*Dates,
Mixes,
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can be found immediately
following the BIO*
leg·end (ljnd) n. 1. A. An unverified story handed down from earlier times, especially
one believed to be historical.
B. A body or collection of such stories.
2. One that inspires legends or achieves legendary fame.
Juan Atkins is celebrating twenty years of pioneering production and worldwide mix-master fame. At the dawn of the 1980s, Juan Atkins began recording what stands as perhaps the most influential body of work in the field of techno. Exploring his vision of a futuristic music which welded the more cosmic side of Parliament funk with rigid computer synth-pop embodied by Kraftwerk and the techno-futurist possibilities described by sociologist Alvin Toffler (author of The Third Wave and Future Shock), Atkins blurred his name behind aliases such as Cybotron, Model 500 and Infiniti — all, except for Cybotron, comprised solely of himself — to release many classics of sublime Detroit techno.
Juan Atkins truly is a legend in his own time. Appearing behind aliases such as Cybotron, Model 500 and Infiniti, he has released many classics of sublime Detroit techno, including the 1982 electro track "Clear." Recorded by Atkins and Rick Davis as Cybotron, this track is often considered the first proto-techno track. Experimenting with fusing the extra-terrestrial funk of Parliament Funkadelic with the futuristic rhythms and hard math of Kraftwerk and the progressive dance theorems proposed by Giorgio Moroder, the Model 500s laid the blueprint for Detroit Techno. Along with the tracks made by two schoolmates from the grade below, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, Detroit Techno quickly made its way across the Atlantic and immediately sparked the emerging rave culture and soon after the entire global dance community. Moving through the later 80s as Model 500, Atkins continued as one of the most prolific and sought after producers of electronic music throughout the 90s, culminating in the use of an Atkins; original as the musical bed for the 2000 launch of the Ford Focus; Detroit Techno; automobile. Juan has toured wtih Moby on the Area One tour, and the stateside Om Records tour.
Packing clubs from Detroit to NY to Venezuela, Juan has mastered the art of soaking up new rhythmic elements from contemporary dance music while keeping his unerring, instantly recognizable sense of melody intact. Much discussed and anthologized not only for his 20 years of production credit but also for his ability to rock a dance floor, Juan Atkins music and DJing is defined in Europe and embraced all over the world. Juan has also been prolifically releasing albums, remixes and collaborations on Belgiums R&S Records, Germanys Tresor, and others. His six full-length releases are available only as imports.