When a story you’ve been spouting for decades is increasingly being questioned and struggling under a level of scrutiny which it’s never previously received, what do you do? Do you accept that there are inconsistencies in the original story or that some things in it are just plain wrong? Or do you double down and stick to your guns?
If your name is Kevin Saunderson, it appears you choose to do none of those things. Instead, you shamelessly revise your tale in a way which isn’t remotely consistent with the previous narrative, whilst hoping nobody notices you’ve basically changed your story. Which is why we’re more than happy to offer our help with his latest Facebook post…
Previously, Juan Atkins was relatively content to take huge amounts of credit for the development of techno – even claiming to be its originator. The fact he was the mentor of Rik Davis at the time this was going on is conveniently omitted from the script, not just by Atkins, but by the other two members of the mythical Belleville Three.
But now? Detroit techno was seemingly developed by a collective of sorts, featuring “Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Eddie Fowlkes, Blake Baxter and Santonio Echols”. Which still leaves out Rik Davis and several others, but is a curious change from the previous strategy of ignoring everyone else.
It’s also complete nonsense, to put it mildly. Kevin Saunderson’s first release wasn’t until 1986 – indeed, only Juan Atkins was releasing music in 1982 and that was as part of the original Cybotron. The mere idea these six names are responsible for the development of Detroit techno in 1982 and 1983 is preposterous.
Quite what the aforementioned Juan Atkins makes of this historical revisionism remains to be seen. Perhaps he’s going to send a legal threat to his friend (or should that now be former friend?) – just like he did with Ears To The House when we started asking questions. So why is Saunderson now changing his tune – and why isn’t anyone falling for it?
A source in Detroit who knows all of the men named above told us that “They won’t admit it, but it’s because of the fallout from God Said Give ‘Em Drum Machines and because of coverage online from sites like yours. It’s like that episode of The Simpsons where Homer says they can dig their way out of a hole. It’s kind of embarrassing.”.
That would be this clip…
Dig up, Kevin…
