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).

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808state.com

Artefacts

808 State, Toolshed, Danny And The Dressmakers, Graham Massey
video, 2005
graham massey plays the danny & the dressmakers 1st ep... as played by john peel! see more

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808 State, A Certain Ratio, Buzzcocks, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, The High, Inspiral Carpets, James, New Order, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, World of Twist, The Charlatans, Northside
Dry Bar
programme, 1990
Back in 1990 there was an auction of items donated by local bands, Factory and The Hacienda in aid of... see more

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808 State, 2 For Joy, MC Tunes, Sasha, Steve Williams, Together
flyer, 1990
Manchester takes over the White Island in the summer of 1990.

It was on this trip that 808 State were... see more

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808 State
promotional item, 2008
Back of the promotional broucher for 808States japanese rereleases..all in deluxe japanese mini album... see more

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808 State
promotional item, 2008
Inside broucher for 808 states japanese rereleases see more

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808 State
promotional item, 2008
Broucher for Japanese rereleases of 808 States ZTT collection see more

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808 State, M C Tunes
photograph, 1990
808State and MC Tunes performing at Norwich Waterfront see more

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808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, Graham Massey
photograph, 1988
808State live Radio session at the BBC (oxpford rd) see more

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808 State
photograph, 1993
some of the 808 synths @studio 101 1993.
em&m Spectrum
Roland Jupiter4
Roland jx8p
Oberhiem 4... see more

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808 State
photograph, 1993
808 states studio 101 some time in 93-still using the Atari computer-Tanoy red speakers see more

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808 State, Dave Rofe
photograph, 1993
DJ Dave Rofe on stage at Birmingham NEC see more

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808 State, Massonix, Autechre, Rob Hall, Graham Massey
photograph, 2002
massonix @ The Warp Light hose Party-Docklands London.
quite a good Manchester contingent down for this... see more

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808 State
photograph, 2008
808State- playing Creamfields in Buenos aires -Argentina
Back in the day 808 Used to produce a band... see more

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808 State
poster, 2008
Advert for 808States remasters released sept 2008 by ZTT records, Each album now contains an extra... see more

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808 State
flyer, 1996
Flyer for an 808 State gig in Finland see more

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