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Were you one of those people who caught Ozzy Osbourne’s final performance at Back To The Beginning last weekend (July 5, 2025)?
Me too! And perhaps it’s also led to you dusting off that old box of cassette tapes, whether to show a younger generation that yes, we did use to listen to music on that ‘archaic’ format (by today’s standards), or maybe just to reminisce about a time that you could walk into Woolworths, pick up the latest heavy metal release, and have enough change to get some lolly mix. Or that might just be me...
But with a newer generation of music fans gravitating towards all the things us ‘older lot’ used to consider the cutting-edge of technology, it might be worth taking a look at how much some of those cassette tape releases are worth. Thanks to the Discogs app, it’s as easy as scanning a barcode or typing in the catalogue number on their website. You never know – as it stands, that Death Angel tape you have lying around somewhere is actually worth something, or at least sold for an incredible price through the online marketplace.
So, for hard rock, metal, and that cacophony of noise in between (the type your parents loathed when you’d play it on the car stereo), what have been some of the most expensive sales on Discogs for the lovable, if not sometimes infuriating (like getting your tape chewed up), magnetic strip of musical history?
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13. Late! (aka Dave Grohl) - Pocketwatch (£474.50)
A pivotal solo venture that shaped Dave Grohl's future and my personal holy grail item to collect. This 1992 US cassette album (Simple Machines – SM TOOL 3, part of the Tool Cassette Series) features Grohl's solo recordings between Nirvana and Foo Fighters. Its intentional cassette-only release and historical significance make it an exceptionally rare and valuable piece of rock history - don't I just know it? | Getty Images/Discogs
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14. Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark (£858.81)
An exclusive promotional package. This 1992 UK limited edition, numbered promo box set (EMI – EMD 1032), including a cassette, CD, and VHS, boasts extreme rarity. Its comprehensive content and status as a promotional item for a legendary band contribute to its extremely high value. | Getty Images/Discogs
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15. Nirvana - Demo (£1,058.50)
The cusp of superstardom. This ultra-rare 1990 US promo cassette demo, often referred to as the "MCA Demo," captures Nirvana on the verge of their global breakthrough with Nevermind, making it a monumental and highly coveted piece of rock history. | Getty Images/Discogs
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16. Deftones - Deftones (£1,288.24)
The raw beginnings of a modern titan. This ultra-rare, self-released 1992 US sampler cassette, reportedly limited to only about 15 copies (according to the cover, anyway), showcases the band's foundational sound before their rise to global fame. Containing early versions of tracks like Like Linus and Hump, it's an undeniable holy grail for collectors. | Getty Images/Discogs