The real story behind “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus somehow involves Satan, murder, and AC/DC

May 19, 2026 Alan Cross 0 Comments 55 Views

One of the biggest alt-rock one-hit wonders of all time is “Teenage Dirtbag,” released by Wheatus, released in mid-June 2000. On the surface, it sounds like a standard teenage lament about being an outcast and loser in high school. But dig deeper and you’ll find a real-life story from 1984 about a Satanic homicide involving a kid who was wearing an AC/DC t-shirt.

Here’s the full story. You will never hear the song the same way again.

(Via Matthew)

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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