Episode 29 is a first for the TM Pod in several ways: It is the first appearance of Jon 'Quitty' Quittner, the first featuring multiple guests and the first  dedicated to a specific subject rather than a look at a guest's biography. The subject: 'The Derek Tape'

'The Derek Tape' was made in Los Angeles in 1993. It is a 43 minute long recording of a phone conversation between stoned record store employee Kurt and one of his frequent customers, heavy metal/hard rock obsessed maniac Derek. The tape begins with Kurt asking Derek if he was able to get a parking enforcement 'boot' off his car, and from there it moves in two distinct narrative streams. First there is the story of Derek and his contentious relationship life-long friend and nemesis Terry, an unseen character he paints as a privileged, drug-addicted layabout responsible for many crimes and deserving of harsh punishment. The second thread woven through the conversation is Derek passionately sharing his opinions about the greatest extreme metal bands of the era and the 'greatest displays of guitar mastery' he has witnessed in his years of concert-going.

In the decades since a cassette copy of the recording was given to Sean by its maker Kurt, 'The Derek Tape' has gone from a 'secret handshake' among touring bands in the 90's to an internet sensation loved by its cult of fans around the world. Sean, Jon and Jason discuss the tape's history and origin, its content, the divisive nature of its appeal, and its legacy. 

Episode 30 of the TM Podcast is 'The Derek Tape' in its entirety.

Thank you for listening and BIG thank you to all our new TraegerMethod podcast contributors!