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Norman Cook

Historical Figure

Norman Cook

b. 1963

English musician (born 1963)

Postwar

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Biography

Norman Quentin Cook, known professionally as Fatboy Slim, is an English musician and DJ who helped popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. His music makes extensive use of samples from eclectic genres, combined with pop structures, processed rhythms and "sloganistic" vocals.

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Timeline

The story of Norman Cook, told in moments.

1963 Birth

Born Quentin Leo Cook in Bromley, Kent. Changed his name to Norman at school because he didn't like "Quentin." Grew up in Reigate, Surrey.

Why did 'Quentin' bother you so much as a kid? Did growing up in Surrey feel limiting? When did you first know music would be your life?
1985 Life

Played bass for the Housemartins, an indie pop band from Hull. They had a Christmas number one in 1986 with "Caravan of Love." The band split in 1988.

What was the Housemartins' energy like? Did that Christmas number one change your sense of ambition? Was leaving the band your choice or theirs?
1996 Event

Reinvented himself as Fatboy Slim. Released Better Living Through Chemistry. His big beat sound mixed eclectic samples with driving rhythms.

What made you reinvent yourself so completely? Where did the big beat sound come from? Did Fatboy Slim feel like a disguise or your real self?
1998 Event

Released You've Come a Long Way, Baby. "The Rockafeller Skank" and "Praise You" became global hits. The "Praise You" video, directed by Spike Jonze, cost nothing to make.

How did Spike Jonze pull off that zero-budget video? What hit harder -- UK or US success? Did 'Praise You' surprise you as a hit?
2002 Event

Played Big Beach Boutique II on Brighton Beach to a crowd of 250,000. The city hadn't expected more than 60,000. Traffic gridlocked for miles.

What went through your mind when 250,000 showed up? Did you feel responsible for the chaos on Brighton Beach? Was that the peak of live performance for you?

Artifacts (15)

Sam and the Gold Fever

Join Sam Hopwood as he discovers that members of his old ragged school in London are being kidnapped and sent to the new world in order to be sold and work under harsh conditions. Along with his...

2015
Works Read Talk

THIS SIDE OF NOTHING

My pen will probably never stop leaking onto paper (or fingers tapping onto a keyboard, as is more often the case) until the day I depart from the planet, so in the meantime, please enjoy the poetry,...

2016
Works Read Talk

THEATER OF THE ABSURD: A COLLECTION OF HAIKU AND SENRYU POETRY

Kenneth Norman Cook puts his skills into the ancient arts of Haiku and Senryu and presents to you his brilliant collection gathered in this book for your enjoyment. Kenneth's varied styles keep him a...

2016
Works Read Talk

FROM DARK CORNERS AND DUSTY ATTICS

This is his fourth book, which is a combination of older poems, both previously published, as well as published here for the first time. Also included are a number of new pieces, including short,...

2017
Works Read Talk

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: A COLLECTION OF EROTICA & LIMERICKS

This book is a collection of two very distinct types of poetry: limericks and erotica. While it's true that many limericks are rather sexual and even raunchy (and yes, I've included a few in the...

2018
Works Read Talk

ALL TOO HUMAN

Explore the different sides of Kenneth Norman Cook in his latest poetic release, ALL TOO HUMAN, as he takes you on a magical mystery tour stream-of-consciousness adventure wherein the river is...

2019
Works Read Talk

IMAGES IN ICE & WORDS ON FIRE

Kenneth Norman Cook was born in New England and raised in California in the 1960s. He is a regular contributor to several magazines, including Wildfire Publications monthly Magazine, where he is a...

2019
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Broken Pieces of Existence

BROKEN PIECES OF EXISTENCE: A STREAM-of-CONSCIOUSNESS POEM, is the ninth book from Kenneth Norman Cook, and is published by WILDFIRE PUBLICATIONS, LLC.

2020
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WILDFIRE PUBLICATIONS, LLC QUARTERLY MAGAZINE APRIL 2022 ISSUE

Welcome to the April 2022 issue of the Wildfire Publications, LLC Quarterly Magazine where we showcase global talent from around the world.

2022
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WILDFIRE PUBLICATIONS, LLC QUARTERLY MAGAZINE JANUARY 2022 WINTER EDITION

Welcome to January 2022 Winter Edition of the WILDFIRE PUBLICATIONS, LLC QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, showcasing talent from around the globe.

2022
Works Read Talk

It Ain't Over... 'Til the Fatboy Sings

To celebrate his forty years in showbiz, Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim has dug deep into his archive of photographs, memorabilia, bric-a-brac, awards and art objects to create one big, beautiful book...

2025
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The Brain Code: Mechanisms of Information Transfer and the Role of the Corpus Callosum

Originally published in 1986, this stimulating and unorthodox book integrates the major findings of hemispheric research with the larger questions of how the brain stores and transmits information –...

2018
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Local History Exhibitions: How to Plan and Present Them

1970
Works Read Talk

Skip to My Loops

1992
Works Read Talk

Stanzas and Stuff

2013
Works Read Talk

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