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 Profile:
What happens when you take an accomplished dancer who's
musically trained and a Mobile street dj classically trained
and unleash them in a studio? Well, if the conditions are
right, you might get Aux 88. But not overnight...
In 1985 accompanied by Anthony Horton, Tucker and Hamilton
formed RX-7. RX-7 was a live band that performed inspired
cover versions of Cybotron and Model 500 tracks. It wasn't
so much that they were trying to break new ground by playing
live - they knew no other way. MIDI and sequencers were
virtually unheard of; especially to two east side Detroit
boys who simply had a love for the music. Tucker, an avid
sci-fi fan started to buy older models of analog gear and
pursue sending out demo tapes to various local Detroit
Techno labels. He received a response from Metroplex
Records; Juan Atkins label, and signed as Frequency. Under
this alias, Tucker recorded such tracks as, " Television,
Frequency Express, and New Jack House.
In September of 1992, while working on new tracks for
Metroplex Records, Tucker received a visit from Tommy
Hamilton. They brought their experiences together to form
AUX-88, and found that their music talents had matured since
the early 1980's. Using their Detroit Techno background, the
two quickly accumulated a mass of new tracks together, as
well as individually.
The reunification of Tom Tom and Tucker found that their
time apart had done them both good. With a renewed sense of
purpose, they put together a fusion of styles and added
Anthony Horton and vocalist Andrea Gilmore to become...Sight
Beyond Sight. SBS was soon signed to 430 West Records. While
SBS enjoyed a degree of success, Tom Tom and Tucker made the
decision to continue with the bass heavy techno they had
began with some time earlier. 1993 saw this return to their
roots as the birth of Aux 88.
As Aux took off, SBS was put on hold and the other members
went to work on individual projects. Then, as if to
acknowledge the move, Aux 88 released "My A.U.X. Mind" which
went on to become a Detroit classic. Putting the icing on
the cake, Aux 88 joined up with Mad Mike Banks to perform
with Juan Atkins as Model 500 on the 10th anniversary of his
label, Metroplex. However, the evolution of Aux 88 was not
over.
In 1995, desiring to do more experimental tracks, Tucker
went solo and created his own label called Puzzlebox
inspired by close friend Anthony Shakir. Tom didn't miss a
beat. Reuniting with BJ (Posatronix) former dancer, Aux 88
went on to release the full length CD, "Man or Machine."
Touring both the US and Europe, and with video airplay on
MTV's AMP, Aux 88 began the process of turning on the planet
on to their techno/bass/dance fusion.
Tom met up with the young DJ Di'jital. Already established
in the Detroit underground scene, Di'jital joined the Aux 88
live show. As Aux played live, Di'jital mixed an array of
music. The effect was that of an electrified old school hip
hop show. It isn't accidental. Aux 88 is one of the few who
remember that techno has its roots in the hip-hop of
pioneers like Afrika Bambaataa, Planet Patrol and Newcleus.
If anyone mistakes their live show as a scaled down
electronic hip hop oriented Parliament show, well, you're
not too far off the mark. After the success of "Man or
Machine," BJ left to explore other musical realms while Tom
Tom went on to record "Xeo-Genetic," the last Aux offering
on Direct Beat records. The Album received two Detroit Music
awards for Best Artist and Best Recording.
2002 saw what seemed to be a return of Aux 88 as the Auxmen
to close out the 2002 Detroit Electronic Music Festival.
Tucker was asked to close out the festival on the main stage
with a history of techno. Seeing and knowing that the only
group to pull it off was Aux88, Tucker elected to change the
name to the Auxmen and perform with all members of Aux88.
Unfortunately Tom was not available to perform, but instead
sparked some releases that fueled the now current return of
Aux88 to the electro scene exclusively on Puzzlebox Records. |
