The legendary DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview at Creamfields about why he loves playing a set to a room full of Scousers
Fatboy Slim spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview at Creamfields
Fatboy Slim spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview at Creamfields
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Fatboy Slim was full of praise for Liverpool after he returned to the city for a whistle-stop visit, before dashing off to Creamfields. The legendary DJ performed in his customary slot at the festival in Daresbury last night, as he brought the curtain down on the stage named in his honour.
The 62-year-old, whose real name is Norman Cook, spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview ahead of his set and revealed he was briefly in Liverpool, before making the short journey to Cheshire for the renowned dance music festival. The DJ, from Bromley, Is a huge Brighton & Hove Albion fan and was one of the supporters to have made history by being the first set of away fans in a competitive game at Everton FC's new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
It may have ended in a 2 - 0 disappointment for Norman's side, but the DJ still enjoyed his experience in Merseyside as the Toffees entered a new chapter in their illustrious history. He said: "Being able to mix doing what I do for a living with this lifestyle. It's a privilege to be able to do it and I cherish that."
The Praise You hitmaker has a long history with Liverpool and revealed why he always loves the chance to perform here. He said: "Scousers are always up for a laugh. I don't have to explain to you, although, maybe you've never been in Southampton on a Tuesday night to realise how special you are.
"There's a sense of abandon joie de vivre that Scousers bring wherever they go in the world." He credited his good friend Yousef Zaher as his favourite Scouse DJ, as he said the character of the city means Liverpool will always produce talented MCs who will shape the direction of house music.
He added: "The difference between a good DJ and an OK DJ is their character and what they bring in their music selection, their performance and the vibe they create.
"But Liverpool has always been full of characters. Whether it's comedians or DJs, you've always got that little bit of extra gob." Following his afternoon in Everton's new stadium on the banks of the Mersey, the DJ travelled to Daresbury to perform at a festival that is close to his heart.
He performed on the very first line up in 1998 and said Creamfields will always be a momentous occasion in the dance music calendar year. He said: "It's just part of the furniture really. That doesn't make it sound that special, but, for us, it's one of the only festivals where every single one of us is here. Someone posted the original line-up from the first ever one. And I looked at it and it's weird because most of us are still here.
"All the headliners are still going and they're still my friends so, for me, it's a great get together because it's all my old mates from all those years ago and a bit of the new talent as well. It's the only festival that's got every single major DJ playing."
Fatboy Slim has enjoyed many memorable moments at Creamfields but he hailed the time he got an exclusive look at Gorillaz's live performance when the festival was staged in Liverpool in 2001 as one of his favourites. The band, which includes Damon Albarn, famously plays behind virtual avatars, but Norman had the best seat in the house for the show in Old Liverpool Airfield 24 years ago.
He said: "I was mates with Damon and I had a backstage pass, so I just climbed behind on the scaffolding, watching them, playing to everybody who couldn't see them. I was thinking, 'I love this, I'm in the right business here.'"
It's this passion for music that keeps Fatboy Slim as motivated as ever 46 years after he first got behind a set of decks. He said: "It's just a refusal to give up. Not so much recently, but there's been times in my career when my wife, or my accountant, has been going you really need to get a proper job here because there's that tax bill to pay.
"And you haven't earned any money for two years. It's just my refusal to give up. And then another hit comes along and then I'm like, 'I'm back'. I think the fact that I still enjoy it. If I wasn't enjoying it, then I'd be going through the motions and then people would notice. I think my enthusiasm is infectious."
The DJ is embarking on an "Acid Ballroom" tour next year, which currently includes dates in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Glasgow. Even though it's not listed yet, the DJ vowed he will soon be returning to Liverpool as he loves playing to a room of Scousers, who always bring the energy.
He said: "I play Liverpool a lot. A lot of major cites in England get the knock. We call it a tour, but I'm always on tour. I do 100 shows a year and I try to get back to you as often as possible. You'll have to talk to my agent, management about that.
"We used to do the arenas. I did that a couple of times, I said I don't want to really do arenas. I'd rather do two nights at a smaller venue. Arenas are alright to say I can do that.
"But it's not really what I want to do for a living. I just say I want to do those sizes in places and they come back with a list of cities. Sometimes Liverpool is on it, sometimes it's not. I'm sorry. I always want to come back."