Dr. Motte Celebrates 40 Years at the Core of Berlin Techno
- Undrtone Blog
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Few figures embody Berlin techno like Dr. Motte. This year marks 40 years since Matthias Roeingh first stepped behind the decks, a milestone that underlines just how much he has given to the culture.
Back in 1985, Motte was playing in the shadow of the Wall, shaping sounds in basements and abandoned spaces that became the pulse of West Berlin. Four years later, he and a small group of allies launched the Love Parade on Kurfürstendamm, a moment that would transform the city’s identity and cement techno as a global language of freedom.
In 2025, he continues to look forward. His single ‘Our Future Is Now’ with Marc van Linden dropped in June, soundtracking the return of the Rave The Planet Parade in July. The event drew huge crowds onto Berlin’s streets once again, carrying the same message of solidarity and peace that drove the Love Parade more than three decades ago.
Motte’s influence has never been about nostalgia. While many veterans lean on their history, he remains an active voice in the present, championing new artists, digging on Bandcamp, and delivering sets that keep Berlin’s spirit alive at major festivals including Mayday, Fusion and Nature One.
The wider world has started to catch up. In 2024, UNESCO officially recognised Berlin techno as an item of intangible cultural heritage, validating what dancers and DJs already knew. Motte’s ongoing work with Rave The Planet was central to that recognition, preserving the city’s legacy while pushing for its future.
Four decades on, Dr. Motte stands as proof that Berlin techno is more than music. It is a culture, a community, and a call for reinvention that still resonates worldwide.
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