Cook, Norman (1963– )

English DJ, producer, and recording artist. Cook was one of the most versatile and creative forces in British music in the 1990s, and his musical career has been diverse, spanning the indie sounds of the English group the Housemartins, the acid-house sounds of Pizzaman, and his work as the ‘big-beat’ pioneer Fatboy Slim. He won a Brit award under this name in 1999 for Best Dance Act.

In 1995 he started recording under the name Fatboy Slim, releasing the first album, Better Living Through Chemistry, in 1997. At the same time he established the Big Beat Boutique in Brighton, a club event at which he worked as a DJ. Cook was also remixing other artists' records during this period, including ‘Brimful of Asha’ by English band Cornershop, which was a UK number one in 1998. In the same year, the second Fatboy Slim album, You've Come a Long Way Baby, was released, to great commercial success and critical acclaim. Other Fatboy Slim albums include Halfway Between the Gutter and Stars (2000) and Palookaville (2004).

Born in Bromley, London, Cook moved to Brighton to attend college, and it was there that he began working as a DJ. He then joined the Housemartins as bassist. After leaving the group, he formed several different dance and pop acts, including Beats International – who had a UK number one single in 1990 with ‘Dub be Good to Me’ – Freakpower, and Pizzaman.

Cook has also become a youth culture celebrity, especially since his marriage to Radio 1 DJ Zöe Ball (1970– ) in 1999.