Fatboy Slim, born Norman Cook, recently opened up about his changing relationship with music. Speaking to fans, the iconic “Praise You” artist shared that he’s lost his “passion for making music,” 20 years after releasing his last studio album, Palookaville.
“My last two singles came out of live shows,” the 61-year-old explained. “They were things I made just to play on the side. I had tunes in my set that no one else had, and eventually, we cleared the samples and released them.”
The acclaimed DJ reflected on how his drive to create music has shifted over the years. “To make music, you need to feel absolutely passionate about it,” he said. “It has to drive you the moment you wake up. I just don’t feel like that anymore.”
Fatboy Slim clarified that while he still finds joy in DJing and organizing events, his enthusiasm for producing music has waned. “For five years, I struggled with it, trying to push myself,” he admitted. “Then I realized people love my DJing, and I enjoy it more, so I decided to focus on that.”
Still, he remains hopeful. “I’m hoping that one day the passion will come back,” he said.
Cook also touched on his son Woody’s burgeoning career as a DJ. Now 24, Woody shares a love for music with his father, though his path to becoming a DJ wasn’t straightforward.
“When Woody lived with me, he was always into music,” Cook said. “But he avoided DJing, saying he didn’t want to live in my shadow. It wasn’t until he went to university in Bristol that he called me two weeks later to say, ‘Dad, I’ve started DJing.’”
Cook respects his son’s determination to forge his own path. “He wanted to do it on his own terms. We’re both wary of nepotism, and I admire that independence.”
While Fatboy Slim’s passion for creating music has cooled, his legacy lives on—both through his DJing and Woody’s growing career. Fans everywhere hope to see him rekindle his creative spark in the future.
