To celebrate 808 Day 2023, Roland is partnering with Roland Lifestyle and 1500 Sound Academy to auction off a one-of-one 808 BMX Bike. The 808 BMX Bike celebrates the impact of the Roland TR-808 drum machine on music over the past four plus decades. Proceeds from the auction will help fund a scholarship for an inspiring artist to attend the on-campus Music & Industry Fundamentals Program at 1500 Sound Academy in Inglewood, CA.“I believe music is a ladder for the soul to reach the highest realms and to participate in an initiative to help a student gain access to one of the best music schools in the world is an honor,” said Nathan Chandra, founder and creative director of Roland Lifestyle. “It is exciting to work with the 1500 Sound Academy and Roland to help fund the dream of music for the next generation.”
The auction for the Roland 808 BMX Bike will go live on August 8th at 12:00 AM PDT and end August 16th at 11:59 PM PDT. Proceeds from the auction will go towards a scholarship for a student through the 1500 Sound Academy in Inglewood, California. The proceeds from the winning bid will help fund a scholarship for one lucky student through the 1500 Sound Academy.
“1500 Sound Academy was founded with the goal to give back to our community,” said Larrance ‘Rance’ Dopson, GRAMMY-winning producer and co-founder of 1500 Sound Academy. “It is an honor to be a part of Roland’s iconic 808 global celebration where art, music, and culture help young artists fulfill their dreams.”
This one-of-one retro Roland 808 BMX Bike was commissioned from renowned graffiti artist and custom vintage BMX designer, DUROTHETHIRD, and is made from all original vintage parts including a 1993 Dyno Compe frame, GT power series cranks, Odyssey pedals, Dyno pretzel bars, Panaracer tires, custom wheel hubs and other classic parts and accessories.
The 808 Day 2023 BMX Bike auction can be accessed on Roland Lifestyle’s website at: www.RolandLifestyle.com.
After Roland pioneered the TR-808 Rhythm Composer in 1980, the 12,000 units became a cultural phenomenon and created foundational sounds for hip-hop and electronic music. The 808, as it came to be known by many, can be heard on hit records spanning numerous genres from artists like Phil Collins, Marvin Gaye, Run DMC, Whitney Houston and the Beastie Boys, to name a few. Today, it is still used by artists like Kanye West, Pharrell, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, and music producers all around the world.
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