Imp’s Reviews > High Bias: The Distorted History of the Cassette Tape > Status Update
Imp
is on page 100 of 224
Metallica approached Dead for advice on taper area, copied standard documents
Mark Neumann & Timothy Simpson's 2011 survey of tapers relates stealth stories: various smuggling techniques
Lee Ranaldo -live tape collector in the 70s, created a spreadsheet
Early 80s - forms Sonic Youth
They tapes everything they did from day 1
Fans began taping them, full circle
Robert O'Haire - final performance of Heartbreakers
— Mar 07, 2026 03:17AM
Mark Neumann & Timothy Simpson's 2011 survey of tapers relates stealth stories: various smuggling techniques
Lee Ranaldo -live tape collector in the 70s, created a spreadsheet
Early 80s - forms Sonic Youth
They tapes everything they did from day 1
Fans began taping them, full circle
Robert O'Haire - final performance of Heartbreakers
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Imp’s Previous Updates
Imp
is on page 97 of 224
Dick Latvala - official Dead archivist, launched Dick's Picks
David Lemieux took over after Latvala's death in 1999, until 2005, Dave's Picks launch in 2012
Dead trading community remained strong after cassettes faded
Bob Dylan completists
Brigid Berlin - part of Warhol's Factory scene
August '70 - recorded Velvet Underground Lou Reed's last show, first official bootleg released in 72 as Live at Max's Kansas city
— Mar 07, 2026 03:13AM
David Lemieux took over after Latvala's death in 1999, until 2005, Dave's Picks launch in 2012
Dead trading community remained strong after cassettes faded
Bob Dylan completists
Brigid Berlin - part of Warhol's Factory scene
August '70 - recorded Velvet Underground Lou Reed's last show, first official bootleg released in 72 as Live at Max's Kansas city
Imp
is on page 95 of 224
Nest of microphones issue, sound engineer Dan Healy couldn't see the stage as he worked
1984 - Berkeley show, Healy unveiled a dedicated taper section with separate tickers
Pros: more convenient, could share audio signal
Cons: experience less fun, equipment blocking movement, tapers policing to stay quiet, worse sound quality
Many tapers ventured back to audience
Dead's popularity grew in 80s
Soundboard mixes
— Mar 07, 2026 03:07AM
1984 - Berkeley show, Healy unveiled a dedicated taper section with separate tickers
Pros: more convenient, could share audio signal
Cons: experience less fun, equipment blocking movement, tapers policing to stay quiet, worse sound quality
Many tapers ventured back to audience
Dead's popularity grew in 80s
Soundboard mixes
Imp
is on page 93 of 224
1974 - Kippel starts Dead relix, helping start the 70s Grateful Dead taping boom
Dead taping ubiquitous by 80s
veterans vs. newbs
The band initially resisted taping, stealth methods were devised, Dead warmed up to taping ~77
80s: tapers could set up in the open
Security still stopped tapers against sound engineer's instructions
Robert Wagner - taping was an art form, craft skills, archiving & unique documentation
— Mar 07, 2026 03:03AM
Dead taping ubiquitous by 80s
veterans vs. newbs
The band initially resisted taping, stealth methods were devised, Dead warmed up to taping ~77
80s: tapers could set up in the open
Security still stopped tapers against sound engineer's instructions
Robert Wagner - taping was an art form, craft skills, archiving & unique documentation
Imp
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THE TAPE TRADERS
BPI Vs. Neil Corkindale 1978
Story of Lionel Mapelson's Bettini phonograph recordings in 1900s New York Metropolitan Opera House
"Tape trader" subcultures in 70s eschewed the idea of commerce
Grateful Dead taping subculture
Michael Getz & John Dwork's Deadhead's Taping Compendium
Taping began to gain steam in the 70s
Les Kippel starts First Free Underground Grateful Dead Tape Exchange in 1972
— Mar 07, 2026 02:56AM
BPI Vs. Neil Corkindale 1978
Story of Lionel Mapelson's Bettini phonograph recordings in 1900s New York Metropolitan Opera House
"Tape trader" subcultures in 70s eschewed the idea of commerce
Grateful Dead taping subculture
Michael Getz & John Dwork's Deadhead's Taping Compendium
Taping began to gain steam in the 70s
Les Kippel starts First Free Underground Grateful Dead Tape Exchange in 1972
Imp
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Aaron Dilloway, inspired by Throbbing Gristle, Mick Jagger.
Used a C1 tape deck, insisted on cassettes later
Howard Stelzer
Michael Anderson - "Drekka" 90s
Sindre Bjerga
Jason Zeh
Aki Onda - 2000s Cassette Memories
Joe Murray - microcassettes
Randall Taylor - self taught in the 90s, posts tutorials on YouTube
Decline of cassette scene, but new scenes emerged
G.R.O.S.S. label in Japan
— Mar 07, 2026 02:49AM
Used a C1 tape deck, insisted on cassettes later
Howard Stelzer
Michael Anderson - "Drekka" 90s
Sindre Bjerga
Jason Zeh
Aki Onda - 2000s Cassette Memories
Joe Murray - microcassettes
Randall Taylor - self taught in the 90s, posts tutorials on YouTube
Decline of cassette scene, but new scenes emerged
G.R.O.S.S. label in Japan
Imp
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Baroin's TRAX releases, modular system, "Central/Peripheral Units"
Graf Haufen - Graf Haufen Tapes, Die Katastrophe cassette magazine (!)
Alain Neffe - Insane Music
1980 - Mick Sinclair starts "Cassette Pets" in Sounds
Archie Patterson - 70s show Eurock
Some tapers transformed the cassette into an instrument in its own right
Robin James, José Maceda, Conrad Schnitzler - cassette orchestras, conductors
Wayne Coyne
— Mar 07, 2026 02:38AM
Graf Haufen - Graf Haufen Tapes, Die Katastrophe cassette magazine (!)
Alain Neffe - Insane Music
1980 - Mick Sinclair starts "Cassette Pets" in Sounds
Archie Patterson - 70s show Eurock
Some tapers transformed the cassette into an instrument in its own right
Robin James, José Maceda, Conrad Schnitzler - cassette orchestras, conductors
Wayne Coyne
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Chris Phinney - Harsh Reality
Ron Lessard - RRRecords, RRRadio
William Furlong - Audio Arts 1973
Joel Haertling - Zamizdat Trade Journal
Robnin James - Audio Archive
Solmania, Masonna, MSBR
83 - Gokuaku No Kyoten - Hijokaidan
Masami Akita - Merzbow - 80s
Gerogerigegege - Shaking Box
NE Frans de Waard - Nederlandse cassette catalogus -83, Kapotte Muziek, Korm Plastics
Rod Summers - 60s
Vittore Baroni - Arte Postale!
— Mar 07, 2026 02:32AM
Ron Lessard - RRRecords, RRRadio
William Furlong - Audio Arts 1973
Joel Haertling - Zamizdat Trade Journal
Robnin James - Audio Archive
Solmania, Masonna, MSBR
83 - Gokuaku No Kyoten - Hijokaidan
Masami Akita - Merzbow - 80s
Gerogerigegege - Shaking Box
NE Frans de Waard - Nederlandse cassette catalogus -83, Kapotte Muziek, Korm Plastics
Rod Summers - 60s
Vittore Baroni - Arte Postale!
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Stanley Keith Bowsza (Minóy) - tapes bequeathed to Philip Klingler
Don Campai - Lonely Whistle, "Mr. Full Time Vegetable"
Dino DiMuro
Heather Perkins
Walls of Genius
Sue Ann Harkey - Cityzens for Non-Linear Futures, Audio Letter
Zan Hoffman
Gen Ken Montgomery - starts Generator in 1989 for "worldwide cassette underground", lasted a year
Leslie Singer - Diary of a Shit Eater
Amy Denio - No Bones 1986, hospital photo
— Mar 07, 2026 02:27AM
Don Campai - Lonely Whistle, "Mr. Full Time Vegetable"
Dino DiMuro
Heather Perkins
Walls of Genius
Sue Ann Harkey - Cityzens for Non-Linear Futures, Audio Letter
Zan Hoffman
Gen Ken Montgomery - starts Generator in 1989 for "worldwide cassette underground", lasted a year
Leslie Singer - Diary of a Shit Eater
Amy Denio - No Bones 1986, hospital photo
Imp
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John Foster at KAOS - 80% of DJs had to be on independent labels
Started Lost Music Network
1979 - OP magazine starts as an insert in KAOS' program guide
David Rauh - advertising salesman for OP
Tapes only section called Castanets launched in 1981
Throbbing Gristle, COUM Transmissions in the 70s
Postal system crucial to OP scene
Presentation of cassettes
— Mar 07, 2026 02:22AM
Started Lost Music Network
1979 - OP magazine starts as an insert in KAOS' program guide
David Rauh - advertising salesman for OP
Tapes only section called Castanets launched in 1981
Throbbing Gristle, COUM Transmissions in the 70s
Postal system crucial to OP scene
Presentation of cassettes
Imp
is on page 56 of 224
Jeff Tartakov, friend of Johnston
Started Stress Records in Austin, wanted to help Johnston spread his songs, kept his collection alive during personal and professional turmoil during Johnston's years of renown
New York 1990: Johnston records his first studio record
Dropped by Atlantic in the late 1990s
Died in 2019
Lou Barlow: 1980s, discovered Johnston, inspired to put his own stuff on tape
Bought a 4-track
— Feb 28, 2026 05:18AM
Started Stress Records in Austin, wanted to help Johnston spread his songs, kept his collection alive during personal and professional turmoil during Johnston's years of renown
New York 1990: Johnston records his first studio record
Dropped by Atlantic in the late 1990s
Died in 2019
Lou Barlow: 1980s, discovered Johnston, inspired to put his own stuff on tape
Bought a 4-track
