"Somewhere in Detroit": Underground Resistance, Submerge, Techno and the Detroit Way 

For those who would like to dig deeper into the story, please check out articles.roland.com/the-detroit-way

I grew up in East Berlin/Brandenburg as a white suburban kid and came into contact with music from Detroit in the mid-90s. This raw, self-reliant, and independent behavior, charged with certain humanistic values, deeply impressed and influenced me. The music is futuristic, full of soul and spirit, danceable, powerful, and empowering. I DJed for a while at TRESOR Berlin on Leipziger Straße, one of the many lesser-known DJs. I had some gigs there. One was with and before James Pennington 1998. His red double EP still echoes in my mind today. On one label side it said: "break the chains." That's true. There are so many visible and invisible chains from which everyone must break free. Especially the mainstream culture, with its cults around money, fame, and its cultural homogeneity under the guise of supposed diversity, firmly chains people. Greetings from East-Berlin !

Imagine showing this to all those Instagram "DJs", with 0 musical culture but a lot of followers, bought or obtained thanks to advertising, or because they are "good looking", who rape the word "techno" because it's trendy. In most cases these people play shitty music that passes off as "techno". Forever respect and love for those who really started the game! 🖤

love and respect to Detroit and UR

Mad Mike is such a fuckin G. Ultimate respect for always keeping it real, DIY and underground

I grew up listening, and breakdancing, to Electro as a kid. And when Detroit Techno arrived, it was everything I’d been waiting for. I still listen to it every day, and those records are my most treasured possessions. Amazing music that really spoke to me as a youth in the post-industrial bleakness of northern England.

I'm from Brazil but there's something about this failed globalized way of life, this late capitalism that makes me identify a lot with Detroit and the people of Detroit. Electronic music became my great passion thanks to these people who gave birth to this movement. Today I have my synthesizers and my drum machine, which are my only refuges when I'm tired of everything. I don't like being those conservative guys who criticize new generations and the way they do things, but the roots of Techno can never be forgotten! Techno is culture, Electronic Music tells the story of the world!!!!

I visited Detroit in 2017 to take part in an art show and was lucky to visit Submerge, which I didn't know was open to the public at the time except by appointment. Cornelius kindly came and gave us a lift to Submerge from the Motown Museum; John E. Collins gave us a detailed tour of the museum. It was mind blowing, having grown up with Detroit techno and Underground Resistance records on mix tapes, to visit the place and meet the people who started it. I hadn't previously heard of Electrifying Mojo who inspired Detroit techno (and was an early supporter of Prince). When I got back to the UK I curated an event in Nottingham Contemporary art gallery; we invited Dj Stingray and Keith Tucker (K1) to DJ, plus screened a film by Edgar Arceneaux made in collaboration with UR.

It started in 89 when i bought my first Detroit techno record and today I'm still in love with electronic music. Even though I'm European, Detroit will always be the birthplace of Techno, it's soul and it's heartland. Big love to Mike and everyone, thank you for all the amazing records and parties.

I grew up in east London going to warehouses, basements, fields, aircraft hanger and tunnels listening to these guys records, mixed in with the stuff coming out of Chicago, New York, Sheffield and London (other places too). The joy, pleasure and sheer euphoria those times and memories this gives me is truly wonderful. THANK YOU

Detroit techno when it arrived was nothing like the world had heard before. A social commentary on the deprivation of a city that once thrived economically. It was almost incomprehensible how such beautiful music came from a city that was in decay.

Discovering Model 500 and UR in my teens in the mid 90s changed my life. Detroit Techno hugely influences my own music, and remains a passion for me to this day. Beautiful people, soulful music.

I'm going to miss the premiere of this, because I'll be DJing for the first time in a club. It's a techno night and I'll for sure be playing some UR. (Then getting home and watching this). Love live UR.

I live on a reservation in Montana and music saved me from becoming another statistic. I've lived to be 34 years old as an Indigenous man and I thank the music I play every day for allowing me to get this far. I see so many parallels between what inspired black musicians can do and what inspired Indigenous musicians can do and it is so goddamn inspiring to see that there's people out there doing this kind of work. Many pages are being taken today. This is beautiful.

Thank you for highlighting the side of Detroit music history that is not choreographed soul, but genuine people's music.

Met Juan Atkins long time ago I'm from Cali I had a 808 and a moog prodigy in 1984 techno hop in Crenshaw was my sole purpose thanks Detroit

Mike and UR are global treasures.

shout out to ROLANDO, for putting SOUTHWEST Detroit on the map 🇲🇽😎✌🏼❤️

Mike Banks 🙌 guy is just something else. . 100% genuine pioneer, the grand master. endless respect for the man and everything he does, Submerge and its mission are super important.

Awesome...Im blessed for be in Detroit...tks for all Mentors of Detroit Underground History \o/

You did great guys...every congrats. Nice to see my script on the walls at 11.22 also. This story has NEVER been more important than now. Right Fucking Now.

Thank you Roland for giving these people their props !

So many LEGENDS came from Detroit, multiple generations of innovative music, amazing!

It's cool to get a history lesson that you didn't hear 25 years ago. I took a few courses on Detroit History at UofD and when the discussion about music started we never got to the present - techno music. The professor didn't have any material available really and didn't even know how big techno was. I didn't even know much about it or how big it was, I think the first real book that came out would have been Techno Rebels in the late 90's. People weren't lounging on couches at some art gallery or coffee shop lecturing about the history of the music. I hope to visit the museum some day. So I heard loud and clear the part where the underground music academy is going to teach people to dj. Music production isn't the weak point. Some people have gotten soft but there's still good records being made. But the artform of dj'ing, selecting tracks and creating the third song, has been lost. It's not just that Cdj's and Rekordbox are sterile and boring. Everything about the dj set is highly programmed... and we all know who is against the programming.

THANK YOU DETROIT!

RESPECT from England ❤

So good to hear from these humble pioneers of electronic music.

A massive thank you to all of the innovators who gave me the music that changed my life. With love from England.

Wow!! Mad Mike agreed to do interview ? I am in!!

43, From small town North East England, long time fan of Detroit Techno. You changed the world, not just music. Respect forever and eternal thanks.

One love ☮️word to Detroit. Thank you . 💜

The premiere was fantastic!! the Q&A was so good, thank you for making it happen!

J. Mills, Juan Atkins, Kevin Sauderson, D.May....Stingray.....stars everywhere and everytime i reset my mind and really wonder what is actually electronic Music....always...

So, so, so inspiring... Submerge, Drexciya, UR ! Forever ! Detroit lives ! 🙌🔥❤️

This should be 100.000 hours long!!!!!!!

Thanks Roland ‼️‼️💥🙏☮️

Big respect to the whole team!! Thanks for being so influential over all these years. Big up from Berlin

Mad respect Mr. Banks for speaking the truth, you definitely inspired me and changed my life. No doubt. From Detroit to Iran, we love you.

Much love & respect for keeping it real!

dope mini doc wish it was longer ! love it!!!

Awesome... I still remember ordering UR records back in the day and id have to send the 2 faxes.... each fax was half of my credit card. Then like 3 months later a package of absolut gold would rock up at your door step. Thanks Bridgette and Mike! :) From Sydney, Australia.

great doc, more of these please !!!

Good job. The more info out there about our Detroit stories and electronic music, the better. One love.

BEAUTIFUL!! Shouts out to Roland for this, long live UR

THX Roland 👍, THX UR ♥

Thanks for this amazing upload, UR FOREVER!

This was such a good watch, respect to Roland for making this!

As a person forever shaped by techno I watched this with my hairs standing on end. Wonderful.

Thank you!

living legends and inspirations. excited to see this.

An institution and an inspiration for years and years to come, much respect.

Thank you Mike for being you. For your music and for being a guide to myself and many others for so many years. Always underground. Always UR.

God bless these people (and countless others) who cemented in sound our music and influenced us almost infinitely, mostly without compensation or their due thanks!

I got my hands on couple of UR records in late 90's in Eastern Europe and that music changed my life. It changed how I see and hear everything and for that You have my admiration and respect. Thanks

Really wonderful report respect for all the people who contribute to the city of Detroit city engraved in my heart my soul ❤️

I live in the Detroit metro area. Been to ALL the warehouses in the city EVERY weekend in the 90’s. I witnessed the evolution and DE-evolution of the underground scene. Loved every minute

Sensational Doco...much love and respect-Enclave(Melbourne Australia)

This is so beautiful❤️ I need to visit Detroit and Chicago and pay my respects to the greats that started it all, so much knowledge and history behind the music we hear today!

AMAZING!!!

I miss the old Detroit... telepathic.love from the Kooky Scientist

Inspiring,great talents from Detroit Techno💚..not forgetting those Machines from Japan (Roland 💚) many thanks for this mini insights of love for the music & their love for the community.! As many have mentioned you did indeed changed our lives around the globe with your futuristic music ! Thank you.. UR ! Bless! 🌞

Can't wait! Much love to UR and Mike!

Really looking forward to this.Mike Banks and the Underground Resistance collective are a inspiration on so many levels. Underground Techno Soul untouched by the hidden hand

looking forward to this one. i always had much love for detroit!

never been prouder to be a techno producer in detroit

Thanks Roland TR 909

Keep up the amazing work, really nice. Congratulations

You shape my life and you still do. Mike is the big brother I've always wanted to have and every word from him is perfect. Thanks to have done what you did and what you will continue to do for Detroit and the rest of the world. Peace from Planet Rome❤🎧

Really nice documentary! More please :)

good job Roland. Please send all the synths to Detroit!

Might have start watching this every morning.

Music that made me look further ❤

Growing up in Detroit in the early 80s and personally knowing some of the creators like Juan, Mike, Vernon E., Bruce Bailey, Kelly H and others was amazing. Seeing the growth of Detroit’s Techno from basement parties to college gigs at Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, and Michigan State to becoming a worldwide experience makes me proud to be from Detroit. Thank you for sharing this content.

This is fantastic!!

Grew up in Detroit. Still live here. I'm not as involved in the scene as I used to be in the 90's but I always have love for what we did and what continues today. Lost a lot of good people over the years, but Detroit is still strong with Techno.

Thanks Roland, it would have been so good to see a longer video of this Detroit techno story... I'm listening my The Final Frontier vinyl again and it has such a soul... Detroit forever in our hearts

UR 003 in background - one of the most important tunes for my life since high school times.

That was awesome! 💯

Nice documentary! Thank you

With deep respect.

Yes!

Goosebumps when ever I hear Galaxy 2 Galaxy.....

Love and Respect to Metroplex, KMS, Transmat, UR and all Detroit Artists/DJs. I thought that Detroit had a decline in jobs in the early Eighties. My neighborhood in Chicago was based off the steel industry and when automotive production in Detroit slowed down that hurt my neighborhood too. Aside from Detroit Techno being great music and a futurist statement maybe our rough early Eighties resonate with each other's souls. Congratulations Mad Mike on being documented. Dreaming of future success for all. Peace! .

I've always felt lucky to have grown up near Detroit and to have stumbled on the local techno scene in 1991.

Beautiful ❤

I've loved electronic music since I was about 12, which would have been in 1983, loved electro which was my first real passion musically. I guess it was around that time that I first heard 'clear', amazing. I progressed into house and techno around 87, first heard 'strings' on the dancefloor at Spectrum at Heaven, London. Man, that was special, the place went so wild they played it twice. Never got to check out Detroit, though once on a flight to LA I had a choice of stopover location, so I chose Detroit just to say I'd been there, sat in the airport for about 6 hours, but I can now say I've been there, though one day would love to go to DEMF. Love UR.

so proud to be a detroit native still living here

awesome! love from a fan in Hokkaido Japan

I hope to check out the museum... havent been to detroit yet. Live in the UP rocking my roland gear making techno. Incredible work and inspiring to see

That was an excellent watch. Would love to visit one day.....oh and the soundtrack was pretty amazing too ✌️

This is fantastic

I'm really looking forward to it! Can't wait!

Awesome,,, the First and Final Frontier!

Nice. Still have my UR cd from back in 91-92 here in Australia.

Much respect for the Detroit music scene. Everyday of my life is a source of inspiration! I’M UR

Amazing top vibes

Excellent 👏

great work all around!

Respect!

Wow they got the ogs and the contemporaries. Hats off to who ever had part in putting this together!