Cybotron

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This article is about the Detroit electro group. For the australian experimental group, see Cybotron (Australia).

Clear (1990)

Cybotron was the techno group formed in 1980 by Juan Atkins and Richard "3070" Davis in Detroit, Michigan. Singles such as the groundbreaking single "Clear" and their debut single "Alleys of Your Mind", as well as "Cosmic Cars" and "R-9" married a funk-feel to explorations of Detroit's experimental electronic music landscape.

The group was signed to the Berkeley-based Fantasy label and released their debut album "Enter" in 1983. Cybotron were inspired by European synthesizer pioneers Kraftwerk, English electropop, and literary influences such as Alvin Toffler's book entitled "Future Shock". Soon after the release of the album in 1985, Atkins left the group due to artistic differences (to many fans of Detroit techno, Cybotron ended its run when Atkins left). Davis wanted the group to pursue a musical direction closer to rock, while Atkins wanted to continue in the funky electro-style vein of "Clear." After the breakup, Davis carried on and released several records as Cybotron, the last in 1995. Atkins continued his musical career, releasing records under the names of Model 500, Vision and Infiniti, as well as under his own name and as part of the group 3MB with the single, "Jazz Is The Teacher".

The song "Clear" was sampled on many previous and current songs, including Missy Elliot's 2005 hit single, "Lose Control" and Poison Clan's early '90s single, "Shake Whatcha Mama Gave Ya".

There was also member Jon 5, who never seems to be given any credit. Jon played guitar and also helped write tracks for the albums "Enter" and "Clear".