Oct 09 2024 77 mins 2
For the tenth episode of There Is No Planet Earth Stories, I'm joined by guest Alan Oldham representing stories from Detroit.
ALAN OLDHAM has been called “Detroit’s Renaissance Man,” equally as known for his art as for his music under the pseudonym DJ T-1000.
The Detroit-born polymath, now living and working in Berlin, began his dual careers in the late 80s. First as the host of the “Fast Forward Program” on WDET FM 101.9, Detroit’s first-ever radio show devoted exclusively to electronic music, and as a young indie comic artist, writing and drawing his own original creation, “Johnny Gambit” (predating the Marvel character). Oldham was later tapped by his childhood friend, Derrick May, to illustrate the label art for the now-classic records “Nude Photo” and “Beyond The Dance” on his fledgling Transmat label, and Detroit Techno history was made.
Oldham was later hired by another childhood friend, Jeff Mills, to do freelance PR for the nascent Underground Resistance collective, writing press releases for the label. When Mills departed for a solo career, UR partner “Mad” Mike Banks tapped AO to replace him as DJ for their Australian Tour of 1992. The codename DJ T-1000 was adopted, and history was made once again.
Jumpstart to infamy.
Since then, as an international DJ, Oldham has spun all over the planet, as far afield as Tokyo, Manila, The Phillipines, and Shanghai. When he’s not behind the decks at home clubs Tresor Berlin and RSO, on the road to places like Batumi, Georgia or Trapani, Italy, or in the studio making music for labels like RSPX/Rekids, BPitch Berlin, Suspected Music, Third Ear, Elypsia Records, or his own Pure Sonik Records label, he is making new paintings and organizing art openings showcasing his iconic works.
Oldham has put on art happenings in Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Vienna, and Detroit, as well as his iconic techno artworks being on view in Paris, London and Dusseldorf, as part of its traveling “Electronic: From Kraftwerk to the Chemical Brothers” exhibit. The multi-talented Oldham has also made his artistic debut in Kobe, Japan in 2022 with the exhibit “Massive Dynamic” at the Nick Jerky Art Cafe.
In 2024, Oldham was also honored by the Mayor and Detroit City Council with a “Spirit of Detroit” Award for his musical and artistic contributions to his hometown.
And back in Berlin, as part of Love Parade founder Dr. Motte’s Rave The Planet team, Oldham helped Berlin Techno to achieve UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
Oldham’s long-awaited EP as DJ T-1000 for Rekids sub-label RSPX is out now, as well as his new “Ask Me No Questions And I’ll Tell You No Lies” EP on Pure Sonik Records, currently riding high on several Spotify techno charts including Mary Anne Hobbs’ on BBC6.
New releases to come!
