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Juan Atkins
American record producer and DJ (1962–2026)
Juan Atkins (September 12, 1962 – October 31, 2026), also known as Model 500 and Infiniti, was an American record producer and DJ. Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno". He was at different times a member of the Belleville Three, Cybotron and Borderland.
Early life
Juan Atkins was born in Detroit, Michigan, on September 12, 1962. His father was a concert promoter. At an early age, he played guitar and bass guitar in funk/garage bands with his friends. After his parents split, he moved to live with his grandmother in the suburb of Belleville, Michigan. In junior high school, he met Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. The three would later be known as the Belleville Three. At the age of 15-16, he persuaded his grandmother to buy him his first synthesizer, a Korg MS-10.
Career
Atkins formed Cybotron with Richard Davis in 1980. The duo's debut studio album, Enter, was released in 1983. Atkins and Davis split ways in 1985.
In 1985, Atkins founded the record label Metroplex. In that year, he started making solo records under the alias Model 500. As Model 500, he released Deep Space in 1995, Mind and Body in 1999, and Digital Solutions in 2015.
He was also one half of the duo Borderland along with Moritz von Oswald. The duo released Borderland in 2013, and Transport in 2016.
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metroplex, Atkins collaborated with VAVA Eyewear.
Artistry
John Bush of AllMusic explains that Atkins "explor[ed] his vision of a futuristic music that welded the more cosmic side of Parliament funkadelic with the rigid computer synth pop embodied by Kraftwerk and the techno-futurist possibilities described by sociologist Alvin Toffler". Aesthetically, Atkins drew upon dystopian science fiction narratives to construct his sonic landscapes. Later in his career, he began incorporating elements of contemporary dance music, while retaining what critics consider to be his signature sense of melody. He stated that George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funkadelic were important to his "musical awakening". He grew up listening to The Electrifying Mojo's radio shows. He also acknowledged Kraftwerk as an influence on his music.
Death and legacy
Atkins died on October 31, 2026, at the age of 64. He was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Mexico City; he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
John Bush of AllMusic conferred the title of "godfather of techno" on Atkins, and said his discography is "perhaps the most influential body of work in the field of techno". He stated: "Though it's often difficult (and misleading) to pick the precise genesis for any style of music, the easiest choice for techno is an Atkins release, the 1983 electro track 'Clear,' recorded by Atkins and Rick Davis as Cybotron." Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno".
Discography
Studio albums
3MB Featuring Magic Juan Atkins (1992) (with Thomas Fehlmann and Moritz von Oswald, as 3MB Featuring Magic Juan Atkins)
Deep Space (1995) (as Model 500)
Skynet (1998) (as Infiniti)
Mind and Body (1999) (as Model 500)
The Berlin Sessions (2005)
Borderland (2013) (with Moritz von Oswald, as Borderland)
Digital Solutions (2015) (as Model 500)
Transport (2016) (with Moritz von Oswald, as Borderland)
Mind Merge LP (2017) (with Orlando Voorn, as Frequency vs Atkins)
Compilation albums
Classics (1993) (as Model 500)
The Infiniti Collection (1996) (as Infiniti)
Wax Trax! MasterMix Volume 1 (1998)
20 Years 1985 - 2005 (2005)
EPs
The True Techno EP (1992) (as Model 500)
The Future Sound EP (1993)
Singles
"No UFO's" (1985) (as Model 500)
"Night Drive" (1985) (as Model 500)
"Testing 1-2" (1986) (as Model 500)
"Play It Cool" (1986) (as Model 500)
"Technicolor" (1986) (with Doug Craig, as Channel One)
"It's Channel One" (1987) (with Doug Craig, as Channel One)
"Sound of Stereo" (1987) (as Model 500)
"Make Some Noise" (1987) (as Model 500)
"Beat Track" (1987)
"Interference" (1988) (as Model 500)
"The Chase" (1989) (as Model 500)
"Ocean to Ocean" (1990) (as Model 500)
"Jazz Is the Teacher" (1993) (with Thomas Fehlmann and Moritz von Oswald, as M500 & 3MB)
"I See the Light" (1993) (as Model 500)
"Sonic Sunset" (1994) (as Model 500)
"The Flow" (1995) (as Model 500)
"Starlight" (1995) (as Model 500)
"I Wanna Be There" (1996) (as Model 500)
"Be Brave" (1998) (as Model 500)
"Update" (2002) (as Model 600)
"Outer Space" (2004) (as Model 500)
"OFI" / "Huesca" (2010) (as Model 500)
"Control" (2012) (as Model 500)
"Riod" (2016) (with Moritz von Oswald, as Borderland)
Filmography
Feature films
God Said Give 'Em Drum Machines (2022)
High Tech Soul (2006)
Never Stop: A Music That Resists (2017)
Short films
Black to Techno (2019)