23 years ago in Metro Times: Robert del Valle looks into Hart Plaza's Horace E. Dodge fountain, talking with Isamu Noguchi, the fountain's architect. "I wanted to make a new fountain, a fountain which represents our times and our relationship to outer space," Noguchi says of his new fountain in Hart Plaza, or as Noguchi called it "The Spaceship," which may explain why it looks alien to most visitors. A visiting student tells del Valle, "It doesn't look like a fountain to me. My first impression was that it's something left over from a state fair agriculture exhibit." Whatever the verdict, this week Noguchi's "spaceship" will be ground zero for futuristic music, as thousands descend on Hart Plaza for the 10th incarnation of Detroit's electronic music festival: Movement. What was happening: Oingo Boingo at the Royal Oak Music Theatre, Dark Carnival featuring Ron Asheton and Bootsey X at Paychecks, and Molly Hatchet at the Ritz.
15 years ago in Metro Times: Hobey Echlin tackles the history of Detroit techno, profiling such seminal Detroit electronic artists as Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Richie Hawtin, Kenny Larkin and Carl Craig. Roughly half of the aforementioned will find themselves back in Detroit for this weekend's festivities, with each taking a headlining night, Hawtin on Saturday with Plastikman, Saunderson on Sunday with Inner City, and Atkins on Monday with Model500. What was happening: Radiohead at Clutch Cargo's, blues legend Muddy Waters and the Fat Possum Mississippi Juke Joint Caravan at the Majestic.
10 years ago in Metro Times: The first Detroit Electronic Music Festival spreads its wings at Hart Plaza. DJ Carl Craig, the festival's inaugural creative director, talks with MT's Liz Copeland about his hopes for the festival. Fast-forward 10 years and Craig has returned as the creative director of the fest, after a falling out with the former director after the first two festivals. Craig attempts to return the festival to its roots as the festivities kick off this Friday night. What was happening: In addition to the first techno fest, which included hip-hop acts Mos Def, the Roots and Slum Village, Motörhead was at Clutch Cargo's, Toots & the Maytals played the Majestic, and KISS was in the midst of a "farewell tour," doing two nights at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
Special thanks to editorial intern Pietro Truba for his assistance compiling this column.
