Who is the best techno act of all time?

Techno was forged in Detroit and refined in Berlin — a relentless, hypnotic form of electronic music built by visionaries who valued the machine as an instrument of liberation. This ranking spans the genre's founding fathers from the Motor City to Europe's underground club legends. Vote for the act who you believe best embodies the spirit and power of techno.

1. 1
   Derrick May

   Detroit techno pioneer, creator of "Strings of Life"
2. 2
   Juan Atkins

   Detroit techno originator, founder of Model 500 and considered a father of techno
3. 3
   Kevin Saunderson

   Detroit techno pioneer and member of Inner City, known for "Big Fun"
4. 4
   Jeff Mills

   Detroit DJ and producer known for his lightning-fast three-deck mixing
5. 5
   Richie Hawtin

   Canadian-British DJ known as Plastikman, pioneer of minimal techno
6. 6
   Underground Resistance

   Detroit techno collective known for militant, political electronic music
7. 7
   Carl Craig

   Detroit producer known for sophisticated, melodic techno and techno-soul
8. 8
   Orbital

   British electronic duo known for their headlamp glasses and festival performances
9. 9
   Underworld

   British electronic group known for "Born Slippy" and techno-influenced sound
10. 10
    Laurent Garnier

    French DJ known as one of Europe's most influential techno DJs
11. 11
    Robert Hood

    Detroit producer known for stripped-down minimal techno
12. 12
    Ben Klock

    Berlin techno DJ known for his dark, hypnotic Berghain sets
13. 13
    Chris Liebing

    German techno DJ known for hard techno and industrial sounds
14. 14
    Surgeon

    British techno DJ from Birmingham known for raw, industrial techno
15. 15
    Ken Ishii

    Japanese techno producer known for bridging Detroit techno and European techno