“It was a culture shock. America at the time was kind of racially divided – while in the UK, there were 5,000 white kids going crazy to my music”: Juan Atkins remembers the early '90s rave scene

Juan atkins.

Detroit techno legend Juan Atkins has been talking about his experiences DJing during the early rave scene and his foundational role in the music that changed the world.

In an interview with The Guardian, Atkins recalled his first time in the UK was playing an acid house party in Birmingham in the late 80s. “Birmingham was cool,” he remembers. “It reminded me of Detroit, kind of industrial – although the nightlife on a weekend was rocking. After the party, people were going to – what is it? – the fish’n’chip shop?”