One of Detroit’s most talented and venerated techno mixers, DJ T-1000 has been instrumental in the Motor City scene as a label-head and producer as well as DJ. Born Alan Oldham, he spent time as a graphic-design specialist and comics illustrator while studying media at Detroit’s Wayne State University. Hired by Derrick May to illustrate the sleeves on a few Transmat releases, Oldham became interested in Detroit’s electronic scene, and gradually transformed his Fast Forward radio program on WDET from industrial and fusion into techno. During the show’s run, from 1987 to 1992, Oldham introduced thousands of area listeners to Detroit techno via productions from May, Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, Underground Resistance, and Carl Craig — as well as other techno figures like Joey Beltram, Moby, 808 State, and LFO. The show ended in 1992 when an offer to tour with Underground Resistance as the replacement DJ for Jeff Mills proved too difficult to resist. Also in 1992, he formed his own Generator label, the origin of seminal releases by Oldham projects like X-313 (Interferon, World Sonik Domination) and TXC as well as tracks by Dave Clarke and Woody McBride. In 1996, Oldham closed Generator and opened a new label, Pure Sonik Records. He also began DJing around the world, gaining a reputation as one of the best Detroit DJs among considerable competition. The DJ T-1000 mix albums Supercollider (a Generator label retrospective) and Live Sabotage: Live in Belgium displayed his mixing genius, while his debut production full-length, Progress, appeared on Tresor in 1999. Oldham also began recording another album, for Astralwerks. In addition, he has recorded for Djax-Up-Beats (also did label artwork), Matrix, and Communique Records, and has done remix work for Terry Lee Brown, Jr. and the Punisher.
His DJ name is taken from the fictional character in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.