Sons of Ecstasy takes viewers into the bowels of the world of the ecstasy drug trade that defined Arizona's underground scene in the 1990s. It will premiere on January 9, 2025, on Max (previously known as HBO Max).
The documentary explores the rivalry between Shaun Attwood, a charismatic English stockbroker turned drug dealer, and Gerard Gravano, son of notorious mobster Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano.
With its desert raves, criminal networks, and high-stakes confrontation, the film seeks to find out how this clash came about and its aftermath. Directed by Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami and produced by Talos Films in association with Investigation Discovery.
Sons of Ecstasy brings the story to life in vivid detail through interviews with some of the principal players. Karen Gravano, Gerard Gravano, Shaun Attwood, and Jim Cope are interviewed for the program, each providing their view of the events that surrounded them. The infamous mobster Sammy Gravano, also provides further insight into their activities.
What aspects of the rivalry are explored in Sons Of Ecstasy
The official synopsis for the documentary on IMDb reads:
"In 1990s Arizona, an English stockbroker clashes with a mobster's son over the ecstasy trade. The Gravano family shares their perspective as two unlikely rivals vie for control amid guns, gangsters, and raves in the desert."
The new trailer for Max's upcoming docuseries Sons of Ecstasy dropped on January 2, 2025, on MAX's official YouTube channel. It sets the tone with a powerful line by the Gravano family "This is a story that we never allowed my father to tell." With that compelling intro, the series dives into a high-stakes drug war reminiscent of Breaking Bad.
Within the first half-minute in the trailer, the Gravano family, key players in Arizona's ecstasy trade during the 1990s, reveal a world of mafia betrayals, suspected informants, orchestrated hits, and wild desert raves.
Sons of Ecstasy delves into their histories, their criminal enterprises, and their successive routes to form an overarching view of their lives preceding, during, and after their involvement in Arizona's ecstasy business.
At the center of this clash is Gerard Gravano, who reveals his ambition to control Arizona's ecstasy market. However, when other drug dealers began encroaching on his business, tensions would quickly rise, and a bitter, dangerous grudge was born.
This documentary goes beyond the headlines to reveal the personal stories and conflicts that have shaped Arizona's ecstasy trade. Sons of Ecstasy offers a true-to-life portrayal of the people and events that defined this dark period in U.S. history.
Who are Shaun Attwood and Gerard Gravano? Where are they now?
Sons of Ecstasy delves into the lives of Shaun Attwood and Gerard Gravano, two of the biggest players in Arizona's 1990s ecstasy scene.
According to a September 26, 2024 article by The Sun U.S., Shaun Attwood was born October 28, 1968, in Widnes, England. A stock-market millionaire, Attwood later turned ecstasy trafficker after relocating to Arizona, running a business that found itself competing with local criminal elements involved in the activity, those associated with the Gravano family included.
The same article reported in 2002, Attwood was arrested and later sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. Incarcerated, he began blogging about his experiences, which would eventually become a platform for prison reform.
Attwood did his time, was deported back to the UK, and reinvented himself as an author, speaker, and YouTuber on the subject of crime and punishment. As of today, he still makes content and gives public talks.
Geraldo Gravano was born to Salvatore Gravano, a mobster. Gerard joined his father in the Arizona ecstasy trade. Father and son were arrested in 2000 for their participation in a drug ring as per entertainment Now on December 19, 2024.
Since his parole in 2016, he has gone on to live a quieter life and seems to be focused on his family and personal issues. Currently, he is living in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife and four children.
Viewing options for Sons of Ecstasy explored
Sons of Ecstasy is set to premiere on January 9, 2025, exclusively on Max (formerly HBO Max). The documentary will be available for streaming in the United States at 12:00 AM Pacific Time (PT) and 3:00 AM Eastern Time (ET).
International release times include 8:00 AM GMT in the United Kingdom, 9:00 AM CET in Europe, 1:30 PM IST in India, 5:00 PM JST in Japan, and 7:00 PM AEDT in Australia. Currently, the documentary is exclusive to Max and is not available on other streaming platforms.
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Stay tuned for more updates.