Fatboy Slim has addressed the issue of a popular venue facing what he calls, a slow death if planning for a commercial building goes forward in Brighton. The musician/DJ performed a secret set at the famous Prince Albert Pub in the city on Monday night and addressed those gathered about the need to protect and preserve the grassroots venue.
Save the Prince Albert music venue in Brighton… @musicvenuetrust https://t.co/xzrXp9hpG8
— Fatboy Slim (@FatboySlim) October 27, 2023
Over 1200 people have already voiced their displeasure and opposition to a planning application for a commercial building to go up next door to the pub, while 14,000 have signed their names to a petition to the block the proposal. Grassroots venue locations have been a constant headline within the UK music scene of late, with many locations facing complete closure or the threat of shutdown in favour of commercial projects.
Getting his start in the Brighton club scene, Fatboy Slim played a secret show at the Prince Albert on 30 October and told the crowd, “It’s a long slow death over three or four years if the neighbours complain. In Brighton, we preserve our Grade II and Grade I listed buildings, we preserve Regency architecture because it’s part of what Brighton is. We should preserve music venues in the same way because they’re a more recent part of Brighton culture but a huge amount nonetheless.”
Grassroots music venues have been the subject of a growing political debate with many UK artists weighing in, claiming that small, often underground locations are where they have got their starts and without them, the industry would face an uncertain future. Ed Sheeran, Bring Me The Horizon and Arctic Monkeys are only a few such artists that have expressed their concern over the growing threat of a commercial takeover of these venues.
A recent report by the MVT urged urgent government action to save grassroots venues with the consequence of choking off the stream of emerging talent if action is not taken. Mark Davyd, the CEO of MVT said recently at a panel about the future of grassroots music at Beyond The Music conference this month that “127 music venues of the grassroots type have stopped programming live music or closed down entirely.”
Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook is best known for his DJ work, producing hit singles “Praise You,” “Right Here, Right Now” and “Weapon Of Choice.” His singles have often been accompanied by highly artistic, often surreal music videos directed by the likes of Spike Jones and starring prominent actors such as Christopher Walken.
The DJ has recently announced an eight-date UK tour for the summer of 2024.
