Marcus King

Date: 2026-05-14 | Duration: 2h 47m

Category: Health & Medicine, Arts & Entertainment

Episode Overview

Joe Rogan welcomes musician Marcus King, kicking off the conversation by praising a gifted guitar and delving into the concept of obsession—whether it’s with golf, a craft, or even substances. King, who has struggled with alcohol addiction, shares a powerful story of hitting rock bottom after a relapse, detailing how his wife left him stranded to “figure it out” following a blacked-out night. This leads Joe to reflect on his own decision to quit drinking and the broader impact of alcohol on mental health and physical performance, highlighting King’s vulnerability in pursuing a career in live performance despite his anxiety. The discussion pivots to the state of rock and roll, with King passionately asserting that the genre is not dead, merely evolving. They explore the resurgence of Southern-inspired rock and draw parallels between classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and modern "jam bands," noting the cyclical nature of music trends. Later, the conversation takes a sharp turn to the controversial topic of Palantir’s call for universal national military service, with Joe vehemently opposing the idea and questioning the motives of unelected tech figures advocating for conscription. They also touch on the widespread use of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, discussing potential side effects, the importance of discipline, and the dramatic transformation of musician Jelly Roll.

About Marcus King

Marcus King is a Southern rock musician known for his powerful live performances and passionate advocacy for the genre's continued relevance in modern music. He has been candid about his struggles with alcohol addiction and his path to recovery, including a turning point when his wife left him to figure things out after a relapse. Despite battling anxiety that impacts his live performance career, King remains committed to his craft and believes rock and roll is evolving rather than dying.

Key Moments

00:02:25 – Marcus King's struggle with alcohol addiction
00:07:08 – Anxiety and the challenges of live performing
00:09:07 – Discussion on the perceived death and potential revival of rock and roll music
00:12:05 – Led Zeppelin as an improvisational 'jam band' live
00:13:04 – Greta Van Fleet's sound and antique musket pistols
00:19:54 – The Presidential Fitness Test and physical standards for children
00:22:34 – Palantir's call for reintroducing military conscription
00:27:17 – Ozempic and GLP-1 drugs for appetite and addiction
00:30:05 – Serious side effects of Ozempic, including vision loss and pancreatitis
00:32:19 – Jelly Roll's significant weight loss journey
00:33:02 – Benefits of the keto diet and exogenous ketones
00:35:16 – Death of Patrick Arnold, chemist behind Balco steroids and exogenous ketones
00:39:02 – Vocal cord health and endurance for singers
00:41:31 – Mick Jagger's intense fitness regimen versus Keith Richards' lifestyle
00:43:09 – Cannabis legalization, scheduling, and lobbying efforts
00:54:53 – Historical context of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970
00:57:58 – Potent psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT and Salvia
01:00:26 – Woman's experience of living seven years in a coma dream
01:05:54 – Review of the horror film 'Late Night with the Devil'
01:06:39 – Discussion of the terrifying TV series 'From'
01:10:11 – Statistics on unsolved murders in the United States
01:15:26 – Link between childhood adversity and artistic development
01:25:00 – Marcus King's accidental ketamine experience on a cruise
01:29:07 – Ketamine therapy for depression discussed by Neil Brennan
01:30:18 – Marcus's experience with antidepressants (Cymbalta) and microdosing mushrooms
01:32:13 – Debunking the 'chemical imbalance' theory for depression
01:36:10 – Exercise as a more effective treatment for depression than antidepressants
01:38:02 – Marcus feeling emotionally numb on antidepressants during a family funeral
01:47:18 – Consideration of discontinuing medication
01:47:52 – Exercise benefits for depression and anxiety
01:48:42 – Doctors' incentives in medication prescription
01:49:31 – Societal hyper-medication and injectable trends
01:50:16 – Type 2 Diabetes and dietary management
01:51:12 – Concerns about SSRIs during pregnancy
01:53:29 – US statistics on SSRI usage (13%)
01:54:15 – Negative impact of social media on mental health
01:56:57 – Transition to music discussion and early influences
01:58:06 – Grandfather's career as a musician and Air Force sergeant
01:58:47 – Family's shift from secular music to church
01:59:50 – Music as a transcendent, drug-like experience
02:00:46 – Anecdotes about Brent Hinds' (Mastodon) wild behavior
02:03:56 – Rick Rubin's unique mind and music philosophy
02:07:13 – Colonel Bruce Hampton's music philosophy
02:08:32 – Discussion of 'Basically Frightened' documentary
02:11:43 – Paul Mooney's advice on seeking entertainment for inspiration
02:12:22 – Using films and literature for studio inspiration
02:13:20 – Midnight Cowboy's X-rating and changing Times Square
02:13:56 – Historical context of pornography (Deep Throat, Johnny Carson)
02:15:06 – Vincent Gallo's 'Brown Bunny' and real sex in film
02:15:47 – Societal double standards for sex vs. violence in movies
02:18:57 – Comedy Mothership's past as a porn theater
02:21:50 – Reasons for Midnight Cowboy's X-rating
02:24:09 – Pornography internet traffic statistics
02:27:32 – Deep Throat's plot and actor Harry Reems
02:28:55 – Harry Reems' arrest for obscenity distribution
02:30:27 – Destigmatizing pornography and the future of AI porn
02:32:27 – Immersive VR gaming (Sandbox, Deadwood Mansion)
02:33:51 – Joe's high score in VR zombie games
02:37:55 – Video games as a time-intensive hobby vs. guitar practice
02:40:25 – Rocksmith as a real guitar learning game
02:43:08 – Marcus King's guitar learning journey and jazz theory
02:44:09 – Music theory and the Nashville Number System
02:46:56 – Gratitude as a key to career success

Transcript Excerpt

[00:00:01] Joe Rogan podcast, check it out. The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan podcast by night, all day. Good to see you, brother. What's happening? It's crazy to be here. It's crazy to have you here, man. And thank you so much for the guitar. [00:00:19] That's the doper shit that anybody's ever given me. Oh, man, I hope you like it. I'm sure I like it. I just can't play. And I would love to learn how to play, but I know my brain. And I can't give my brain another thing to do. You've got a lot. Well, the problem is I get obsessed with things. [00:00:35] Me too. I'm sure. You can't get as good as you got without getting obsessed. Are you like this? Like, I don't like doing things I'm not good at. I love doing things I'm not good at, to get good at them. Right. But it's just, it's not leisurely to me to play golf. [00:01:06] He's recovering from hitting today. Sweating. Wow. My drummer's a really good golfer. Golf is one of those things that if you get into that, man, that's your whole fucking day. That's eight hours. Three or four days a week all the road. When I was living in Boston, I noticed that the comedians that really got into golf, their career kind of stalled. [00:01:28] Because they were just playing golf all day, having fun, drinking, and then they'd go to the club at night. But they weren't writing any new jokes. They weren't obsessing on their career. They kind of stalled out a little. When I still drank, I really liked golfing. And then I quit drinking. I was like, I don't really like this. When did you quit drinking? [00:02:25] Yeah. Yeah, fortunately, I never had that. But that is a thing. I've seen that. What is that? I think it's I think a lot of it is repressed emotions and that's where they find you [00:02:42] when your brain is in the off switch. Yeah. They go, hey, Marcus. Yeah, man. Let's get those problems out. It seduces me. It's like you don't need anybody. [00:03:11] It's like that thing. Yeah, right. Like you just as...

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Frequently asked about this episode

Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2499?

Marcus King was the guest on JRE #2499. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2499?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2499 with Marcus King, topics include Marcus King's struggle with alcohol addiction, Anxiety and the challenges of live performing, Discussion on the perceived death and potential revival of, and Led Zeppelin as an improvisational 'jam band' live.

Where can I read the transcript for JRE #2499?

The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2499 with Marcus King is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.