Chad Jackson

Chad Jackson is a DJ, producer and educator from Manchester, United Kingdom. He begins behind the decks in the early 1980s, when DJ mixing is still a developing club practice, and becomes one of the first British DJs to focus on that style. His live and recorded mixes on Manchester radio station Piccadilly, later Key 103, circulate widely on tape and help build his reputation across the north-west of England.

Club work and mixing

By the late 1980s, Jackson’s name draws large crowds at Manchester clubs including Legends and Wigan Pier. He later becomes resident at the Hacienda, where he helps introduce club audiences, including many who later feed into the Madchester scene, to house music and more advanced mixing techniques. While at the Hacienda, he also produces remixes for DMC DJ-only collections, working on material associated with Grace Jones, Prince, Public Enemy, Deee-Lite and Fatboy Slim.

Competition success and international profile

In 1986 he wins the UK title in the Technics/DMC World DJ Mixing competition, then takes the world title at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1987. That success leads to international touring and appearances in New York, Russia, Japan, Brazil, at the Cannes Film Festival and at an MTV Christmas Party. He is also the first European competitor in the Battle For World Supremacy at New York’s New Music Seminar.

Production work

By 1990 Jackson turns towards studio production and sets up Inner World Audio, where he works on productions and remixes for De La Soul, Beats International, Kirsty Mccoll, Bizarre Inc, Run DMC and Mantronix. His first solo release, Hear The Drummer Get Wicked, reaches number one in the UK Dance Chart and number two in the UK singles chart. His later original work includes Brake and Rock on Acetate, Nova Symphony by Feedback, which reaches number one in the Update Buzz Chart, and Drumscape tracks including Peptide Bass and Transmission.

Digital mixing, teaching and later projects

When MP3 technology emerges, Jackson works with Ministry of Sound on university workshops demonstrating computer-based mixing. He later becomes a tutor in music production, MIT and music culture at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford. He also continues to record and remix, including work under Brothers In Rhythm with Dave Seaman, the Group Therapy project with Seaman, and releases such as Closest Thing To Heaven for Tears For Fears, Energise on Fabric Live, Do You Do Voodoo on Audio Therapy and Get Your Boogie On on Rocstar.