'I feel like I'M STILL 17!'

THE SUPERSTAR DJ IS HITTING AUSTRALIA WITH A NEW MISSION

- Naomi Toy

Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, has a new mantra. Where once it was “eat, sleep, rave, repeat”, the dance floor maestro now has a sticky note with “dancing, community, joy, connection, solidarity” written on it.

“That’s what somebody wrote to me after a big arena gig,” he explains to WHO over a Zoom chat. “I thought that was just the review of the gig, but that’s become my new mantra and that’s my purpose in life, to engender those things.”

While he may have a new motto to live by, the 59-year-old has lost none of his love of DJing, of holding a crowd – whether it’s big or small – in the palm of his hand, like the conductor of a moving, human orchestra. He sees it as a “gift and a privilege”, one that he can’t wait to share again with Australian crowds when he tours here in April and May.

What motivates you still, not only to keep DJing, but to take on a big tour and come to Australia?

I just love it. I genuinely love it as much as I did nearly 40 years ago when I started doing it. It turns me on, it makes me excited, it makes me feel fulfilled. I appreciate it all the more not having done it during the pandemic. That made me realise how much it meant to me. I love music and I love entertaining people, so to be able to combine the two and travel the world is a joy and an honour. 

When was the last time you came to Australia? 

It was about two weeks before the pandemic. That was the last tour I did before everything shut down, so that was about three years ago … but it’s felt longer. 

Does Australia hold some special memories for you?