Gram Parsons’ Friends Stole His Body and Burned It

About this episode

This episode explores the life and afterlife of Gram Parsons, a country-rock visionary known for his self-destructive habits and the bizarre events following his death.

There are a good many outlaw country artists. But Gram Parsons might be the only one whose outlaw status followed him to the grave...and then back out of it. In this episode of Tape Spaghetti, Scott & Blake dig up the unbelievable life and afterlife of Gram Parsons, a country-rock visionary who pushed musical boundaries while battling self-destructive habits exacerbated by the intensity of fame. Parsons dropped out of Harvard and landed in the chaotic chaos of the Laurel Canyon scene, bouncing between The Byrds, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and collaborations with a litany of country music legends. A true vanguard, he even outdid the 27 Club by, tragically, fatally overdosing at just 26 years old. Unbelievably, his story doesn't end there. What followed was a coffin hijacking, LOTS of tequila, and an outlaw cremation under the stars of Joshua Tree. Here's how country's greatest wild child continued to build his legend from beyond the grave.

People in this episode

Hosts: Blake Wyland, Scott Marquart

Topics covered

• outlaw country
• Gram Parsons
• musical boundaries
• fame
• coffin hijacking
• cremation

Keywords

• Gram Parsons
• outlaw country
• musical legacy
• Laurel Canyon
• 27 Club
• coffin hijacking
• Joshua Tree

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers

Places: Harvard, Laurel Canyon, Joshua Tree

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