Detroit Techno Pioneer Juan Atkins Dies at 64

Juan Atkins, the Detroit producer widely regarded as a founder of techno, died at 64 on Oct. 31, 2026. He was found unresponsive in a Mexico City hotel room ahead of a scheduled performance at YuYu Cine Club, taken to a hospital, and pronounced dead. Green Smith Artists, also rendered Greensmith Artists, confirmed the death on Nov. 1. Born in Detroit in 1962 and raised in Belleville, Michigan, Atkins was a member of the Belleville Three with Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, co-founded Cybotron with Richard "3070" Davis, and later recorded as Model 500 while founding Metroplex Records in 1985. Kevin Saunderson wrote on Instagram that "Juan was the originator of Techno, a true visionary who opened the door for so many of us, myself included." Derrick May posted a video asking people to "respect [Atkins'] legacy, respect the effort, respect the work, respect the accomplishments" and said Atkins "never mentioned how sick he was... for years." No official cause of death has been disclosed. The Detroit Free Press reported Eddie Fowlkes said Atkins died in his sleep and that Atkins had diabetes-related complications in recent years, without a confirmed connection to his death. Some reports mentioned a possible heart attack that management and medical sources have not confirmed.