Ear Worthy Easy Listens: Fake Zombies Band; Gay Life & Death; The Search For A Lost Song

 On this Tuesday, we present to your ears -- who will then communicate with your brain -- three new podcasts, all of which have a common trait -- their subject matter is uncommonly weird. Different? Unique? 

Yet all three podcasts -- one debuting today and the other two next Monday -- share that creative spark, that sense of thematic misdirection, and the desire to entertain that defines superb podcasting.

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The True Story of the Fake Zombies Podcast Debuts

In a time when there is a 24-hour global stream of information at our fingertips, some stories are impossible to imagine. Talkhouse has just launched its latest podcast, The True Story of the Fake Zombies, in which host Daniel Ralston regales listeners with an expertly researched and unbelievable music industry scam that went untold for decades.

Throughout the historiographic eight-episode weekly series, Ralston dives deep into the tale of how, in 1969, a music promotion company in a tiny Michigan town sent out not one but two bands onto the road to pretend to be The Zombies, the recently disbanded British Invasion band who had just had a huge hit with their song “Time of the Season.” Fake band members included Frank Beard and Dusty Hill, who would go on to become legendary figures in their next band, ZZ Top! 

Daniel Ralston is a writer, director, and journalist. He is the co-creator and co-host of the highly influential music podcast Low Times as well as MTV's Videohead podcast. His writing has appeared in TIME, Buzzfeed, Grantland, Vulture and Esquire. He has also directed music videos for artists like Aimee Mann, The So So Glos, Eric Bachmann, and Kevin Devine, among others. 

Ralston, who discovered this stranger-than-fiction con a decade ago, dives deep into every aspect of this 55-year-old rock n’roll mystery, uncovering the secret history of the shady managers who concocted the scheme, the hapless young musicians who were recruited for the scam, the unlikely town where the whole thing was cooked up, the impact of the scheme on the real Zombies (whose iconic music features throughout the show), and much more. The True Story of the Fake Zombies is a production of iHeart, Nevermind Media and Talkhouse.

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Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?! Audio Fiction Podcast Debuts June 17

 

Ninth Planet Audio, an innovative podcast production company under Mosaic Media, has announced the premiere of its new audio fiction series, "Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!" on June 17, 2024, in collaboration with iHeartMedia’s Outspoken Podcast Network.

You can listen to the official audio trailer now, HERE.

 This narrative podcast brings together a star-studded cast of queer talent (and queer icons) just in time for Pride Month including Michael Urie, Frankie Grande, Douglas Sills, Cheyenne Jackson, Jonathan Freeman, Brad Oscar, Robin de Jesús, Lea DeLaria, Sean Patrick Doyle, Seth Rudetsky, Lea Salonga, and Kate McKinnon, among others.

Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?! chronicles the gay life—and even gayer death—of Vandy Monroe III, a D-list movie director who invites his BFFs (aka his mortal enemies) to his ivy-covered mansion in the country. But his weekend goes awry when…he ends up slaughtered. Even worse, a snowstorm cuts off power and access—leaving everyone stranded until the roads can be cleared. Which is when the body count starts to rise.

Who’s killing all the queers?!?! The puerile porn star? The demented designer? What about the heir to the Raymour & Flanigan empire? It’s up to James Wilson, struggling mystery writer and trusted caretaker of Vandy’s estate, to figure out the killer’s identity before he—or she, or they—strike again!

Michael Urie (Shrinking, Ugly Betty), who stars as James Wilson, says, “My first thought when I read “Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!” was, “No, but the title does.” Upon finishing it, I realized I’d just read the funniest murder script of all time and couldn’t pass up the chance to help bring Ted’s queer fantasia to life."

Frankie Grande (Titanique, Summoning Sylvia), who stars as Kelly Raymour & Flanigan, says, “I am beyond honored and thrilled to be a part of ‘Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!’ on iHeart’s Outspoken Podcast Network. Playing the fabulous and flatulent Kelly has been an absolute dream, and I can't wait for you all to join us on this wild, glamorous, and oh-so-dramatic ride. Get ready for a sensational blend of mystery, laughs, and a whole lot of fabulousness!”

Douglas Sills (The Gilded Age), who stars as Reginald Divine, said, “Ted’s work is in a genre all its own. It’s ferocious, erudite, and the funniest thing since the Tom Brady roast!”

Ted Malawer, who wrote and directed the series, commented, “‘Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!’ is the gayest thing I have ever done—and I’ve watched every episode of NBC’s Smash more than twice (RIP). It’s a murder mystery, a hysterical queer romp, and the perfect distraction while you’re stuck in traffic and shoveling down a Chalupa Supreme. Somehow, the most incredible cast agreed to be part of this comedy that tackles important, timely questions such as: ‘Can we still support Ellen?’ and ‘Why do twinks love iced coffee?’ In this day and age, we all must do our part to Make America Gay Again… and this is mine!”

All shows on the Outspoken Podcast Network are distributed by iHeartPodcasts. The network aims to amplify, elevate, and reflect the diversity, richness, and humanity of the voices throughout the LGBTQ+ community. "Does This Murder Make Me Look Gay?!" will be available on the iHeartRadio app and all major podcast platforms beginning June 17, 2024.

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Everyone Knows That: The Search for Ulterior Motives Podcast Debuts June 17 About The Internet's Favorite Lost Song

Everyone Knows That: The Search for Ulterior Motives is a new podcast by creator Josh Chapdelaine (CEO of Lost Media, Associate Director of the Media Studies MA at CUNY Queens College) that investigates the internet’s favorite lost song: “Ulterior Motives,” known widely online as “Everyone Knows That.”

For years, internet sleuths tried to figure out where the song came from and to find it in full. Earlier this year, it was discovered . . . In some porn from the 80s.

How did the song get found – and how did it get made? In research and interviews, across Five episodes dropping weekly, Chapdelaine unravels this strange and delightful tale. Each episode is fully sound designed and edited, making for a listen that’s as engaging as it is wild: a lot of both.

How far would you go to discover a lost song?

In 2021, anonymous user Carl92 uploaded a 17-second sample of a song that changed lost media forever.

The catchy tune sounded familiar to so many people. But for years nobody could find it.

Was it an unreleased demo from a major artist? An AI generated hoax? The beginning of an alternate reality game?

Featuring interviews on the podcast with Kyle Gordon (comedian, musician), Violet Sky (musician, media archivist), Grafton Tanner (author, educator), Jordan Rumsey (creator), Julian Gray (musician and designer), Reed Berkowitz (award-winning games designer), Adam Bumas (journalist), Christopher Saint Booth, Philip Adrian Booth, and more.

Everyone Knows That: The Search for Ulterior Motives is a five-part internet mystery miniseries about the history of the song, the theories pursued, the hoaxes created, and the song's shocking discovery.

New episodes air every Monday starting June 17.