Fatboy Slim

Fatboy Slim, born Quentin Leo Cook, was born in Bromley, Kent, and raised in Reigate, Surrey. While at Reigate Grammar School, he studied violin alongside classmate Keir Starmer, who would later become British Prime Minister.

Before adopting the name Fatboy Slim, Cook played bass for the indie rock band The Housemartins, who had a UK #1 hit with their a cappella cover of Isley-Jasper-Isley's "Caravan of Love." After the band's breakup, he formed the dance group Beats International, whose hit "Dub Be Good to Me" also reached #1 on the UK chart. His musical experimentation continued with groups such as Freak Power, Pizzaman, and the Mighty Dub Katz before he launched his solo career as Fatboy Slim in 1996.

As Fatboy Slim, Cook became a key figure in popularizing big beat, a genre known for its energetic, sample-layered tracks. His debut album, You've Come a Long Way, Baby, propelled this sound into the mainstream. In a 2017 interview with Sound on Sound, Cook revealed that he created three of the most famous tracks on the album within a single week: "I was just seven days a week, either partying or making tunes. I remember I did 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You' and 'Right Here, Right Now' in the same week. I only know that because they're all on the same disk for the Atari. That was a good week."