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For more than two decades, Fatboy Slim’s track *Satisfaction Skank* circulated widely as one of the most bootlegged recordings globally. This elusive piece, which samples the iconic riff from the Rolling Stones’ *Satisfaction*, has now received official clearance from the Stones, allowing for its formal release. Norman Cook, better known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, crafted *Satisfaction Skank* around 25 years ago by integrating the Rolling Stones’ riff into his smash hit *The Rockafeller Skank*, spurred by his desire to reinvent the track during live performances. “It was my secret weapon,” Cook said, explaining how the unique remix gave him an exclusive encore that no other DJ could replicate.
During the early 2000s, *Satisfaction Skank* became a viral hit on peer-to-peer networks such as Napster and Kazaa despite the Rolling Stones initially declining to grant permission for commercial distribution. Even Fatboy Slim himself resorted to buying unauthorized copies, some recorded from his live sessions on BBC Radio 1 and pressed onto vinyl. Attempts over the years to secure the Stones’ approval were met with repeated refusal. Cook recounted a conversation with Mick Jagger, who mentioned liking the mix, but the band’s management remained firm: “No, not even negotiable.” At one point, the Rolling Stones invited Cook to remix their classic 1968 song *Sympathy For The Devil*, with *Satisfaction Skank* slated as the B-side, though this collaboration ultimately fell through.
In a notable reversal, the Rolling Stones recently approached Cook with approval to officially release the track and even provided him with the master tapes to produce a higher-quality version. This shift reflects a broader change in how the band views sampling and reinterpretation of their music. The Stones have shown increased flexibility in recent years, exemplified by their 2019 decision to relinquish their publishing rights to The Verve’s *Bittersweet Symphony*—a song famously built around an orchestral sample of the Stones’ *The Last Time*. Richard Ashcroft, The Verve’s frontman, described this gesture as “life-affirming.”
Fatboy Slim has incorporated *Satisfaction Skank* into his live shows for over 25 years, though he jokes about his hazy recollections of its first performance, attributing that to his state of mind at the time. He does remember premiering *The Rockafeller Skank* itself in 1998 at Brighton’s Big Beat Boutique, noting the enthusiastic crowd reaction. The single went on to reach the UK Top 10 and was touted as “dance music’s Bohemian Rhapsody.” Cook explained that comparison stemmed from the song’s intricate production process, which involved stitching together multiple parts with limited digital tools of the late 1990s, much like the segmented recording style of Queen’s classic hit.
After an exceptionally active year featuring 115 gigs worldwide and the release of his first book *It Ain’t Over… ’Til the Fatboy Sings*, Cook continues to remain creatively vibrant at age 62. His memoir includes photos and stories from his long career that began in the indie band The Housemartins, as well as his time with dance and funk groups Beats International and Freak Power. Alongside his enduring Fatboy Slim persona, he has performed as Pizzaman and Mighty Dub Katz, among other aliases. Committed to mental health advocacy through music, Cook supports and participates in DJ workshops designed to assist those with serious mental health challenges. With upcoming gigs across Indonesia, Bali, and a UK tour—including the revival of his famed Big Beach Boutique festival in Brighton—he shows no intention of slowing down. “I think I’ve kind of realised now that my career will never be over,” Cook acknowledged, emphasizing his disinterest in retirement and his determination to keep performing as long as he can
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