For Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim, his show begins with a long, lonely walk to the center of the stage. As a video titled “Norm’s Eye View” reveals, before Cook reaches the decks—which, he emphasizes, takes much more time than people think—he sees a beach-like expanse of pavement speckled with bouncers, then a sea of expectant people whose day-glo bracelets, clothing and flesh blend together from the distance of the stage.

Finally, when he arrives at the turntables, a myriad of switches confront him. He flips them easily, triggering visuals and sound. Then he bursts into song. No one hears him. Offstage, he jokes that it’s his private sing-a-long party.

“Little older, drinks less, still 16 behind the decks,” Cook says. Cook, who holds the Guinness World Record for most hit records under the most names, is best known for his Fatboy Slim moniker. Since 1997, Fatboy Slim spawned international hits like “Rockafella Skank,” “Everybody Needs a 303,” “Right Here Right Now,” and “Praise You.” After a decade, he took a short break to focus on fatherhood and another project. He recently returned in full force, with raves on the Great Wall of China and beach parties in Japan.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMZwZiU0kKs[/youtube]

In 2008, before returning to perform at Coachella, people wondered if Fatboy Slim was pop history. Some media reported that Cook was retiring his most famous pseudonym, although Cook insisted at the time that Fatboy Slim wasn’t permanently inactive. He took two years to focus on fatherhood, rein in his partying, and teamed with David Byrne for a project called Brighton Port Authority.

“I realized that I’m happiest as a DJ,” says Cook when he reflects about the past few years. “It was really nice working with Byrne, but I’m best as a DJ. It’s natural for me.”

2008 to 2010 certainly wasn’t a wash for Cook. He had memorable collaborations that included Byrne, Pete Yorn and Dizzee Rascal. Iggy Pop collaborated with Byrne and Cook on the track “He’s Frank (Slight Return).” In Cook’s studio, Bootsy Collins stomped so hard while he was counting in that he ran his foot through the floor. “We now call it the Bootsy Hole,” Cook says.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX8qYv6WGes[/youtube]

Brighton Port Authority’s single “Toe Jam,” off of the album I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat, is one of Cook’s best original tracks since 2004. The infectiously happy rhythm with Byrne’s dreamlike vocals was named the 14th best song of 2008 by Rolling Stone. Cook paired the song with a brilliant music video: naked people with censor bars spelling out words and symbols. Check it out here (NSFW).

While Cook admits it’s daunting to follow-up his previous success, he’s confident that his return as Fatboy Slim is as strong as ever.

“It’s damn near impossible, but we’re bigger and better,” he says. “Technology has improved. We even put the decks and me inside a spinning cage but I got sick.”

When asked about what makes his internationally famous music uniquely British, he instantly replies, “The sense of humor. Look at the Dutch. They make lots of absolutely fantastic music but they’re so serious.”

 

Fatboy Slim plays the Voodoo Experience Sunday, October 30 at 7:15 on the Le Plur Stage. He has a new mix available for download in exchange for an email address below.