now back to the question, does everyone still assume that those people were wrong to fear this?
Tom .. for starters I like you passion .. ' and .. I think you may have strong case .. but not a valid one unless you are willing to participate in certain behaviors that will mark you and Detriot music forever. Firstly I think everyone accepts and appreciates that Detroit music originated from Detroit. I have yet to meet a Detroit Techno lover who would suggest that Detroit is anything but the respectable home and heartland of Detroit Techno. However what you are suggesting is that Detroit has exclusive and complete rights to the label "Detroit Techno". This is possibly a commercially smart thing to do .. and has been done by the French in regard to their bubbly wine and local cheese. You are suggesting that the only people who can call their Techno "Detroit Techno" are people who are born and raised in Detroit. In a commercial sense you are probably following a clean line of thought. On a personal level I see you trying to protect the energy and truth of the early Detroit Techno. I see you also trying to protect the interests of local Detroit Artists. These are all valid things to do. However in order to protect these things you will need to essentially crush what is "Detroit Techno" into a can cover it in a series of warning labels and putting it on a special shelf for everyone to purchase. Historically I think Ritchie was probably a little cheeky to put that sticker out. But unless "Detroit Techno" took the legal steps to protect the labeling of music under that title then all you are left with is some assumed level of respect from artists outside Detroit that the label belongs only to Detroit artists. I believe if "Detroit Techno" had done this. If it had protected by legal means the labeling of music as "Detroit Techno" we would not be seeing what we are seeing today, which is a global interest and support for the music form. Tom ' I think you are totally on the correct wave length in terms of trying to gain the correct attention for Detroit Music people ... But I also think you are missing the point. The DEMF regardless of the play list is drawing a huge amount of attention from around the globe towards Detroit and the modern music form of Techno that is related to Detroit. Detroit Techno has started something, and yes everyone wants to be a part of it, but you should be proud of this and welcoming people to the City, to the festival. No other city in the world can boast to be what Detroit is .. and from where I am standing the DEMF is a celebration of what Detroit has started, and the fact that the festival is in the heart of the city is testament to what Detroit has committed to continue. While I respect you are upset, and for many good reasons. Until they start holding the DEMF in New York or Berlin I think you should work on the positives. But .. perhaps you think I have no right to comment because I don't live in Detroit. If thats the case then Detroit Techno should have never been played outside the city limits. .simon ------------------------------- www.obscure.co.nz & www.psurkit.net ------------------------------ m. +64 275 606012
