Lou Ottens passed away a few days ago. He was 94. A Dutch engineer who worked for Philips, Lou was the bad ass credited for inventing the cassette tape. As a mixologist of tapes, and to a greater extent alcoholic beverages, I'd like to extend my sincerest condolences to his friends and family.
Imagine being the person responsible for an invention that revolved around EVERYTHING. Education, dreams and aspirations, espionage and blackmail, driving a car, recreational coitus, procreation, etc.
Back in the late 80's, Metal Male and I would hang outside Listening Booth at the Ohio Valley Mall. They'd give patrons these little yellow coupon stickers. The more stuff you bought, the more coupons you got. And of course, when you collected enough of them, you could redeem them for store merchandise.
So we'd hang right outside the store on crowded Saturday afternoons. The split second someone left the store, we'd charge into action. We'd be on top of them like Krishnas in a concert parking lot. Accosting anyone in sight. Pleading with them for their extra coupons. Half the people would tell you to get lost. But the other half would generously fork over the precious golden ticket rectangles of maize-colored distinction.
We'd basically engage in this semi-aggressive panhandling routine for several hours. And then plunk down all our treasure on a cache of thrash metal tapes. One of them was a 1987 Overkill EP from the Phantasy Theater in Cleveland, OH entitled "Fuck You!"
The second song on that tape is... Rotten to the Core.
Ottens To The Core
sonofsaf
I invented cassettes, chromium dioxide
A Maxell XL two ninety Memorex clear as sky
Locked in Rob Halfrod’s leather, The Hellion Electric Eye
Remarkable depravity a pencil to unwind
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Records are ceremonial, eight tracks I abhor
Music is so phenomenal, He’s Otten to the core
So read a book, sing a song, watch the green grass grow
AC/DC all night long you shook
And Edgar Allan Poe
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Listening Booth was in our youth
We hung out at the mall
Pestered many shoppers for coupons, one last chance
The tricks we learned to ease our soul they thought we were not right
The remarkable depravity
Most didn’t put up a… fight
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
A Maxell XL two ninety Memorex clear as sky
Locked in Rob Halfrod’s leather, The Hellion Electric Eye
Records are ceremonial, eight tracks I abhor
Music is so phenomenal, He’s Otten to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
Ottens to the core
To the core!
Ott, Ott, Ott, Ott, Ott
Ott, Ott, Ott, Ott, Ottens! Ottens! Ott!
To the core!
Rotten to the Core
Overkill
I have got a secret, hidden behind my eyes
A violation tragedy of violence hate and lies
Locked deep within a chamber, dark recesses of my mind
A tribute to insanity through hours days and time
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Recite the testimonial, truth and nothing more
Accusations nominal, Fall rotten to the core
So take a look, read a book, reach a new plateau
But stain the soul a life you took
You know not what I know
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Misguided youth the bitter truth
Nothing left to chance
Fallen angel seeking adventure, new romance
How dare you touch you take the soul of one so pure so white
The violation tragedy
Took all she had that... night
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
I have got a secret hidden behind my eyes
A violation tragedy of violence hate and lies
Recite the testimonial, truth and nothing more
Accusations nominal fall rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
Rotten to the core
To the core!
Rot, rot, rot, rot, rot
Rot, rot, rot, rot, rotten! Rotten! Rot!
To the core!
Listening Booth ended their nationwide coupon promotion gimmick shortly after our racket was exposed by a female Merry Go Round salesperson who ratted us out. Her name? From what I vaguely recollect, she was known only as "cunt."
A lot has happened since the late 80's. Metal Male became known as the Online Bandit. I moved from Wheeling to Pittsburgh (married with felines). And I don't use cassettes anymore. But rest assured, I'll always know what it's like to be a bootlegger. For the most part, my bootlegging experiences have been positive. Not as good as this, but adequate nonetheless.
Overkill:
8-2-88, City Limits, Penn Hills, PA
11-17-88, Hara Arena, Dayton, OH (w/ Slayer and Motorhead)
6-19-90, City Limits, Penn Hills, PA
2-21-06, Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
4-27-19, Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
Please do not share this information with the descendants of Lou Ottens, members of Overkill, and/or anyone who has ever worked at a Listening Booth record store.
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