Juan Atkins, Legendary Techno Artist and Member of the Belleville Three Dies at 64
Juan Atkins, who is rightfully credited as the inventor of Techno, was found unresponsive in his hotel room in Mexico City prior to a performance on Halloween Night. He was 64 years old.
Known to locals both in a solo capacity and as part of The Belleville Three, Atkins pioneered the genre before the genre fully existed by name. With collaborators Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May, as well as his later projects like Cybotron and Model 500, he continued to drive Electronic Music to the forefront. He later launched a label, Metroplex, which catered to his projects as well as the Detroit underground of the genre and subsidies. In 2017, The Belleville Three reformed to perform at Movement Electronic Music Festival (formerly DEMF).
The Belleville Three. (L-R: Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May). Photo: Ami Nicole ACRONYM
According to Resident Advisor, “Atkins’s influence extended well beyond his hometown. As Detroit techno found audiences across Europe, particularly in the UK and Germany, his productions helped inform a new generation of producers and DJs. His music became closely associated with the futuristic, machine-driven aesthetic that would shape the genre’s development throughout the late ’80s and ’90s.”
Former partner in The Belleville Three, Kevin Saunderson, posted his eulogy on Instagram earlier today:
At this time, it has not been shared what Atkins passed away from, just that he was found unresponsive. His music and legacy will continue to live on, especially in the heart of the city (and in the Hart, as in Hart Plaza, undoubtedly at 2027 Movement).