Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, has spoken about the profound fear he experienced when returning to DJing sober after undergoing treatment for alcoholism. Cook checked into rehab in 2009, and has maintained sobriety for nearly 15 years.
In a recent interview, the artist described quitting alcohol as "the hardest thing" he has ever done, emphasizing the necessity of rehab for his recovery. "I needed someone to bash into my head for a month. You know, 'you'll die, and you'll be in misery if you don't stop doing this,'" he recounted.
Despite his recovery, Cook admitted to experiencing significant anxiety when performing without a drink. "For the first five shows, I was so paralysed and rigid with fear, I couldn't dance, and I couldn't enjoy it," he told The Guardian. He described internal struggles during these performances, questioning his music choices and audience reactions.
Cook highlighted the crucial role his ex-wife, Zoe Ball, played in his decision to seek sobriety. He stated that her quiet confrontation and threat to leave him unless he got sober was his "wake-up moment." While others had previously urged him to quit, Ball's approach was ultimately the catalyst for change.
The couple met in Ibiza in 1997 and married two years later. They have two children, Woody, born in 2000, and Nelly, born in 2010. The pair briefly separated in 2003 due to an affair by Ball, but reconciled before welcoming their daughter. They officially announced their separation in September 2016. Ball has previously spoken about the difficulty of their divorce, describing it as a "painful" process but ultimately one from which she emerged stronger.