Before Skrillex, deadmau5, Guetta and the Swedes there was only one superstar DJ who ruled the roost. Number one hits, enormous parties in fabulous locations and front page headlines wherever he went...step forward Mr Norman Cook - a giant on the dance scene rubbing his hands with glee at the prospects of his Brighton Big Beach Bootique 2012. DMC DJ TV steps into his acid house disco den...
DMC's history with Quentin Leo Cook goes way back. We always knew he was one of the good guys in a scene dominated by egos, there's something very British about the man we now all know as Norman Cook. He's the sort of guy you would readily have a pint with down the pub, talk about Saturday night telly and football but on the other hand spend hours discussing what's going on in Ibiza this summer and what Tongy played on Friday night. He's had number one hits all around the globe, played to a quarter of a million people on a beach, had his private life splashed all across the tabloids and told us quite frankly about his battle with the booze and drugs. Norman though remains one of the stalwarts of the dance music scene, you book him for a gig - you sell all of the tickets out. You play one of his records - the dancefloor fills up. His record comes on the radio, everyone nods their heads and taps their feet. It goes without saying that Norman has a very special talent as an artist / producer / remixer, but what’s equally impressive about him is ability to retain a level of normality within what must be the eye of a hurricane, given his fame and celebrity. He might have come a long long way since those early 80s Brighton days, but he’s never lost touch with them and remains remarkably grounded. And for that, we love him.
Interview by Tony Prince
