Right's Buried Bones, Podcast of the Year Award winners Wyscrack, and other fan favorites. Get on this cruise with us, guys, and enjoy live podcast recordings, behind-the-scenes storytelling, exclusive meet-and-greets, and immersive true crime programming throughout this one-of-a-kind voyage. Head over to www.virginvoyages.com/truecrime to secure your spot.