Fatboy Slim

Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim participating in an interview and CD giveaway for the Opie & Anthony show
Cook in 2006
Background information
Birth nameQuentin Leo Cook
Also known as
  • Norman Cook
  • DJ Quentox
Born (1963-07-31) 31 July 1963 (age 61)
Bromley, Kent, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • DJ
  • record producer
Years active1979–present
Labels
Formerly of
Spouse
(m. 1999; div. 2020)
Children2
Websitefatboyslim.net

Norman Quentin Cook[1] (born Quentin Leo Cook, 31 July 1963),[2] better known as Fatboy Slim, is an English musician, DJ and record producer[3] who helped to popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. In the 1980s, Cook was the bassist for the Hull-based indie rock band the Housemartins, who achieved a UK number-one single with their a cappella cover of "Caravan of Love". After the Housemartins split up, Cook formed the electronic band Beats International in Brighton, who produced the number-one single "Dub Be Good to Me". He then played in Freak Power, Pizzaman and the Mighty Dub Katz, with moderate success.

In 1996, Cook adopted the name Fatboy Slim and released Better Living Through Chemistry to critical acclaim. Follow-up albums You've Come a Long Way, Baby, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, and Palookaville, as well as singles such as "The Rockafeller Skank", "Praise You", "Right Here, Right Now", "Weapon of Choice" and "Wonderful Night", achieved commercial and critical success. In 2008, Cook formed the Brighton Port Authority, a collaborative effort with a number of other established artists including David Byrne.[4] He has been responsible for successful remixes for Cornershop, the Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, Groove Armada and Wildchild.

It was reported in 2008 that Cook held the Guinness World Record for most top-40 hits under different names.[5] As a solo act, he has won a Grammy Award, nine MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Original Score in 2024.

  1. ^ "Changes of Name". The London Gazette. No. 56625. London: UK Government. 8 July 2002. p. 8166.
  2. ^ "Happy Birthday to Fatboy Slim!". Hot Press. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Fatboy Slim | Music Videos, Songs, News, Photos, and Lyrics". MTV. 16 July 1963. Archived from the original on 6 February 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Fatboy Slim Pulls into Brighton Port Authority". Billboard. 13 June 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  5. ^ Michaels, Sean (15 May 2008). "Fatboy Slim is no more". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 July 2018.