Detroit music legend John “Jammin” Collins dies

John “Jammin” Collins, a pioneering DJ and key figure in Detroit techno, has passed away. Collins helped shape the city’s underground electronic scene for more than three decades, working with influential collectives such as Underground Resistance and Submerge and serving as the tour guide for Detroit’s techno museum exhibit, Exhibit 3000.

He began his career in the early 1980s at clubs like Cheeks, the Warehouse and the Parabox, later hosting mix shows on WJLB and WDRQ and founding the Moshi booking agency and the Detroit Regional Music Conference. As a producer he released tracks such as “All We Need,” and he continued to represent Detroit’s house and techno internationally. Fellow artists and community members mourned his loss, describing him as an "ambassador for Detroit" and a relentless soldier of the underground.

Collins’ impact on Detroit’s music culture, nightlife and the global techno community is remembered through tributes from Underground Resistance, Detroit Techno Militia and others who highlighted his mentorship, community work and lasting influence on the city’s sound.