Words by George Gray
Few individuals in the UK have a knowledge of Dancehall, Reggae and Soundclash culture as encyclopaedic as David ‘Jam’ Rodigan. The legendary DJ, Selector and Radio Icon have lit up some of the biggest sound systems out there for over 40 years. Fewer words can summarise just how illustrious of a career he has cultivated. From a staple on UK airwaves to winning some of the biggest sound-system clashes across the world as well as an induction into the Sony Radio Hall of Fame, Rodigan has been and undoubtedly still is a musical trailblazer.
His journey may have begun learning to mix whilst still a school-boy in the early sixties, but it was at Boomtown, a modern mecca for sound-system culture where we had the pleasure of having an exclusive chat with Rodigan. We met up moments before his hotly anticipated clash with fellow disciples of the Jamaican sound-system culture Mungo’s Hi-Fi, and Rodigan’s deep-set ardour for the music was instantly clear.
When asked about his influences Rodigan was quick to share with us just how much the sounds of the early 60s meant to him growing up, recounting “without doubt The Rolling Stones and The Kinks” as his gateway into the world of music. However, he went on to reveal that it was at age 16 when he first discovered Ska and in particular the eminent Prince Buster, whose impact would go on to shape the future of the Jamaican music scene as well as Rodigan’s career himself. Prince Buster would soon lead to Rodigan’s discovery of the Skatellites, as he witnessed firsthand “that early fusion of Ska into Rocksteady and Reggae” that ultimately solidified his “deep passion for Jamaican music”.
Rodigan went on to share that he channelled his love for Jamaican music by rigorously exploring the musical elements of Ska, Rocksteady and Reggae that would go on to form the many sub-genres of Jamaican music. “Essentially it was the 60s and Ska that turned me on, but it was Rocksteady that had me locked.” Roddigan has evidently remained locked ever since.
“Today’s gonna be really exciting” Rodigan eagerly told us, sharing his great admiration for his soundclash contenders Mungo’s Hi-Fi. “They’ve been making music for over 20 years…I’m a huge fan of them because of what they’re doing and how they do it”, Rodigan admitted. Following on he explained as a selector it was the fact that Mungo’s make, produce and play out their own music both as individuals that makes them so captivating to him, as a fan and a fellow professional. So when the idea of an exhibition clash was put to him by Mungo’s, fuelled by a joint infatuation with the origins of Jamaican clash culture, Rodigan divulged there was no way he could refuse, playfully adding to end “I could get my head knocked off out there tonight, but then again it could be a lot of fun.”
A lot of fun it certainly was as Rodigan and Mungo’s Hi-Fi produced a set for the ages that will be hard to forget for any lucky enough to witness the clash. A huge thanks to Rodigan for giving us his time and making sure to tune in and stay locked on Radio 1Xtra airwaves to catch him next.
