Kanye West’s Beloved Drum Machine Maker Returns to Stock Market
- Roland has ‘turned things around’ after Taiyo buyout: analyst
- Demand from musicians stuck at home has cushioned virus impact
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While electronic hardware typically lingers in the shadows of the pop music world, Roland Corp.’s TR-808 Rhythm Composer has achieved enduring, household-name status.
The drum machine flopped commercially after its early 1980s release but has altered the musical landscape for decades with its booming bass. It’s gone from being name-checked by the Beastie Boys to having its sound used by modern artists like Billie Eilish. Kanye West even paid homage with his groundbreaking album “808s & Heartbreak.”