808 State

Submitted by Robin Blackburn 808 State emerged from the late 1980s Manchester dance scene, going on to enjoy considerable chart success in the early 90s. Initially, Graham Massey (from Biting Tongues) and Gerald Simpson joined up with Martin Price - owner of Manchester’s Eastern Bloc record shop - to make hip-hop under the name Hit Squad Manchester. However, after a name change to 808 State and a switch to an acid house sound they released the album ‘Newbuild’ on Price’s label, Creed, in 1988. Simpson left shortly afterwards to record under the name A Guy Called Gerald, having a hit with ‘Voodoo Ray’ before moving into drum ‘n’ bass territory. Massey and Price brought in two local DJs, Andrew Barker and Darren Partington (known as the Spinmasters), before releasing one of their best known tunes, ‘Pacific’. The album ‘Ninety’ followed, before a collaboration with local rapper MC Tunes. The band returned with ‘Ex:el’ in 1991, an album that featured vocals from Bjork and New Order’s Bernard Sumner. Price left in 1992, since when the band have continued to release new music, as well as doing production and re-mix work. 1996’s ‘Don Solaris’ saw a shift away from dance music to a more atmospheric, experimental sound. All three band members also release their own music under various aliases: Massonix, Toolshed (Massey), Atlas, Benaco (Barker), and Jeep (Partington).