Fatboy Slim - Full Exclusive Interview

From record collector to global dance music icon, Norman Cook—better known as Fatboy Slim—has shaped the sound of electronic music for decades. With a career spanning over three decades, countless hits, and an undeniable influence on dance culture, his legacy is nothing short of legendary. We sat down with the man himself at his Brighton home to chat about his journey…

"IT ALL STARTED WITH A LOVE FOR RECORDS"

We arrived at Norman Cook’s Brighton home early in the morning, greeted by the sound of waves crashing against the shore and a vibrant display of graffiti murals that line the city’s streets. Brighton is a place that embodies the creative, carefree energy that has defined Fatboy Slim’s career.

When he opened the door, we were met with walls filled with music history—awards, vinyl, tour memorabilia, and even a signed Dune script (because, why not?). “It’s a bit of a museum in here, isn’t it?” he chuckled, as he led us into his office, which looked more like an old-school record shop than a workspace.

For Cook, DJing wasn’t just a career—it was a natural evolution of his obsession with records.

“I started because I was the one who had all the records,” he explained. “One day, someone I barely knew asked me to bring my records to their house party. I didn’t want them getting scratched, so I hid the record player and DJ’d instead. That’s when I fell in love with it.”

His first real introduction to electronic music came in 1977 with Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, a song that changed his perspective on disco forever.

“We thought disco was for wimps back then,” he admitted. “But that record—it was futuristic, hypnotic. I’d never heard anything like it before.”

FROM THE HOUSEMARTINS TO SUPERSTAR DJ

Before he became one of the most recognisable names in dance music, Cook was the bassist for indie band The Housemartins. “People forget that I was in a band first,” he said. “We had a couple of hits, but even then, I was always sneaking off to DJ at night.”

As the band gained success, he continued DJing at clubs around Brighton, playing everything from funk to hip-hop.

“At first, it was just a hobby,” he said. “I’d DJ four or five nights a week while still doing band stuff. But at some point, I realised more people were coming to my sets than our gigs.”

By the early ‘90s, he was fully immersed in the dance scene, experimenting with breakbeats and samples that would later define his signature “big beat” sound.

“I didn’t have some grand plan,” he admitted. “I was just making music that I wanted to hear in clubs.”

And then came Better Living Through Chemistry (1996), the album that put Fatboy Slim on the map.

“That record was just me messing around with samples,” he said. “It was raw, fun, and full of energy. I didn’t expect it to blow up the way it did.”

THE ART OF SAMPLING: "IT’S ALL ABOUT THE HUNT"

One of Fatboy Slim’s trademarks is his ability to create massive dance tracks using a collage of samples. Praise You, Rockafeller Skank, and Right Here, Right Now all feature multiple layers of obscure sounds that come together in perfect harmony. But where does he find these gems?

“It’s all about the hunt,” he told us, leading us over to a massive shelf stacked with old cassette tapes and vinyl.

“Half the time, I don’t even know what I’m looking for. I’ll spend hours digging through record shops, picking up random tapes in thrift stores, or even just messing around with old recordings.”

He pulled out a worn-out tape and grinned.

“This is where Right Here, Right Now came from. Just a random spoken-word clip I found, but something about it stuck with me.”

Cook explained that some of his biggest tracks have over 15 samples layered together.

“It’s like putting together a puzzle. You take one sound, add a drum loop, throw in a funky bassline, and suddenly, you’ve got something special.”

GLASTONBURY’s MAGIC

Few artists have played Glastonbury as many times as Fatboy Slim. Since 1996, he’s been a regular on the lineup, bringing his euphoric sets to thousands of festival-goers. But what makes it so special?

“I feel like Glastonbury is as close to a utopian society as you can get,” he said. “It hasn’t been tarnished by money. The organisers aren’t in it to make a profit—if they do, they give it to charity. It’s run by people who genuinely love music.”

He’s performed on some of the biggest stages in the world, but nothing compares to the feeling of stepping onto the decks at Worthy Farm.

“There’s something about playing a sunset set at Glasto—it’s pure magic.”

DERRY GIRLS, EASTENDERS, AND SURPRISE CAMEOS

Outside of music, Fatboy Slim has found himself in some unexpected places—including a cameo in Derry Girls. In the show, he’s hailed as a god-like figure by the characters, and he even makes a guest appearance (kind of).

“When they first asked me, I was buzzing,” he laughed. “But because of COVID, I couldn’t actually fly to Derry to film it. So they just edited me into the scene, which was a bit of a shame.”

He’s also made a surprise appearance on EastEnders.

“That was a surreal moment,” he admitted. “It’s always the unexpected stuff that ends up being the most fun.”

GIVING BACK: FATBOY SLIM'S MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP

Now, Cook is using his success to help the next generation of musicians. His new scholarship programme, in partnership with BIMM University, will fund tuition for young artists looking to break into the industry.

“I remember what it was like to be young and trying to make it,” he reflected. “Now, I’m in a position where I can help. It just feels right.”

He explained that the idea was suggested by BIMM themselves.

“We’ve always been mates, but we’d never done anything together. Then one day, they came to me with this idea, and I was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’”

For Cook, this scholarship is about more than just funding—it’s about opportunity.

“I was lucky. I had people who helped me along the way, and now I get to do the same for someone else.”

As we wrapped up our interview, he gave us one last tour of his awards collection—MTV trophies, BRITs, NME middle fingers, and even a Grammy. Not bad for a guy who once had to hide his record player at a house party.

Want to see behind-the-scenes footage of our interview with Fatboy Slim? Check out our Instagram for exclusive clips: @edm_chunes