Fat Boy Slim reveals bizarre ritual before going on stage
FATBOY Slim has revealed he needs a slap before going out on stage.
The hit DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, admitted he makes his tour manager hit him to ensure he is in the right mindspace to take to the stage.
He explained: “That transformation involves three Red Bulls, putting on a Hawaiian shirt, removing my shoes and being slapped really hard around the face by my tour manager, Al.”
The Praise You hitmaker, 59, said he adopted the ritual after going teetotal 14 years ago.
He continued: “The slap replaces the cheeky vodka and orange or something else which used to get me on stage fighting.
“It just means all my adrenaline is there and I am in a fighting mood to perk me up.”
Norman, who was previously married to Radio 2’s Zoe Ball, 52, said he now wants to continue DJing forever — because he doesn’t want to retire and spend his final days on a golf course.
Speaking on Annie Mac’s Changes podcast, he explained: “A few years ago I had a little bit of a mental wobble and thought, ‘Should I be doing this? Are you enjoying it?’
“I thought about retirement and I stared into this abyss of golf and lunches and thought, ‘Oh God, that is more scary than the mental problems I am going through now. I can’t do that.’
“So I started again and felt happier having had that mental stop check.
“If people will still have me I will carry on until I drop. But do tell me if you have had enough as I can take it.”