BLOG | AUG. 28, 2019

Neal Casal 1968-2019

Tape Op lost a good friend last night when our pal Neal Casal left us all behind. Neal was a gifted guitarist, songwriter, singer, photographer, producer, surfer and just an all-around good dude.

FINSATSANO

I was lucky to work with Neal on some recording projects and even more lucky to spend some time in the ocean with him surfing his home break in Ventura, CA and mine in Bolinas, CA.

Neal shot the cover photo for Tape Op #76 and enthusiastically contributed photos and a short interview to our piece with Glyn Johns back in 2015, and you can see/read that here:

https://tapeop.com/interviews/109/glyn-johns/

"The article and photos turned out so well, I'm truly honored to be part of such a landmark thing. Thank You, Neal"

We'll miss you buddy and I hope you're getting some good long waves wherever you are.

-JB

Photo Credit: "Fins at Sano" by Neal Casal

Anyone in need of help can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1–800–273–8255 or SuicidePreventionLifeline.org to chat with someone online.

Tape Op is a bi-monthly magazine devoted to the art of record making.

Or Learn More

Tape Op Podcast LISTEN NOW
Latest Podcast Episode

NEW! EP112: ERIC SERAFIN

MORE ENTRIES

New LP, You’re Free to Go by Anjimile produced by Brad Cook

BLOG

New LP, You’re Free to Go by Anjimile produced by Brad Cook

By John Baccigaluppi

March 14, 2026

I think I’d noticed Brad Cook’s name in the credits of Bon Iver records, but took more notice when I interviewed BJ Burton for Tape Op#137 and he...
New Music from Brigitte Calls Me Baby: Irreversible

BLOG

New Music from Brigitte Calls Me Baby: Irreversible

By Geoff Stanfield

March 14, 2026

The Chicago-based band, Brigitte Calls Me Baby, has just released Irreversible, produced by Yves Rothman and Lawrence Rothman [Tape Op#155]. The...
Gouge Away release new track, "Figurine"

BLOG

Gouge Away release new track, "Figurine"

By Corey Reidy

March 12, 2026

Out on tour with Wednesday right now, and ahead of tour dates throughout 2026 with Touché Amoré and Ovlov (not to mention two nights in September with...
Aquarium Drunkard’s Jason P. Woodbury reveals his Nightbird Singing Quartet

BLOG

Aquarium Drunkard’s Jason P. Woodbury reveals his Nightbird Singing Quartet

By Meredith Hobbs Coons

March 11, 2026

Having familiarized myself with the Jason P. Woodbury oeuvre through the years via his editorial home Aquarium Drunkard (to which I sometimes...
Happy International Women's Day

BLOG

Happy International Women's Day

March 8, 2026

For International Women's Day, I was going to share our collection of articles featuring women in audio. That collection is currently being...
Fugazi: Albini Sessions

BLOG

Fugazi: Albini Sessions

By Corey Reidy

March 8, 2026

For decades, the existence of Fugazi’s Albini Sessions was mostly rumor, bouncing between friends, sometimes as legend and other times as a...
Talking Heads' Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live

BLOG

Talking Heads' Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live

By Geoff Stanfield

March 8, 2026

As a music creator and fan, I am always interested in the transformation from the seed of a song, the demo stage, and the version that was released as...
Remembering Bob Power

BLOG

Remembering Bob Power

By Allen Farmelo

March 5, 2026

When a life is big, the details that make a person special tend to get washed away in the broad strokes of their success and influence. This has been...
New Releases from The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, Willow, Jacob Collier and More!

BLOG

New Releases from The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis, Willow, Jacob Collier and More!

By Geoff Stanfield

February 21, 2026

It's a good week for new music! Jacob Collier [Tape Op#151] released Something Heavy, an EP with three versions of "Something Heavy."...