The Hague · Hardcore heritage
The story of a hardcore pioneer
1977 TODAY
Discover the story↓More than a biography
Ferry Salee began as a young DJ from The Hague, playing school parties and local sports clubs. What followed was never a carefully mapped-out career, but a life in which curiosity, technique and love for the dance floor kept opening new doors.
Some DJs played the soundtrack of the nineties. DJ Gizmo helped shape it.
From soul and funk to hardcore
01
Around the age of twelve, Ferry started his own drive-in show. At school parties and local hockey and football clubs, he played disco, soul and funk. That is where his fascination with rhythm, records and the connection with a dance floor began.
02
In 1983 he started working at the Roller Skatebaan in The Hague. Hip-hop, breakdance and scratching became a central part of his style. From that point on, the turntables were no longer a hobby; they were his instrument.
03
In 1988 Ferry entered AVRO’s Mix Match using material by Jaydee. He finished fourth, behind Erick E, Michel de Hey and Jean. The experience strengthened his reputation as a technically skilled club DJ.
04
When house broke through at the end of the eighties, Ferry moved with the new energy. He played major clubs in Mallorca and Ibiza, including appearances with King Bee and Carl Cox, while developing a harder and more direct sound.
05
In the early nineties, the Dutch dance floor changed at extraordinary speed. Rave The City, Parkzicht, Thunderdome and the rise of gabber created a new culture. DJ Gizmo was not watching from the sidelines; he was at its centre.
06
The Dreamteam brought together The Prophet, Buzz Fuzz, Dano and DJ Gizmo. Each had a distinct style, but together they represented the speed, creativity and uncompromising energy of a new Dutch music culture.
07
In 1995, DJ Gizmo was named Best International DJ at the Parisienne Rave Awards in Zurich. The award confirmed what dance floors had already made clear: his influence reached far beyond the Netherlands.
08
Alongside his performances, Ferry built an extensive catalogue. Releases, collaborations and the Harder Mach series brought his sound to an even wider audience. His work evolved with the times without losing its own energy.
09
When hardstyle emerged, DJ Gizmo connected with another generation. Q-dance bookings and appearances at major events showed that his musical curiosity had never disappeared.
10
In January 2024, DJ Gizmo received the Dutch Priority Prestige Award during Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen. The award honoured his pioneering contribution of more than forty years to the Dutch hardcore and dance scene.
11
More than forty years after his first drive-in show, DJ Gizmo still does what started it all: sharing music, creating memories and bringing people together on a dance floor.
Four names. One history.
The Dreamteam brought together The Prophet, Buzz Fuzz, Dano and DJ Gizmo. Each had a distinct style, but together they represented the speed, creativity and uncompromising energy of a new Dutch music culture.
From The Hague to the world
As a solo artist and with The Dreamteam, DJ Gizmo performed at raves and festivals across Europe, the United States and Australia. From Dutch venues to international stages, the core remained the same: direct contact with the crowd and complete dedication to the music.
International recognition
Parisienne Rave Awards · Zurich, Switzerland · 1995
More than forty years of influence
Eurosonic Noorderslag · Groningen · January 2024
Still moving forward
More than forty years after his first drive-in show, DJ Gizmo still does what started it all: sharing music, creating memories and bringing people together on a dance floor.
More than forty years later
