Fatboy Slim says he felt paralysed at prospect of DJing sober after rehab

Norman Cook, known as Fatboy Slim, has said he felt paralysed and “rigid with fear” at the prospect of DJing sober after spending time in rehab to deal with his alcohol addiction. The artist spoke about his experience on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne.

Cook referred to his alcoholism as a parasite and said getting sober was “probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” He said he was prompted to address his problem after his then-wife, radio DJ Zoe Ball, said she would leave him if he did not stop drinking. That was his wakeup moment, he said, noting that it was whispered quietly, unlike previous shouts from others.

He checked into a rehab facility in 2009 and has been sober for almost 15 years. While in rehab, he realised he had sought help just in time. Cook said he could not have quit without rehab, as he needed someone to “bash into my head for a month” that he would die and be in misery if he continued drinking.

The anxiety he felt when returning to the stage took time to subside. For the first five shows, he was so paralysed and rigid with fear that he could not dance or enjoy himself. He questioned why he would play a certain record and why the crowd would react to it.

A “beautiful night in Japan” helped him overcome his fears, as the crowd was “just really excitable.” He realised his job was about making the crowd happy, and everything fell into place.

Cook rose to prominence as Fatboy Slim in the 1990s with hits like “Praise You,” “The Rockafeller Skank,” and “Right Here, Right Now.” He has received six Grammy nominations and won the 2002 Best Music Video award for “Weapon of Choice,” starring actor Christopher Walken.