The famed electronic instrument maker is celebrating its 50th anniversary today by teaming up with boutique publisher Bjooks to announce a coffee table book that tells its story. Inspire The Music: 50 years of Roland history is a 400-page tome that explores the technology, people, and culture behind the company.
The book contains several chapters that examine Roland products and their impact on certain music scenes. Roland and Bjooks say: Inspire the music explains the context and history of the Jupiter-8 Synthesizer, , and . The book covers other gear such as keytars, grooveboxes and V-Drums, as well as how the Octapad SPD-30 percussion pad became a staple of modern music in India.
In addition, Inspire the music contains dozens of interviews with artists and Roland designers. Expect the likes of Johnny Marr of The Smiths, DJ Jazzy Jeff, guitarist Nita Strauss, Sister Bliss of Faithless, Orbital, Peaches, Swizz Beatz, Jean-Michel Jarre and Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran.
came to prominence via Kickstarter and has published glossy books on topics such as guitar pedals, modular synthesis and interface design. In 2020, it teamed up with Moog for the semi-modular Mother lineup.
Inspire the music coming out this summer. The price has not yet been announced.
Roland/Bjooks
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