Tributes paid after death of techno co-founder Juan Atkins, age 64: “A true visionary who opened the door

Tributes have been paid following the death of techno pioneer Juan Atkins, who has passed away aged 64.

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News of his passing was confirmed by his agency, Greensmith Artists, to Resident Advisor yesterday (Sunday November 1). They revealed that the Detroit techno pioneer was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Mexico City ahead of a show there.

He was taken to hospital and later pronounced dead.

Atkins was best known for his unique, mechanistic approach to electronic music. He was recognised as one half of the duo Cybotron and for releasing music solo under the moniker Model 500.

Ele nasceu em Detroit em 1962 antes de se mudar para Michigan quando criança e conhecer Derrick May e Kevin Saunderson, com quem formou seu primeiro grupo, o Belleville Three.

It was in high school that he formed Cybotron with Richard Davis, and they went on to release dancefloor classics including ‘Cosmic Cars’ and ‘Clear’ before splitting in 1985.

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Tributes have been paid since his passing, including from Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield who shared a comment recognising his contributions to the city. “As a teenager with a synthesizer and a big idea, he imagined what the music of the future could be.

Then he built it,” she shared (via Pitchfork).

DJ Luke Slater said that he was “totally in shock” at the news, Kelly Lee Owens called him a “techno king”, and Graziano Raffa wrote: “Heartbreaking news. May he rest in peace and always be remembered for his genius”.

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Rest in peace, Kevin. Thank you for the music.

Um momento de 2011, compartilhando a tela com Juan Atkins, o originador do techno de Detroit, refletindo sobre a música e seu legado. Descanse em paz, Juan. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/15yVJ9dqF1.

RIP Juan Atkins, globally considered the father of techno music and one of the best electro producers in the history. He was active until his very last days, techno was his calling.

Here are a few videos from his collaboration w the Macedonian Philharmonic Orch. pic.twitter.com/1wtgPXLpDa.

Mais uma lenda perdida! Obrigado por todas as memórias, JA 🙏.

Descanse em paz, Juan Atkins, “o padrinho do techno.” Seus sons não convencionais se tornaram o modelo para um gênero musical totalmente novo, influenciando gerações de produtores, DJs e gravadoras, como a nossa.

Juan Atkins. Techno king. Thank you. We love you. 🕊️.

Absolute respect. None of us electronic music heads would be here without this man. My entire youth was engulfed in Juan’s music. Can’t express how synonymous his music is with my break dancing years.

Visionary. The one that started it ALL. RIP Juan Atkins. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/jZJeWFsPBi.

After Cybotron disbanded, Atkins released songs including ‘The Chase’ and ‘No UFOs’ under the alias Model 500, and also launched his own record label, Metroplex, which worked with DJ Bone, Anthony Shakir and more.

Outros projetos ao longo de sua longa carreira incluíram outro projeto solo chamado Infiniti e a formação do duo Borderland com Moritz Von Oswald. Ele também reformou a Cybotron em 2023 e saiu para turnê como parte do grupo reunido.

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