Fatboy Slim interviewed at Wireless Festival launch

Norman Cook is one of the original 'Superstar DJ's' and for over a decade now as Fatboy Slim he has given us a parade of hit singles & albums. He is a DJ, producer, and musician known and recognised internationally.

And as the organisers of the Wireless Festival say, "A man guaranteed to bring the biggest party vibe to the park for a big Saturday night out. Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, will take to the Main Stage on Saturday night to unleash his arsenal of top 10 singles and earth quaking beats for a show that past experience suggests is not to be missed. For one night only, Hyde Park will become the biggest beat boutique on the face of the planet and Fatboy Slim will be at the controls for a show that is sure to go down in the history of 02 Wireless Festival as a must see."

I felt privileged to be invited to the lunchtime announcement at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, London. In the ballroom where the balcony looks out onto the green landscapes of Hyde Park home to the O2 Wireless Festival for the fourth year. Previous performances have included Basement Jaxx, Daft Punk, Depeche Mode, Flaming Lips, The Kaiser Chiefs, The Klaxons, LCD Soundsystem, and White Stripes.

We start with some introductions on stage and some questions answered by Steve Homer (VP of Music Live Nation) and John Probyn (Festival Director). Steve Homer speaks, "What's special about Hyde Park? Well it's right in the centre of London, everyone knows where it is. It's easy to get to and easy to get away from as well. But it's just a major iconic landmark in London which makes it so much better for live music."

And then we eagerly await Mr Cook himself introduced onto the stage "...and the main reason we are all here today, for the globally famous headliner, we all know him and love him. DJ, Producer and Musician of international repute and a man to bring this huge party to the park on July the 5th, Mr Fatboy Slim!" This is followed by rapturous applause.

Interviewer: Is this the first time you’ve played in Hyde Park?

Yes, it's not something you do everyday, you know. Nah, it's the first time we've done a big beach party in London. On account that there's no beaches in London! So yeah we've done it in Brighton and we've done it in Rio, and Bondi Beach and even Loch Ness but we've been trying to find a suitable beach in London but couldn't find one, so I thought Hyde Park was a second best.

Interviewer: So I guess obviously you're excited about the event?

Yeah, I just remembered the other day, the first ever gig I went to was Queen in Hyde Park in 1975 that was the first ever gig I went to.

Interviewer: And you had something of a reputation for bringing special guests up. Have you got any sort of special guests playing for the day, anything like that?

Um, we've got Bootsy, Mark Ronson, and Underworld. I don't know if you can call them special but they're special to me.

Interviewer: You said Mark Ronson in the midst of all of that, he's a superstar at the top of his game, is he gonna be a part of your kinda show?

No, he goes on before me.

Interviewer: So a warm up kinda...

No, no, no. Not a warm up. And no we're not collaborating or anything.

Interviewer: Excellent. Well ladies & gentlemen that's Fatboy Slim.
(Followed by round of applause)

Fatboy Slim then left the stage and gave interviews on a one-to-one basis. I awaited my turn in the queue knowing that eFestivals were fortunate enough to be included where many were not. Amongst the media madness I managed to catch the following:

Interviewer: What other acts are you looking forward to seeing?

Erm Bootsy Collins, and err, but on the day I'll probably not get to see any of 'em you know.

Interviewer: OK, and what else have you got planned for the rest of the season?

We've got the Loch Ness, we're doing Brighton beach, err (interrupted by lady to say 'Creamfields') yeah Creamfields and just other Festival season stuff.

Interviewer: I have a question, I'd like to know what you do on the day of a headlining slot, how do you set up for the day and what do you spend your time doing?

Erm probably getting there. Making sure things are working. Erm, getting a good shirt on... I don't know, it's just a job.

Interviewer: Is there any preparation or do you just play off the back?

Nah, I only know the first record I'm gonna play. Umm preparation is kinda getting your self in character. It's only Norman Cook into Fatboy Slim which involves an amount of Vodka and a very bad shirt!

Interviewer: You’ve played around the world. So, do the same songs go down well with the same crowd apart from say Rio to London?

There are certain differences, obviously like if I play 'Praise You' or something like that, it's kinda, that's universal but yeah, different countries like something a bit different.

eFestivals: Can I ask you a question?

Yes certainly.

eFestivals: Norman, I know you're supposed to be playing Vienna 28th June, bang in the middle of Glastonbury on the Saturday night. Will that see Fatboy Slim appearing at Glastonbury in one guise or other?

Oh Yeah. Yeah, cos playing Vienna is a way of getting me out of Glastonbury intact. Cos normally I plan on like get there Thursday, play on the Friday, play again on the Saturday. And by Sunday, I'm kinda of like, lost.

eFestivals: So you could do, Friday night there?

Oh Yeah, I think, I think I'm playing Friday night.

eFestivals: Fantastic!

Yeah but it's kinda like, a way of, cos normally by Monday morning they're like scooping me up out of the mud and trying to post me home.

eFestivals: Cool. (and find myself laughing with Norman)

The interviews then reverted to one-to-one interviews.

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