Fatboy Slim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fatboy Slim
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Cook in 2006
|
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Quentin Leo Cook |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | 31 July 1963 Bromley, Kent, England |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels |
|
Norman Quentin Cook (born Quentin Leo Cook on 31 July 1963), known as Fatboy Slim, is a famous English musician. He helped make the big beat music style very popular in the 1990s. Before becoming Fatboy Slim, he played in several bands.
In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for The Housemartins, an indie rock band. They had a number-one song in the UK called "Caravan of Love". After that band split up, Cook started Beats International. This electronic band also had a number-one hit, "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in other groups like Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz.
In 1996, Cook started using the name Fatboy Slim. His first album under this name, Better Living Through Chemistry, was very well-liked. He released more successful albums like You've Come a Long Way, Baby and Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. Songs like "The Rockafeller Skank", "Praise You", and "Weapon of Choice" became huge hits.
Fatboy Slim has won many awards for his music. These include a Grammy Award, nine MTV Video Music Awards, and two Brit Awards. He even holds a Guinness World Record for having the most top-40 hits under different names.
Contents
Life and Music Journey
Early Years and First Steps
Norman Cook was born in Bromley, Kent, England. He grew up in Reigate, Surrey. He went to Reigate Grammar School, where he learned to play the violin. Interestingly, Keir Starmer, who later became a political leader, was also at his school.
When Cook was 14, he discovered punk music and started going to concerts. He played drums in a band called Disque Attack. Later, he became the lead singer. He also met Paul Heaton and formed another band called the Stomping Pondfrogs.
At 18, Cook moved to Brighton to study at Brighton Polytechnic. He had already started DJing, but in Brighton, he really improved his skills. He became known as DJ Quentox and helped build Brighton's hip-hop music scene.
Joining Bands and Finding His Sound
In 1985, Paul Heaton asked Cook to join his new band, The Housemartins, as their bassist. Cook moved to Hull to be with the band. They quickly became popular with songs like "Happy Hour". In 1986, their version of "Caravan of Love" became a UK number-one hit. The Housemartins split up in 1988.
Cook then moved back to Brighton. He wanted to make the kind of music he loved. In 1989, he had his first solo hit, "Blame It on the Bassline". This song showed the style he would use in his next band.
Cook formed Beats International with many different musicians. Their first album had the number-one song "Dub Be Good to Me". However, there was a problem because the song used parts of other songs without permission. Cook had to pay back a lot of money because of this.
After Beats International, Cook started Freak Power. Their song "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out" was used in a big advertisement. He also created Pizzaman, which had three songs in the UK Top 40. One of these, "Happiness", was used in a fruit juice ad. Cook also formed The Mighty Dub Katz, and their song "Magic Carpet Ride" became very popular.
Becoming Fatboy Slim
In 1996, Cook chose the name Fatboy Slim. He said the name doesn't really mean anything special. It's just a funny, ironic name that suited him.
His first album as Fatboy Slim was Better Living Through Chemistry. It included the hit song "Everybody Needs a 303". In 1998, he released "The Rockafeller Skank" and the album You've Come a Long Way, Baby. The song "Praise You" from this album became his first UK solo number-one hit. The music video for "Praise You", which starred Spike Jonze, won many awards.
In 2000, Fatboy Slim released Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. This album featured songs with singer Macy Gray and the famous track "Weapon of Choice". The music video for "Weapon of Choice", starring actor Christopher Walken, also won many awards. In 2004, he released the album Palookaville.
In 2006, Fatboy Slim released a collection of his greatest hits called Why Try Harder. It had 18 songs, including many of his Top 40 hits and two new songs.
In 2008, Cook started a new project called The Brighton Port Authority (BPA). He worked with other artists like David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. Their album, I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat, came out in 2009.
Return of Fatboy Slim and Big Performances
In 2012, Fatboy Slim performed at the 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony in London. He played his songs "Rockafeller Skank" and "Right Here, Right Now" on top of a giant inflatable octopus!
In 2013, he released a new charting single, "Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat", with Riva Starr and Beardyman. This song became number one on the UK Dance Chart. He continued to release new music and remixes. In June 2023, Cook played at Glastonbury Festival, one of the biggest music festivals. In June 2024, he released a new song called "Role Model" with a music video that used special effects to feature famous people.
Amazing Live Shows
_(26619607049).jpg)
Fatboy Slim is famous for his huge outdoor concerts. On 13 July 2002, he played a free concert on Brighton Beach called the Big Beach Boutique II. Organizers expected about 60,000 people, but an amazing 250,000 fans showed up! The police had to end the event early because it was so crowded.
After being banned from playing in Brighton for a few years, Fatboy Slim was allowed to return in 2006. On 1 January 2007, he played to over 20,000 fans on Brighton's seafront. This concert, "Fatboy Slim's Big Beach Boutique 3", was a huge success. He returned to Brighton Beach for the 20th anniversary of Big Beach Boutique in July 2022.
He has also headlined many major festivals around the world, including Glastonbury Festival, Global Gathering, Wireless Festival, Coachella Valley Music Festival, and Ultra Music Festival. His shows are known for their exciting visuals and energetic performances.
About His Life
Norman Cook married TV personality Zoe Ball in 1999. They separated in 2016. Their daughter, Nelly, has even performed as a DJ under the name Fat Girl Slim to raise money for charity.
Cook is a big fan of the football team Brighton & Hove Albion. He has supported them since he moved to Brighton in the late 1980s.
Cook was given a special star on Brighton's Walk of Fame, right next to a star for Winston Churchill. Q magazine even named Fatboy Slim as one of their "50 Bands to See Before You Die".
Images for kids
-
Cook in 2006
See also
In Spanish: Fatboy Slim para niños
