Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash gets Roadmender jumping

Grandmaster Flash headlined the Roadmender in Northampton on Saturday night.
Grandmaster Flash at the Roadmender. Picture: David JacksonGrandmaster Flash at the Roadmender. Picture: David Jackson
Grandmaster Flash at the Roadmender. Picture: David Jackson

The legendary DJ played a set which featured a range of 70s disco, soul, hip-hop and other classics to a packed main room.

Considered by many as one of the pioneers of hip-hop, Grandmaster Flash - AKA Joseph Saddler grew up in the Bronx in New York.

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Experimenting with his father’s vinyl since he was a toddler, Saddler’s knowledge of audio equipment led him to an idea that would revolutionise the way he and thousands of others would go onto play music.

The main room was packed for the show. Picture: David JacksonThe main room was packed for the show. Picture: David Jackson
The main room was packed for the show. Picture: David Jackson

While other DJs would simply let records play, he was the first to physically manipulate them backwards and forwards and invented the Quick Mix Theory, which included techniques such as the double-back, back-door, back-spin and phasing.

His group, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five went platinum with their single The Message with The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel continuing to expand his sound to a larger audience.

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