808 State

Manchester’s techno pioneers, 808 State, emerged in 1988 when Martin Price, owner of the city’s Eastern Bloc underground record store, joined forces with Graham Massey. Their debut album, Newbuild, was a collaboration with fellow Mancunian Gerald Simpson. The trio mixed tracks for local artists and gained popularity during the Madchester explosion alongside Stone Roses and Happy Mondays. Signing to ZTT in 1990, they released the acclaimed album 808:90 and achieved success with the single "The Only Rhyme That Bites" featuring MC Tunes. With collaborations including Björk and Bernard Sumner, their music continued to evolve over the years.

In 1996, 808 State returned with the experimental album Don Solaris, incorporating acid-house and trip-hop influences. They hosted radio shows on Sunset FM & Kiss FM (Manchester) and performed at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in front of a massive audience. Despite facing challenges such as member changes and personal struggles within their journey, their innovative sound and remixes for artists like David Bowie left an indelible mark on electronic music.

Tragically, after a brief illness Andy Barker passed away on November 6th, 2021. However, Graham Massey continues to carry forward the legacy of 808 State as a duo.