“This whole thing started for me in 2011,” says Keefe.
“I got an email from a friend of mine.
This is a guy who knows a lot of spies, current and former spies, my friend Michael.
Credit: Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Initially he just said, ‘Wikipedia the song Wind of Change by the Scorpions.’
Hed had dinner with an ex-CIA guy whod told him that that song had been written by the CIA.
So, that was 2011 and I just plunged down the rabbit hole.”
Crooked Media
Think it sounds like a crazy idea?
Then you clearly have never worked for the CIA.
“I interviewed all these former spies,” says Keefe.
Literally, nobody had that response.
Everybody was like, ‘Oh yeah, I could see that.'"
Im assuming it was the same for you but tenfold.
It was just this mash-up of two different passions of mine.
Aside from the Scorpions themselves what was the area of investigation which most fascinated you?
This could seem like a frivolous topic compared to some of the subjects you’ve covered.
Did anyone venture to dissuade you from taking this on?
I think people were always intrigued when they heard about what I was up to.
I wanted to do something that would be pure fun.
I did write this big book about the IRA.
My next book, that Im working on now, is about the opioid crisis.
You went to see the Scorpions perform.
What was that like?
I mean, it was a great show.
Theyre really old, so its impressive that they are able to do this.
But they were intense.
The thing that was most striking to me about seeing them in Ukraine was just the fans.
For me to see that, and to kind of commune with that, was magical.
Did you ever think the CIA might be keeping an eye on you?
Were you taping over the camera on your rig?
Listen, man, I was paranoid before I even started this thing!
No, I think at a certain point they knew we were doing this.
So, has it affected the way you engage with popular culture?
For me, it doesnt change fundamentally the way in which people respond to the work itself.
And this was part of what was fascinating about my conversations with Russian and Ukrainian fans.
That song means so much to them.
Are there any other rumors out there you want to tackle?
[Laughs] Im thinking about it.
I feel like every reporter has a story like this.
Its a file on their desktop.
And I was lucky enough to get to chase this one really in earnest for a year.
So, you never know.
Maybe therell be a season 2.
Wind of Change is a co-production between Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media and Spotify.
All episodes arenow available to hear.
