Francis Inferno Orchestra is a modern day disciple of house and techno music. Tomorrow he's playing alongside someone who helped write the gospel of techno music, John Collins. Mr Collins is a legend of the Detroit scene and a member of the influential Underground Resistance (UR). Ahead of the show they had a conversation. Yes Francis Inferno Orchestra had some questions, and certainly John Collins had some answers. We were listening.THUMP: How did you become involved with Mike Banks and Submerge?
John Collins: Actually, Mike Banks was aware of me from being a DJ in Detroit. I first met Mike in 1987. Jeff Mills and I lived in the same apartment building and introduced us. In 1992 I founded the Detroit Regional Music Conference. Most Detroit techno and house music labels became involved with the Conference. Mike and I and became friends. Around that same time, I worked at a club The Warehouse and a radio station that broadcast live from the club. Mike and other Detroit DJs and producers such as K. Hand, Kevin Saunderson and John Penn would bring me label test pressings hoping that I would program their music on the air. Which of course, I did.Our friendship and business relationship progressed and I eventually became booking agent for UR, Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, Aux 88, DJ Assualt, Blake Baxter, Terrance Parker Dj Assault and many more. All of this while still and still DJing. I officially joined UR in 2003 as DJ and Producer.Something I have noticed or have learned from meeting different artists from Detroit, is that each individual has and/or had a unique story or job that not many people would know about. For example some have been involved in ghost writing or session musicians for pop stars. I've heard you have a certain interest in science, can you tell us more about this?
Right. To be perfectly honest, being a DJ was never a career goal for me, although I came from a musical family, play flute, trumpet and coronet. I was also a science fanatic. In high school Cass Tech, my curriculum was chem bio (chemical biological). I majored in Biology at Wilberforce University located Wilberforce, Ohio. I've worked in Oncology, Endocrinology, Zoology and Epidemiology. Because of my love of music, I eventually became a DJ full-time.The world has seen the new wave of Detroit based artists like Kyle Hall and Jay Daniel flourish in the dance music scene today, are there any new artists or music projects coming out of Detroit that you are particularly excited about, something we might not know about?
We are very proud of the success of Kyle Hall and Jay Daniel. The Saunderson Brothers are equally as talented. UR has always nurtured up and coming DJs, producers and artists. Some great new projects are in the works.I've learned that UR is very involved with charity work in the local Detroit community. Could you tell us what sort of work you guys do?
UR has always been involved in community work especially with the youth of Detroit. UR has been a sponsor of the Backpack Music festival since its inception and has donated backpacks and schools supplies to young people. In addition, we've donated Reason and Ableton Live Software Licenses to Youthville, a youth resource/enrichment centre and a safe environment for kids. Mike Banks also been a baseball coach for the Detroit Public School system.We've been looking at the backpack festival and was wondering if you could share some of those experiences with us and your involvement?
I am the Artistic Director of the Backpack Music Festival. Our ten year celebration was Saturday, July 11, 2012 in Detroit. The festival is actually a fundraiser and all proceeds benefit the "Backpacking for Success Program". Our motto is "No Child Should Be without the Basics to Succeed". Festival participants donate backpacks and school supple. The family-friendly we event features a vendors, kids' activities, the Kidz Stage, DJ Stage that features some of Detroit's Hottest Techno and House DJs and a Live entertainment Stage. Artists such as Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes Terrance Parker, Kenny Dixon, Jay Daniel, Aaron Carl (RIP) and Underground Resistance and many more have all performed at the festival. This year will be a blow out!What's next for UR?
I am currently in the studio working on two new singles and a couple of remixes. My new music will continue reflect the UR sound. I am really excited.Picnic x Charades present DJ John Collins and Francis Inferno - The Imperial Hotel, Erskinville, February 21st
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John Collins: Actually, Mike Banks was aware of me from being a DJ in Detroit. I first met Mike in 1987. Jeff Mills and I lived in the same apartment building and introduced us. In 1992 I founded the Detroit Regional Music Conference. Most Detroit techno and house music labels became involved with the Conference. Mike and I and became friends. Around that same time, I worked at a club The Warehouse and a radio station that broadcast live from the club. Mike and other Detroit DJs and producers such as K. Hand, Kevin Saunderson and John Penn would bring me label test pressings hoping that I would program their music on the air. Which of course, I did.Our friendship and business relationship progressed and I eventually became booking agent for UR, Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, Aux 88, DJ Assualt, Blake Baxter, Terrance Parker Dj Assault and many more. All of this while still and still DJing. I officially joined UR in 2003 as DJ and Producer.Something I have noticed or have learned from meeting different artists from Detroit, is that each individual has and/or had a unique story or job that not many people would know about. For example some have been involved in ghost writing or session musicians for pop stars. I've heard you have a certain interest in science, can you tell us more about this?
Right. To be perfectly honest, being a DJ was never a career goal for me, although I came from a musical family, play flute, trumpet and coronet. I was also a science fanatic. In high school Cass Tech, my curriculum was chem bio (chemical biological). I majored in Biology at Wilberforce University located Wilberforce, Ohio. I've worked in Oncology, Endocrinology, Zoology and Epidemiology. Because of my love of music, I eventually became a DJ full-time.
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We are very proud of the success of Kyle Hall and Jay Daniel. The Saunderson Brothers are equally as talented. UR has always nurtured up and coming DJs, producers and artists. Some great new projects are in the works.I've learned that UR is very involved with charity work in the local Detroit community. Could you tell us what sort of work you guys do?
UR has always been involved in community work especially with the youth of Detroit. UR has been a sponsor of the Backpack Music festival since its inception and has donated backpacks and schools supplies to young people. In addition, we've donated Reason and Ableton Live Software Licenses to Youthville, a youth resource/enrichment centre and a safe environment for kids. Mike Banks also been a baseball coach for the Detroit Public School system.We've been looking at the backpack festival and was wondering if you could share some of those experiences with us and your involvement?
I am the Artistic Director of the Backpack Music Festival. Our ten year celebration was Saturday, July 11, 2012 in Detroit. The festival is actually a fundraiser and all proceeds benefit the "Backpacking for Success Program". Our motto is "No Child Should Be without the Basics to Succeed". Festival participants donate backpacks and school supple. The family-friendly we event features a vendors, kids' activities, the Kidz Stage, DJ Stage that features some of Detroit's Hottest Techno and House DJs and a Live entertainment Stage. Artists such as Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Eddie Fowlkes Terrance Parker, Kenny Dixon, Jay Daniel, Aaron Carl (RIP) and Underground Resistance and many more have all performed at the festival. This year will be a blow out!What's next for UR?
I am currently in the studio working on two new singles and a couple of remixes. My new music will continue reflect the UR sound. I am really excited.Picnic x Charades present DJ John Collins and Francis Inferno - The Imperial Hotel, Erskinville, February 21st