I discovered that there are many bonus tracks on the various international versions of the album.
At that time, I was a kind of music making machine. I would DJ on the weekend and then spend the whole week inside the studio, trying to translate the ideas I had while DJing. I was just knocking out tunes in whatever direction. At the same time I was very unfamiliar with the concept of making an album. At that time, electronic music was all about releasing 12″ singles. Making an album appeared strange to me – so the record company told me what sounded like an album.
During that time music television like MTV or Viva [in Germany] was very important and you always had remarkble videos. How did that happen?
At the first album I had none and didn´t want to make them myself. I also thought that the good ones were already made. On the second album, I met [director] Spike Jonze and he kind of reinvented how to make these kind of videos. And the good thing is that I never had to be inside the videos. I think Spike made great pieces of art and they helped getting the music to the people, especially in the US. They had no contact to music made by a DJ and when there was no band the music wouln´t be acceptepted. So I was very lucky to work with Spike Jonze or Roman Coppola – it was all their ideas and I only paid for it.
Many people know you as a DJ. Do you see yourself as a teacher or an entertainer?
I definitly see myself as an entertainer – sometimes I would even call myself more of a cheerleader. My job is to encourage people to abandon themselves to enjoy the music.
Which country surprised you the most while DJing around the world?
I would probably mention Brazil which was the strangest to me. I never thought that they would think that a long white English guy, a gringo, would be somehow cool. We think Brazilian people are the coolest people in the world and for some reason they took me to their heart. When I look at Brazilian music, there are a lot of similarities. To me it was like meeting a long-lost relative you never thought you had. I think a part of me is Brazilian without knowing it.
Video: Fatboy Slim – Praise You
Any thoughts about Germany?
I had very good experiences in Germany. The thing is I never took my music that seriously and sometimes I think germans don´t understand the idea of inducing a sense of humour into music. At the end, you could call my music commercial whereas electronic dance music from Germany is much more underground. But maybe that´s just in my head. Two weeks ago I had a fantastic night in Berlin at the Watergate. So it´s my problem, I apologise.
Some of your tracks use an Acid bassline. Are you surprised that Acid House never went out of fashion?
No, because I´ve been singlehandly trying to keep it alive. Not just me, there are a lot of us and our mission is to keep Acid House alive. Hail the 303!
Your son Woody turns 18 this year. Did he ever wanted to follow in your footsteps?
He wanted to be a DJ for around six months but then he realised that he will be always my son. We have a lot of chats about life, music, drugs – all the things that fathers should talk with their sons about. And of course it´s very interesting for me to see him as one of a new generation. When we are on Ibiza he wants to go out when I want to stay in.
Are you working on any kind of new album or project?
I am working on a soundtrack of a film by Julian Temple called Ibiza – The Silent Movie.
What is your job if it´s a silent movie?
(laughs) No it´s just music, no talking. But you´re right, a silent movie would have made my job much easier.
