Cassette Culture

About Cassette Culture

The stories of the global underground movement that shaped experimental music and culture, told by the artists that were there… For two decades during the '80's and '90's, the international mail system fostered a network of underground artists, exchanging cassette tapes of music and homemade artwork – all under the radar of mainstream media. Taking the DIY message of Punk as a jumping off point, we travel through the network to find the creators of the fanzines, the music, the labels and events.

Publisher

Cassette Culture & DIY Music

Category

music

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

16 Nov 2024

Latest episode

30 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

28 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Jul 2026

   Let The Tribe Grow: Chris Connelly Receives The Gospel Of DIY

   Searching for connection and community; we track the story of Chris Connelly (Fini Tribe, Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface) discovering Throbbing Gristle via the John Peel Radio show and getting in touch. Meanwhile, Joe Strummer of The Clash spreads the DIY gospel to a young Robert H. King after a gig at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, resulting in formation of the Pleasantly Surprised cassette label. When the two come together a few years later, the Fini Tribe contribution to "You Bet We've Got Something Against You" on King's new Cathexis Recordings label, followed by the "Let The Tribe Grow" EP, propels both the label and the band on to greater things. Chris Connelly is another of the artists featured in the "Tapes Received" listing of TG's Industrial News zine. This resulted in local underground musicians showing up at his door and handmade cassettes from the likes of Nurse With Wound arriving in the mail. Geoff Rushton (later John Balance of Coil) compiled "Endzeit," a hand-numbered edition of 230 copies on Datenverarbeitung carrying Virgin Prunes, Section 25 and four tracks by a young Cultural Amnesia. Geoff’s own slim White Stains Tapes imprint released “The Men With The Deadly Dreams”. Both releases appearing as inspirational touchstones, connecting back into our wider story. King’s Pleasantly Surprised label ran from 1982 to 1984, its artfully packaged cassette compilations opening with The Birthday Party and carrying early tracks from Cocteau Twins, Primal Scream, The Wake, Marine Girls, Billy MacKenzie, Bauhaus, The Wolfgang Press, Test Dept, and Cultural Amnesia. By 1986, the saturation of the cassette market created a tipping point when the label morphed into vinyl releases on Cathexis Recordings. Chris Connelly and Fini Tribe burst onto the wider music scene after being picked up for a John Peel Session, releasing on their own Finiflex label and beginning to collaborate with the US Wax Trax! label. Ultimately Chris moved to Chicago, joined Ministry and Al Jourgensen side-project Revolting Cocks - using his background in the DIY experimentalism of the tape scene to forge the template for some ferocious Industrial Rock during the ’90s. Hosted by Martin Franklin. Theme music "This Is Concrete" by The Happy Citizen. DISCOVER THE VIDEO You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast (https://youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast) IN THIS EPISODE THANKS Jerry Kranitz, co-host for all interviews recorded in the series. Richard Rupenus, for research and series advice. Chris Connelly for original tape loop recordings featured in this episode. VOICES Martin Franklin Chris Connelly Robert H.King Gerard Greenaway voiced by Sean Holland. MUSIC “Climbing” Chris Carter, The Men With The Deadly Dreams, cassette compilation (White Stains, 1981) “Big Jug - Wet Steel Rail” Fini Tribe, The Sheer Action Of The Fini Tribe 1982-1987 (Shipwrecked Industries 2026) “The Craighouse Dogs” Chris Connelly, Blockader, (Vinyl On Demand 2014) "Cathedral” Fini Tribe, John Peel Show, August 1984 “All Fours” Fini Tribe, The Sheer Action Of The Fini Tribe (Shipwrecked Industries 2026) “Pale Saints” Eyeless In Gaza, The Men With The Deadly Dreams, (White Stains, 1981) “Materialistic Man” Cultural Amnesia, Enormous Savages (Anna Logue 2007) LINKS Chris Connelly (https://chrisconnelly.com) (https://chrisconnelly.bandcamp.com/music)) Robert H. King (https://www.rhking.net/ (https://www.rhking.net/)) Cultural Amnesia (http://www.culturalamnesia.com/) (http://www.culturalamnesia.com/)) "The Sheer Action Of The Fini Tribe" is available from Chris Connelly via Bandcamp (https://chrisconnelly.bandcamp.com/album/the-sheer-action-of-the-fini-tribe-1982-1987 (https://chrisconnelly.bandcamp.com/album/the-sheer-action-of-the-fini-tribe-1982-1987)) FIND US https://cassetteculturepodcast.com (https://cassetteculturepodcast.com/) SUPPORTERS Help us keep Cassette Culture alive! This podcast is enabled by generous supporters who contribute toward the costs of researching, producing and publishing each episode. You can become one of them at: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

2. 

   25 Jun 2026

   Tapes Received: The Factory Connection

   Some of the most surprising and revealing connections surface in this episode. Two worlds that rarely get mentioned in the same breath: Throbbing Gristle's Industrial Records, and Manchester's Factory Records. At the centre are two more names from the Industrial News “tapes received" list; Paul Wiggin of Section 25 and Robbie MacDonald of Crawling Chaos offshoot, Zyklon B Zombies. Both aspiring musicians who connected with TG's Industrial News zine by sending cassettes of their music. Paul describes experiencing the crushing, low-frequency weight of the early Throbbing Gristle gigs which stunned a generation of post-punk audiences with the “sonic warfare” that the band were waging. Later, a direct-to-tape demo sent to Industrial Records came back with an invitation from Genesis P-Orridge to London, and a glimpse of TG’s world via a Cosey Fanni Tutti performance. Section 25’s support slot for Joy Division, followed with Ian Curtis's word was enough to secure a deal with Factory Records. Setting them off on recordings sessions with Martin Hannett at Cargo, and Pink Floyd's old Britannia Row studio. Over in Newcastle, Robbie MacDonald was working behind the scenes for The Crawling Chaos, creating sleeves, booking gigs, and supporting their own label, Foetus Products. Ahead of a gig at Whitley Bay's Rex Hotel, word went round that Throbbing Gristle themselves might turn up under an alias: Zyklon B Zombies. The backing tape built for the hoax made its way to Industrial Records as something of a joke at the band's own expense and, whatever became of any reply, it landed the Zyklon B Zombies in the "Tapes Received" list regardless. Two Factory scouts in that night's crowd left far more taken with The Crawling Chaos than with the prank, leading to a clandestine meet up with Tony Wilson, and the eventual release on Factory Benelux of FAC 17. Hosted by Martin Franklin. Theme music "This Is Concrete" by The Happy Citizen. DISCOVER THE VIDEO You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast (https://youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast) IN THIS EPISODE THANKS Jerry Kranitz, co-host for all interviews recorded in the series. Richard Rupenus, for research and series advice. VOICES Martin Franklin Paul Wiggin Robbie MacDonald MUSIC "Fallen Monument" Section 25, Illuminus Illumina (self-released cassette) "Live" Throbbing Gristle at the Ajanta Cinema, Derby, 1979 “Life” Side A, Zyklon B Zombies backing tape "You" Section 25, Jams From The Bardo "Red Voice" Section 25, Blackpool Rox EP "Rose Apple Island" Section 25, Jams From The Bardo "New Horizon" Section 25 "Death" Side B, Zyklon B Zombies backing tape "Sex Machine" Crawling Chaos (demo) LINKS Section 25: https://section25.com/ (https://section25.com/) Crawling Chaos: https://crawlingchaos.co.uk/ (https://crawlingchaos.co.uk/) Factory Records archive: https://factoryrecords.org/ (https://factoryrecords.org/) Section 25 "Jams From The Bardo" is available on Klanggalerie. https://klanggalerie.bandcamp.com/album/jams-from-the-bardo (https://klanggalerie.bandcamp.com/album/jams-from-the-bardo) FIND US https://cassetteculturepodcast.com (https://cassetteculturepodcast.com/) SUPPORTERS Help us keep Cassette Culture alive! This podcast is enabled by generous supporters who contribute toward the costs of researching, producing and publishing each episode. You can become one of them at: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

3. 

   28 May 2026

   Tapes Received: Industrial Music for Industrial People

   From 1978-1980, Throbbing Gristle's Industrial Records published a newsletter called Industrial News. With a philosophy of exchange and transparency, they listed attendance numbers at their concerts, future label plans, and a list of contacts who had mailed them tapes of their own music: the “Tapes Received” list. Capturing a cultural watershed moment where the bedroom bands of the DIY Punk scene gave way to something new: ambitious, experimental, abstract, industrial. Making music using the newly available technology of synthesisers, with tape media and looping as part of the creative process. In this episode of Cassette Culture we begin to unravel the story of those tapes sent to Industrial Records - what was on them, and what became of the artists who sent them? At the centre of this episode is Val Denham - painter, singer and tape experimentalist. We hear how a deliberately provocative letter to Genesis P. Orridge loaded with insider references, led to a invitation to London and the beginning of a friendship that would influence her creative life. Her early tape recordings won fans in Genesis and Peter Christopherson and almost became a release on Industrial Records. Val walks us through the London of the late 70’s, studying at the Royal College Of Art while creating striking artwork for TG gig flyers, attracting Some Bizarre Records’ Stevo and Marc Almond to her Degree Show. Then later creating album artwork for Marc & The Mambas, Psychic TV, and Throbbing Gristle. Philip Sanderson of Storm Bugs and Richard Rupenus of Funeral Dance Party offer their own stories of corresponding with TG, sending in tapes, and finding themselves part of a growing international network of like-minded artists. Richard received an encouraging letter from Genesis himself; Philip developed his own music as Vote Police, Storm Bugs and launched his label, Snatch Tapes. Years later, after the death of Genesis P. Orridge both contributed to a search for the original “tapes received” cassettes. A search that ended at the Tate Gallery archive and, ultimately, led nowhere. Hosted by Martin Franklin. Theme music "This Is Concrete" by The Happy Citizen. DISCOVER THE VIDEO You can find videos of cassette tapes, artefacts and unboxings from the cassette underground on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@CassetteCulturePodcast) IN THIS EPISODE THANKS We have benefited from the extensive knowledge of Richard Rupenus for the theme and many factual ingredients in this episode. Jerry Kranitz co-hosts all interviews recorded for the series. VOICES Martin Franklin Richard Rupenus Philip Sanderson Val Denham Genesis P Orridge and Cosey Fanni Tutti recording from the “Other, Link Me” COUM Transmissions documentary, (BBC Television) Richard Rupenus, read by Tim Nice. MUSIC “Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, Quertyuiop (self released cassette) BBC Newsbeat Radio Special, 1976, 23 Drifts To Guestling, (Iham Productions)“Swimming” Val Denham, “Solely From” Storm Bugs, A Safe Substitute “Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, Quertyuiop (self released cassette) “Time Is Money” Val Denham “Blue Red Sky” Death And Beauty Foundation (Vinyl On Demand) “Make customers Matter” Storm bugs, Table Matters “Untitled” Funeral Danceparty, A Celebration of iDeath (Vinyl On Demand) LINKS Industrial Records: http://www.throbbing-gristle.com/industrialrecords/ (http://www.throbbing-gristle.com/industrialrecords/) Snatch Tapes/Philip Sanderson: https://snatchtapes.bandcamp.com/ (https://snatchtapes.bandcamp.com/) Available from Vinyl On Demand: Funeral Danceparty 'A Celebration of iDEATH' Recordings 1979-82 (2Lp/7inch) https://vod-records.com/-1-18-500.htm (https://vod-records.com/-1-18-500.htm) Val Denham Box Set incl Silverstar Amoeba, Counterdance and Death & Beauty Foundation https://vod-records.com/-1-18-749.htm (https://vod-records.com/-1-18-749.htm) FIND US https://cassetteculturepodcast.com (https://cassetteculturepodcast.com/) SUPPORTERS Help us keep Cassette Culture alive! This podcast is enabled by generous supporters who contribute toward the costs of researching, producing and publishing each episode. You can become one of them at: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) Help keep Cassette Culture alive - Become a Supporter: https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe (https://cassetteculturepodcast.bandcamp.com/subscribe) See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Who has been a guest on Cassette Culture

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Jonathan Barnett
• Mark Automaton
• Colin Potter
• Mark Lancaster
• Phillip Sanderson

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

6,864

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

59

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

31

Contact Cassette Culture

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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