During the twilight of the 1980s, the Detroit Pistons earned their legendary “Bad Boys” moniker through a brand of physical, hard-nosed defense that transformed them into a global basketball powerhouse. This cultural phenomenon reached so far that whenever techno pioneers Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, and Derrick May arrived in foreign cities to perform, they were frequently greeted with shouts of “Bad boyyyys” before they even stepped off the tarmac.
“I’d get into a promoter’s car, and the very first thing they’d say was ‘Bad Boys,’ often before mentioning how glad they were to have us there,” Derrick May recalls.
While NBA icons like Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman were securing back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, the Belleville Three were simultaneously forging a hometown legacy of a different kind—architecting and exporting the futuristic sound of techno to the rest of the world.
Now, decades after those parallel rises to fame, the Detroit Pistons have joined forces with Saunderson, Atkins, and May for an official capsule collection that honors the intersection of basketball, music, and Detroit’s innovative spirit. Designed by acclaimed Detroit artist and DJ Sheefy McFly, the collection features a whimsical, cartoon-inspired aesthetic across t-shirts, hoodies, and headwear. The designs seamlessly blend imagery of futurism and sport with the definitive declaration: “Techno is Black Music.”
“There is a significant demographic that mistakenly believes house music was born in England or that techno belongs exclusively to Berlin,” May explains regarding the collaboration’s deeper message. “The ‘Techno is Black Music’ statement is vital. It’s a signal for people to stop and acknowledge the true originators.”
The partnership will be celebrated with a historic halftime performance by the Belleville Three on February 1, as the Pistons host the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena. The event serves as the kickoff for Black History Month. Marissa Garland, the Pistons’ Senior Director of Brand and Marketing Strategy, describes the trio as “true disruptors whose influence continues to shape global culture.”
Fans can expect a setlist composed of the foundational tracks of the genre. According to Juan Atkins, the performance will showcase “the tracks that built techno,” including the 1983 classic “Clear,” May’s seminal “Strings of Life,” and Saunderson’s global Inner City hits like “Good Life” and “Big Fun.”
While the Belleville Three typically perform solo, their rare collective appearances—such as their 2017 Coachella set—are highly anticipated. Performing for a hometown crowd of 20,000 provides a unique opportunity to reach a multi-generational audience beyond the traditional electronic music circuit.
“We are still active, creative, and making a global impact,” Saunderson says. “This collaboration is fantastic because it introduces our legacy to new generations of Pistons fans who might become our fans through this connection.”
The limited-edition capsule collection officially launches on February 1 and will be available at the Pistons 313 Shop.
“Our objective is to honor the Belleville Three’s contributions while inviting new audiences to discover their story,” adds Garland. “Ultimately, it celebrates the three pillars of what makes Detroit exceptional: music, art, and basketball.”
