Different Drummer
A new movie about how a device called the 808 changed music
A piece of equipment that goes by the name Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer may seem like something that only a tech geek could marvel at, but think again: the 808, as it is known, introduced in the early ’80s, produced a synthetic drumbeat with a special rhythmic kick or oomph that transformed the sound of music, from hip-hop to club music to pop to experimental electronic compositions. And now there is a feature documentary, available (as of December 9) from Apple Music, about the revolution contained in that machine. It’s called 808: The Movie, and it features interviews with such luminaries as Afrika Bambaataa, Pharrell Williams, Questlove, Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris of New Order, Rick Rubin, the Beastie Boys, Strafe, Diplo, Jellybean Benitez, Chris Frantz, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Lil Jon and Phil Collins. “Everyone had so much to say about the 808, and the music it was part of,” says 808 director Alexander Dunn. “I think it’s pretty amazing that this machine can create such wide-ranging discussions with so many great artists.”
