I was recently introduced to this podcast, 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s and I have to agree with the host’s own assessment that it might be “the most inaccurately named podcast on the planet.” I thought it would be more history of the decade, less history of the song itself. Maybe it is and I’ve unfairly judged, having only listened to one episode so far. The way the podcast was sold to me and how I interpreted the title was a podcast that used songs to explain different events or phenomena of the era. That may or may not be what the podcast is about–either way, I’ve taken the liberty to create my own version of it. In this first (only?) episode, I thought I’d borrow the storytelling style of a favorite content creator, Patrick Hicks, who shares music stories.

This is a story about a girl who learned to love hard rock and heavy metal. Growing up, she listened to disco on the turntable, while her aunt and uncle twirled in the living room. Her family didn’t have MTV, but she learned about Boy George and Madonna watching Friday Night Videos. She also fell in love with new wave bands like Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, while listening to KROQ on the radio. What she never imagined is that one day she’d love to listen to Led Zeppelin, Rush, and Metallica.

It was the summer of 1987. Vivian was working at the cash register at Marie Callendar’s, when a tall blond walked out of the kitchen wearing the guy’s version of the restaurant’s required uniform. While she would later claim to be an introvert, she quickly struck up a conversation and friendship with the new hire, Jack.

Fast forward to later that fall and fate would put Vivian and Jack in the same math class. The fun they had at work and in class gave Vivian the foolish confidence to ask Jack out to the winter ball. Alas, he had already asked another girl. But that embarrassing moment would become the spark that turned their friendship to something more.

It was the first mixtape Jack made for Vivian that would introduce her to bands like Rush, Led Zeppelin, and a guitarist named Joe Satriani. The song Always with Me, Always with You moved her so deeply that it opened her up to the rest of the songs. Listening to one after the other, again and again, would pull her into a new world of music and turn her into a lifelong fan.

While Jack would one day make one last mixtape for Vivian as they parted ways, her love of rock carries on and she now finds herself at Metallica concerts with her husband.