Linn LM-1

The Linn LM-1 Drum Computer was a drum machine released by Linn Electronics in 1980. It was the first drum machine to include sampled drum sounds stored in memory chips, the technology of which was still in development at the time. And also offered full programmability. Drum sounds stored includes: kick, snare, claps, hi-hat, tom-toms, rimshot, cabassa etc. It was used by the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Heaven 17, Human League, Steve Winwood, Michael Jackson and many more.

Both Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford took advantage of the new drum machine. So did Peter Gabriel. The Linn also appears on Steve Hackett's Cured (1981) and Highly Strung (1983) albums, programmed by keyboard player Nick Magnus.

'Note: The Linn LM-1 is sometimes erroneously referred to as the "LinnDrum" or the "Linn Drum", which confuses it with its successor which bears that particular name. Both drum machines are easily distinguishable by their different sounds and character (such as the LinnDrum (LM-2) having an improved rhythm clock). It is unclear how the widespread use of the reference "Linn Drum" evolved, but is thought to have been a shorthand for its full name the "Linn LM-1 Drum Computer".'

Mike Rutherford's Linn LM-1
As per Phil in a promotional interview for Abacab, Mike received his new Linn LM-1 drum computer in 1981 along with Tony Banks. The Linn LM-1 appears on some tracks on Mike's album Acting Very Strange from 1982, programmed by Pete Phillips according to album credits.

On the Genesis album, Mike Rutherford programmed the drum beat for "Mama" using the Linn. The LM-1 was fed through a Fender amp (or Yamaha G100) with heavy distortion - this was mixed with the direct signal from the Linn to give the sound some character. Linn percussion can be heard on "Taking It All Too Hard".

Mike's Linn LM-1 was sold in 2001 with other Genesis gear from the farm.

Tony Banks' Linn LM-1
As per Phil in a promotional interview for Abacab, Tony Banks received his then-new Linn LM-1 drum computer in 1981, along with Mike Rutherford.

On the Genesis album, Tony Banks had brought over his Linn LM-1 for triggering synths (pre-MIDI). For "Mama", Mike's Linn was probably connected to Tony's Linn, which he used to trigger the ARP Quadra's pulses using a cowbell which isn't heard in the mix. He previously used this triggering technique on The Fugitive. While the Linn was pivotal to the writing stage (replacing the Roland CR-78 CompuRhythm), only very few Linn parts were kept on the record. It appears on "Thirty Three's", for example.

Tony Banks' Linn LM-1 was sold off in 2001 with other gear from The Farm.

Tony Banks quotes on the Linn LM-1
"'I've got an eight track system set up at home, the Brenell, with all the keyboards set up and the Linn [LM-1] drum machine, which means that I can just pop in and play over a few ideas whenever I like. Everything is triggered through the Linn so that I can control the rhythmic element from a musical direction - the ideas for the reggae side (especially on 'Fugitive') came from that, using the double beat as a basis for the chord patterns. But I wouldn't like to use the pulses too much - you end up with a sound that is all a bit 'spot on' and electronic. There seems to be little emotion in there. I know a lot of young bands are using microcomposers in this way, but you get to the point where even non-electronic things start to sound electronic. (Electronics & Music Maker, November 1983)"

Peter Gabriel's Linn LM-1
Peter Gabriel was known for his use of the Linn LM-1 drum machine to program drum loops as a rhythmic foundation for much on the Security album. He dumped the presets on the drum machine at first, to look for new rhythms as a starting point for a song, as part of his "rhythm-first" approach to songwriting. With the Linn especially, it gave Peter more control over the rhythm parts, him being a frustrated drummer. Previously, he had a PAiA Programmable Drum Set, which was a precursor to the Linn in terms of programmability and did not have the sampled drums technology yet. As heard on the final record of Security, the songs are often a mix of Linn LM-1 drum patterns and real drums from Jerry Marotta, as opposed to the Lin replacing the drummer or the drummer replacing the drum machine.

In footage from the South Bank Show TV Special, Peter Gabriel's LM-1 says "Speed" rather than "Tempo", meaning it's a very early Linn. He probably had access to it via Syco Systems company, which was the UK distributor of the Fairlight CMI sampling synthesizer of which Peter Gabriel was an advocate. He went on to purchase the LinnDrum and later the Linn 9000.

Later appearances of the Linn LM-1 are "Floating Dogs" on the Birdy soundtrack, for some of the percussion sounds. And "Don't Give Up" on the So album, with the suitably mellow drum machine sounds in the intro which bear a strong characteristic of the LM-1.