New Photos Of S-Town Podcast's John B. McLemore (And His Tattoos And Nipple Ring)
FINALLY! You can see what he looks like!
Al.com All I've heard anyone talking about over the past few days has been S-Town, the latest podcast from the producers behind Serial and This American Life.
The official site for the podcast explains the storyline as follows:
"John despises his Alabama town and decides to do something about it. He asks a reporter to investigate the son of a wealthy family who’s allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder. But then someone else ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life."
I was one of those super obsessed Serial fans, so of course, I had to hop right on this train. And WHOA!
Warning: Spoilers abound below, so if you haven't listened yet, consider this your official notice!
At first, listeners are meant to believe they're listening to what will become the investigation of a murder cover-up after host Brian Reed receives an email with the subject line, "John B McLemore lives in Shittown Alabama." It seems like an interesting enough premise ... until it's revealed that the murder victim is still quite alive.
With no investigation to be had, the story of S-Town shifts to revolve around John B., whose depression and quirky reputation become evident throughout the first episode.
Listeners also learn some key details of the kind of man John B. is.
He's the kind of man who takes extraordinary care of his elderly mother, who suffers from dementia
He's the kind of man who takes in stray dogs so they don't die outside. He's the kind of man who helps others ... just because someone should.
But there is much more to know about John, who also often used the alias Hiruit Nguyse when posting online. Deeper, darker, secret-type things.
Here's what we know about John B. McLemore, including pictures of the man, his maze, his tattoos and more:
1. John B. McLemore passed away in 2015.
Tuscaloosa News
After McLemore died by suicide, the S-Town podcast shifted to become an in-depth exploration of his life.
Even before he fatally drank cyanide, John had a known history of depression and suicidal ideation. One of his friends, Faye Gamble, said that her last conversation with him consisted of him explaining to her how he wanted his dogs cared for after his death.
Larry West, another friend of John's had the following to say to a local Alabama newspaper:
"He was as crazy as a shithouse rat ... He loved gossip, which he loved to spread around like mayonnaise. You usually didn't see him unless it was at the hardware store, where he was gathering stories. He loved to make fun of church signs. He was all the time talking about 'Jeebus,' which was his way of saying Jesus. He equally abused the right and the left, but he was what you might call a left-wing wingnut."
Even so, he was loved by many in the town.
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Obits.AL
Tuscaloosa News
Looking through the comments on his Legacy page, it's easy to see the kind of impact this man had on people.
Legacy.com
2. McLemore created a large, intricate maze in his own backyard.
Heavy.com
For fans of The Shining, you know that maze hedges can be frightening. But for John B., this was his masterpiece.
The maze was created with hedges and doors that open and close. In fact, there are 64 possible solutions to the maze. You could actually be trapped inside if you travel the wrong way!
Tuscaloosa News
That's pretty scary, but I have to say, it's also pretty damn genius. I don't know anyone who could create such a thing.
3. John B. liked to help people out in any way he could.
Twitter
According to The Heavy, McLemore posted this note on a prepping forum for survivalists:
"I am currently befriending a 21-year-old boy with 3 kids by 3 different girls … I am trying to help him get out of the court system, and point him in the direction of independence ... something he has never known … This young fella entered the court system at 14 as a result of attempting to escape his homelife. Hopefully, I can instil [sic] a bit of useful knowledge into this boy about the future … As you can see, I have a lot on my plate without taking on a wife. I usually hire out about 16K worth of work a year around here just to put food in young men's pockets. That is more than twice what I actually choose to live on.”
And though John claimed to despise tattoos, he often visited the local tattoo parlor to give them business, especially at times they were so down and out they believed they might have to close up shop for good.
News.com.au
The Independence
4. John B. was never married and may possibly have been bisexual or homosexual.
Tuscaloosa News
Although his sexual orientation has not yet been confirmed, many speculate that John B. was gay. Over the course of the podcast's exploration of his relationships, he at one point does share that he dated a man he met through an online dating site. He also speaks of having taken quite a few younger men under his wing, but none have shared details of romantic or sexual involvement with McLemore as of this time.
Tuscaloosa News
In September of 2014, he shared his thoughts about marriage on the PeakOil.com forum:
"Never Been Married, Never Will. I have never met a Happily Married Man in my life … I could always take a look around at other peoples failed marriages and draw conclusions without having to re-invent the wheel myself … I just realised, I could write a compendium on the Men I know, and their failed marriages ...
I avoid it primarily because I am content. Just plain and simple content and happy. I just don’t see the rationale in entangling yourself into a legally binding contract with another person for the rest of your life, just to satisfy some archaic societal norm, no more than I want to be legally bound to an old car for the rest of my life ... Personally, I avoid those type relationships because I don’t Want them ... much like I avoid other things in life that I don’t want (rap music, NASCAR, a truck that gets 6mpg) and instead migrate towards the things I do want (gardens, Lathe, Books) …
Even when I was in High School, other kids were getting knocked up right after graduation… As a young man I knew I was interested in chemistry, micromachining, the astrolabe, and NOT interested in marriage, babies, and healthy relationship slavery.”
What we can say for a fact is that John B. McLemore was a complicated human being in all facets of his life.
If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately by calling The National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. There is hope!