Detroit Techno Tourist: The Music Institute

Detroit Techno Tourist: The Music Institute

22 May, 2008 | 1.46PM

• Written by: lizwarner
• Filed under: Music News: movement 2008, music institute

Ask any one of the founders and subsequent second-wave techno visionaries and they’ll all point to the same place as part of essential history: The Music Institute.

Carl Craig, still one of Detroit’s key music ambassadors has described it as “the Paradise Garage and Ron Hardy’s club all in one, in Detroit.”

Before sadly but accurately adding, “And kids don’t have that these days.”

It was this short-lived non-alcohol (!) venue that directly contributed to the growth of a culture still underground yet gaining prominence in stature — reminiscent only of the early 1980s dance parties that mixed varied social groups, backgrounds and ethnicities better than any political organization could ever hope for.

Opening in 1988, it was Derrick May who was the most famous of the Music Institute DJs, often playing sets throughout the night.

It was May, in fact, who closed things out just one year later in 1989 at the location on a somber yet angelic note by combining the sound of clock tower bells with his Rhythm is Rhythm classic ‘Strings of Life’ (check out a photo of the original master tape from 1987 in the main image).

Just why The Music Institute couldn’t last was due to a number of factors, probably first and foremost that it was ahead of its time.

But if it had never existed, it’s quite possible that the shape of Detroit techno would not be the same today.

Location: 1315 Broadway near Gratiot (the current location of music venue Bert’s on Broadway)

Supplies: Your feet and a camera

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