WHAT: iHeartPodcasts and Imagine Audio today debuted “Peter and the Acid King,” a punk true-crime podcast that takes listeners on a deep dive through the grimy, chaotic world of the Los Angeles punk scene in the early ’80s and the brutal murder of New Wave Theater TV host Peter Ivers, the dynamic performer and artist known for bringing punk rock to TV. Created by Alan Sacks (Du-Beat-E-O, Thrashin, Welcome Back Kotter) and narrated by punk historian and esteemed director Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne’s World). Featured guests include Jello Biafra, Mark Mothersbaugh, Tequila Mockingbird, and Ron Howard. In episode one, now live, listeners will get to know Peter and his rise through LA’s punk and new wave scenes, and learn about Spheeris and Sacks’ personal connections to his story. Produced by Imagine Audio with producers from Awfully Nice, Shout! Studios and Alan Sacks Productions. 

WHO: Narrator Penelope Spheeris is often referred to as a 'rock 'n roll anthropologist'. In 1974 she formed the first Los Angeles music video production company, ROCK 'N REEL. She concluded her music video work with the Grammy-nominated, "Bohemian Rhapsody" video for "Wayne's World". Spheeris' feature film debut was the 1979 documentary on the Los Angeles punk scene, "The Decline of Western Civilization" which was received with stunning and unanimous critical praise. In 1983 she wrote and directed "Suburbia", produced by Roger Corman. "Suburbia" won first place at the Chicago Film Festival. Almost 25 years later her documentary, "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part III" would eerily mirror the events she scripted in "Suburbia". In the mid-80s she directed "The Boys Next Door", starring Charlie Sheen and Maxwell Caulfield, then "Dudes" starring John Cryer, Flea, and Daniel Roebuck. Both films have attained cult classic status. "The Decline of Western Civilization, Part II: The Metal Years" was released in 1988. Commentaries from Ozzy Osbourne, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Alice Cooper, Lemmy of Motorhead, Poison, etc. make it one of the most memorable pieces of rock film history. In 1992, Spheeris directed her seventh feature, and first studio film, "Wayne's World" at Paramount Pictures. Subsequently she directed and produced "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Fox), wrote and directed "The Little Rascals" (Universal), then directed "Black Sheep" (Paramount), etc. In 1999, Spheeris documented The Ozzfest, America's most successful summer concert tour, and the reunion performances of the original Black Sabbath. Both as director and one of the cinematographers, Spheeris achieved a remarkable and historic film which offers the audience a unique view of life on the road: "We Sold Our Souls For Rock 'N Roll".

Creator Alan Sacks’ impressive resume lists over 50 movies, TV shows, and theatrical productions he produced, wrote, and/or directed. Among his credits are co-creating Welcome Back Kotter, discovering John Travolta, launching the careers of the Jonas Brothers, and Demi Lovato in Camp Rock, producing Chico and the Man, and producing seven Disney Channel movies and series. He is well known for writing and producing Thrashin’, the skateboard movie, and creating The Daggers, the skate gang. He has won an Emmy, an NAACP Image Award, and a Humanities Prize in 2000 for his Disney Channel Movie, The Color of Friendship; a People’s Choice Award for Camp Rock in 2007; and a TV Land Award for Welcome Back Kotter in 2011. For the past two years he has been producing and hosting “Peter & The Acid King,” investigating the unsolved murder of his friend Peter Ivers. He was held at gunpoint by Phil Spector, got into a famous scuffle with John Lennon and Harry Nilsson at the Troubadour, and was unsuccessfully picked up by Janis Joplin at Barney’s Beanery.

WHEN: The first episode of the 10-part weekly series is available today, September 25, with new episodes releasing each Monday.

WHERE: “Peter and the Acid King” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is available on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard. 

SHOW PAGE: HERE

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About Imagine Entertainment

Founded by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, Imagine Entertainment is an award-winning global entertainment company telling stories that inspire and empower, and creating unforgettable entertainment experiences of all genres across Imagine Features, Imagine Television Studios, Imagine Documentaries, Imagine Kids+Family, Imagine Brands, and Imagine Audio, as well as the award-winning Jax Media and Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions. Imagine’s productions have been honored with more than 60 prestigious awards including 47 Academy Award nominations and 228 Emmy® award nominations. Past productions include the Academy Award Best Picture winner "A Beautiful Mind", as well as Grammy Award Best Film winner "The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years." Recent productions include the critically-acclaimed film "Thirteen Lives" directed by Ron Howard, the hit film "tick, tick...Boom!" directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the critically acclaimed documentaries “Judy Blume Forever”, Sacha Jenkin’s “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues”, Rory Kennedy’s “Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari”, "Lucy & Desi" directed by Amy Poehler (Two-time Emmy winner) and "We Feed People.”