Watch The Trailer For 808, Drum Machine Doc Feat. Afrika Bambaataa, Damon Albarn, Questlove, Phil Collins, New Order, Rick Rubin, & More
More than 30 years ago, Afrika Bambaataa’s Arthur Baker-produced “Planet Rock” changed the music industry forever, thanks in part to its use of the revolutionary 808 drum machine. The 808 created a beat no one had ever experienced before, and eventually gave birth to genres such as EDM, synthpop, dubstep, and countless others. Now, Atlantic Films, You Know Films, and Arthur Baker have announced the 2015 release of 808, a documentary telling the story of the seminal machine. The film features commentary and contributions from artists including Pharrell Williams, Afrika Bambaataa, Questlove, Damon Albarn, David Guetta, Phil Collins, Diplo, New Order, and Rick Rubin. It also includes an interview with Roland founder Ikutaro “Mr. K” Kakehashi, who discontinued the 808 in 1983. Baker said of the film, “The making of 808 was a very personal journey for me: being able to reconnect and interview (along with Luke Bainbridge) many of my old DJ/producer friends, while helping get the godfathers of the early scene some overdue acknowledgement.” Here’s the trailer.