Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim, has revealed he has played Glastonbury around 100 times and has never been paid for any of those performances. Speaking to Metro, the 63-year-old DJ said his relationship with the festival's organisers, the Eavis family, 'hasn't been tarnished by money'.
A night of music and chemistry
Cook made the comments ahead of a one-off event at London's Royal Society of Chemistry, held to celebrate 30 years of his debut album, Better Living Through Chemistry. The performance transformed the Grade II-listed Burlington House venue into an intimate dancefloor for a night of music, chemistry and nostalgia. He is only the second person to perform at the venue, following composer George Frideric Handel in the 18th century.
Reflecting on the album, Cook said: 'It was the first time I'd properly listened back to the album in ages. The years just roll by at the moment.' He added: 'I don't often look back in my life career. But it's always very interesting when you do, because you just think, God, what a different world it was and what a different person I was.'
Support for grassroots venues
Cook spoke about the challenges facing small music venues, noting that more than half of the UK's grassroots venues failed to make a profit last year, according to the annual report of the Music Venue Trust. London alone has lost 35% of its grassroots spaces since 2007.
'This is how I cut my teeth, where I learned my chops, and so I've got a fondness for them,' he said. 'They're part of the English music industry; they are the lifeblood. They are the feeder of our industry, and they're where everybody who starts out learns their craft. If you take that away, it's terrible. Small venues are the roots. And if you take away the roots, nothing else grows.'
Investing in venue protection
Cook is among several backers of Music Venue Properties (MVP), an organisation that acquires live venue freeholds to protect their futures. The project has so far secured 10 sites across the UK, from The Pipeline in Brighton to The Croft in Bristol. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is also among those supporting the initiative.
'Small venues are at danger from their unscrupulous landlords. So instead, we become their landlord. The portfolio still gets the income, but they know we won't throw them out or raise the rent. I've heavily invested in that,' Cook said. He added: 'Andy Burnham has already done some stuff, and we've got the Music Venue Trust, which has good links to the politicians. If it comes from the top, it helps. There's only so much bucket shaking you can do.'
Glastonbury loyalty and future headliners
Cook said he has played 100 Glastonbury sets and described the festival as 'the most fun, forward-thinking, beautiful human experience of alternative culture'. He explained: 'I've never been paid to play there. But at the same time, I've never paid to go there. Emily and Michael give me free tickets and allow me to do little quiet gigs in strange places.'
Asked who should headline Glastonbury in 2027, Cook said: 'It's got to be Fred Again. We need to get him on that Pyramid Stage.' The 30th anniversary reissue of Better Living Through Chemistry is available now.
