[Drew68]

I would posit that Jim Marshall invented Heavy Metal when he created the 100-watt Marshall amplifier that produced saturated tube distortion.

Hendrix, of course, famously used these amplifiers, and eventually, so did almost everyone else.

[dfwgator]

I would posit that Jim Marshall invented Heavy Metal when he created the 100-watt Marshall amplifier that produced saturated tube distortion.

Was that before or after he ran the wrong way?

[Roadrunner383]

Yep, a nod to Jim Marshall along with Pete Townshend for the equipment. Townshend pushed for 100 watt amps. Townshend also had Marshall build 8x12 speaker cabs, but roadies balked at trying to move them, thus the Marshall stack of two 4x12 cabs was born. Of course Townshend would later move on to Hiwatt gear, but he used Marshall equipment in the beginning.