Linn Electronics LinnDrum

The LinnDrum (a.k.a. LM-2) is a drum machine released by Linn Electronics and manufactured between 1982 and 1985. It was one of the first sample-based drum machines, succeeding the Linn LM-1, with 8-bit samples of real drums - kick, snare, toms, cymbals, hi-hat, cabassa, congas, percussion and so on. It was one of the best known drum machines of the 1980s, known for its flexibility and sound.

Sting had a LinnDrum as one of his writing/demoing tools around the time of Dream Of The Blue Turtles in 1985 alongside the Synclavier. For convenience, he'd select a stock pattern from the Linn or he'd program it himself, instead of using the Synclavier's drum sounds for basic rhythm tracks.

Early iterations of "We Work The Black Seam" relied heavily on the Linn drum machine, presumably for a mechanical-type feel to reflect the lyrical themes present. The song was performed this way during the February and May 1985 concerts, as audience & soundboard recordings reveal. During the 25 February performance (his first as a solo artist), Sting told the audience he had to use the drum machine as it was the only way he could do the song. For concerts from August 1985 onwards, however, the LinnDrum beat was no longer needed and all performances used live drums. This is heard on the Bring On The Night live LP.

The Linn was used for guide shakers on "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You".