| Mike Dred | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michael C. Cullen |
| Also known as | The Kosmik Kommando Universal Indicator Chimera Machine Codes Space Avenger DJ Judge Dred |
| Born | 1967 |
| Origin | Lowestoft, UK |
| Genres | Acid |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Rephlex Records, R&S Records |
| Associated acts | Universal Indicator |
| Notable instruments | |
| Roland TB-303 | |
Mike Dred is the general pseudonym of experimental techno DJ, producer, and sound engineer Michael C. Cullen, b. 1967, of Lowestoft, UK. He has been a leading DJ since 1983, a producer since 1988, a sound designer since 1992, and is considered an important figure in the development of acid techno and innovative usage of the Roland TB-303, associating him with fellow artists Tom Middleton, Aphex Twin, and Matthew Herbert.
He is also known as The Kosmik Kommando, Universal Indicator, Chimera, Machine Codes, Space Avenger, and DJ Judge Dred. He was the first artist other than Richard D. James to release a project on Rephlex. His clear vinyl "Kosmik Kommando EP" was the 3rd release and was given a catalogue number CAT007 on account of his interest in James Bond. In addition, the Universal Indicator records released on Rephlex are amongst the most collectible recordings in the history of techno music. Mike Dred established the Machine Codes record label in 1993 and also recorded for R&S Records and R&S Records offshoot Diatomyc. He has also collaborated extensively with the electro-acoustic artist Peter Green (not to be confused with his namesake, the blues-rock guitarist Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac fame) and has produced a one-off collaboration with techno producer Dr. Fernando.
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Beyond the techno scene, Mike Dred received an MSc with Distinction in Sound Design from the University of Edinburgh in 2005. Mike Dred was the first DJ producer to get sponsored by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the National Lottery. His works are often used for educational purposes and a selection is part of the prestigious Music Performance Research Centre (MPRC) collection at the Barbican Centre, London. UK.[1] The publication ' The Rough Guide to Techno', described Mike as “The Jimi Hendrix of the 303” and “Full on Acid Genius”.
As well as presenting new developments in electronic and computer music, Mike has also given lectures on Sound Design and Synthesis. Mike is the inspiration behind Electroacoustic Music being represented on a more popular level. His works with Peter Green dating from 1995 educated & inspired the likes of Richard D. James a.k.a. Aphex Twin to discover the genre culminating in the signing of LPs by Robert Normandeau, Senior Lecturer in Acoustics and Electroacoustics at the Universite de Montreal, Canada and experimentalist Pierre Bastien from France. This helped further establish Rephlex Records as the premier UK electronic label. Mike Dred and Peter Green’s early sonic experiments prompted Dave Robinson, then Editor of Future Music (November 1995, Issue 37), to write: "We boldly call ourselves Future Music. But how often do we bring you something so forward-looking, yet at the same time so contemporary that it might - just might set the agenda for the next post-techno, post-analogue phase?"
Mike Dred is on the * SPNM composer short list for 2005 to 2008 using his given name Michael Cullen.