Music
A Brief History: The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer
Learn how this drum machine went from market failure to defining the sound of electronic music
Introduced in 1980 and designed to provide backing rhythms for musicians recording demos, the Roland TR-808 or simply 808 would become the world’s most popular drum machine. Unlike more expensive, sample-based drum machines such as the Linn LM-1 Drum Computer which featured realistic drum sounds, the fully analog or hardware based nature of the 808 meant that the sounds it produced were unrealistic and thin in comparison. By 1983 it was out of production but had already become a favourite amongst musicians pushing the new sounds of house, techno, electro and eventually hip hop. The influence of the 808 has been such that even to this day it is used in popular genres from trap to pop and EDM.
Launch
The Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer is launched in 1980 featuring 16 percussive sounds: bass drum, snare, toms, conga, rimshot, claves, handclap, maraca, cowbell, cymbal, and hi-hat (open and closed). The machine is completely analog meaning that the sound is generated by electronic circuits rather than playing a sample back. A key component to the sound of the machine is the use of faulty transistors that generated noise used to create the sounds.
Discontinued
The 808 is a commercial failure and in 1983, despite some mainstream success, the 808 is discontinued thanks to improvements in transistor production which meant that the faulty transistors used by the 808 were no longer available.
First Use of an 808
According to Roland the first act to use the 808 was the Japanese electronic group Yellow Magic Orchestra who used it for a live performance of their track ‘1000 Knives’ in 1980. The track would be released in 1981 on their 4th studio album ‘BGM’ which heavily featured the drum machine.
First 808-based Pop Single
Released in 1982, Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’ was his first hit after leaving Motown Records and featured the 808 prominently with the rhythm section completely programmed on the drum machine. Gaye said that he chose the 808 because it meant he could produce music without other musicians or producers.
Hip hop, techno & the 808
With the release of ‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaata and the Soulsonic Force the 808 entered new territory. Combining elements of hip hop and dance music and featuring a sample from Kraftwerk’s ‘Trans Europe Express’, the track gave birth to electro and would shape the sound of hip hop and techno.
Contemporary use
In contemporary music the 808 is everywhere from hip hop, r&b and trap to all flavours of dance music and pop. With artists such as the Beastie Boys, Kanye West, Rihanna, Lil Wayne and Beyonce featuring its rhythms in their tracks, the machine has become the defining foundation for a wide range of contemporary music.
