The Broken Amp That Built Heavy Metal episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 19, 2026 · 11 MIN

The Broken Amp That Built Heavy Metal

from The Second Track · host Podcaster

When Link Wray's amplifier started dying during a 1958 recording session, he did something unthinkable: he stabbed holes in the speaker with a pencil. That act of desperate vandalism created the first power chord recording and accidentally invented the DNA of heavy metal, punk, and garage rock—two decades before those genres even had names. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Link Wray's amplifier started dying during a 1958 recording session, he did something unthinkable: he stabbed holes in the speaker with a pencil. That act of desperate vandalism created the first power chord recording and accidentally invented the DNA of heavy metal, punk, and garage rock—two decades before those genres even had names.

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The Broken Amp That Built Heavy Metal

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This episode was published on April 19, 2026.

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When Link Wray's amplifier started dying during a 1958 recording session, he did something unthinkable: he stabbed holes in the speaker with a pencil. That act of desperate vandalism created the first power chord recording and accidentally invented...

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