Hudson Mohawke and more pay tribute to Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi, dead at 87

Erol Alkan, The Bug and Matthew Herbert have also responded to the Godfather of MIDI’s death.

Artists including Soft Cell’s Mark Almond and Throbbing Gristle’s Chris Carter have paid tribute to Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi – the brains behind the TR-808 and TB-303 –whose death at the aged of 87 was announced yesterday (April 1).

Many musicians working in the electronic music sphere took to social media to express their gratitude for Kakehashi’s game-changing inventions. See a selection below.

RIP Ikutaro Kakehashi of Roland. The man responsible for the 101, 303, 808, 909 and many other beloved machines we use to make our music.

— erol alkan (@erolalkan) April 1, 2017

A great loss to human culture, robot music and spiritual machines. Godspeed Mr. Kakehashi and thank you. https://t.co/cRa5HUVv1p

— The Black Madonna (@blackmadonnachi) April 1, 2017

Rest in Peace Ikutaro Kakehashi, Founder of Roland, and indelible inspiration on my ACID RAGGA explorations. Thank you for synth heaven.

— The Bug(official) (@thebugzoo) April 1, 2017

https://twitter.com/MarcAlmond/status/848434062113087488

RIP Ikutaro Kakehashi. like many others, am in his debt. the thing that started me in electronic music was a roland alpha juno 2

— matthew herbert (@matthewherbert) April 1, 2017

Imagine there'd never bn a 808 909 101 303 etc. Wud all b stuck listening to guitars. (How many can I offend) RIP Roland's Ikutaro Kakehashi

— Hudson Mohawke (@HudMo) April 1, 2017

R.I.P Ikutaro Kakehashi founder of Roland. https://t.co/4g2UkCK4gO…@ThrobbingGrstle could have sounded quite different without Roland pic.twitter.com/nIUcx9vKKN

— Chris Carter (@chris_carter_) April 2, 2017

A Japanese man invented the 808. He died yesterday pay your respects.

— Vince Staples (@vincestaples) April 2, 2017

https://twitter.com/RP_BOO_/status/848536926827237376

Didn't know Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi, but his company's 303, 808, 909, JV & JP series have shaped my sounds greatly. #THANKYOU #RIP

— Darude (@Darudevil) April 2, 2017

Rest in bass my friend Ikutaro Kakehashi! Another example of not judging a book by its cover! This man invented the fuggin 808 open ur minds pic.twitter.com/ob7L7VMfWM

— G L K (@GASLAMPKILLER) April 2, 2017

Listen to FACT-curated playlists highlighting Roland’s TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909.

Tags: Ikutaro Kakehashi