Fatboy Slim's 'Satisfaction Skank' Finally Gets Rolling Stones Blessing After 25 Years of Waiting
A classic bootleg recording by Fatboy Slim, which samples The Rolling Stones' iconic song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", has been given the green light for official release after a quarter century. The track, "Satisfaction Skank", was a staple on dancefloors in the late 1990s, with its infectious blend of rock and big beat sounds.
The story behind the track's creation is complex. Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, famously mashed up his own hit "The Rockafeller Skank" with the Stones' 1965 classic, incorporating Keith Richards' guitar riff into a new sound that captured the spirit of the late 1990s dance scene.
However, the track was never officially released due to disputes over sample clearance. Despite numerous attempts to secure permission from The Rolling Stones, Cook was repeatedly rebuffed by their management team, who refused to even entertain negotiations. "We got a call from Mick Jagger and he said he liked the mix," Cook recalled in an interview with the BBC. "But his management was like 'No, not even negotiable'. We asked four times, and I wouldn't have dared ask again."
Fast-forward 25 years, and The Rolling Stones finally relented, allowing Cook to recreate the track from scratch using original stems of "Satisfaction". This time around, however, there were no issues over clearance. Instead, the band gave their full blessing for the release, which will be accompanied by a music video directed by Tom Furse, a member of goth band The Horrors.
The decision to approve the sample echoes a similar process that played out with The Verve's hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony" in 2019. In that case, The Rolling Stones relinquished their rights over the song after an out-of-court settlement granted Mick Jagger and Keith Richards control of royalties. The Stones' latest move is seen as a kind gesture from the band, which has largely kept a low profile since the release of their comeback album "Hackney Diamonds" in 2023.
Fatboy Slim remains active and creative, hosting his All Back to Minehead festival and planning outdoor concerts on Brighton beach later this year. Despite his success over the years, Cook is still driven by a passion for music and entertainment. As he wrote in his recent book, "It Ain't Over 'Til the Fatboy Sings", he's just getting started.
A classic bootleg recording by Fatboy Slim, which samples The Rolling Stones' iconic song "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", has been given the green light for official release after a quarter century. The track, "Satisfaction Skank", was a staple on dancefloors in the late 1990s, with its infectious blend of rock and big beat sounds.
The story behind the track's creation is complex. Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, famously mashed up his own hit "The Rockafeller Skank" with the Stones' 1965 classic, incorporating Keith Richards' guitar riff into a new sound that captured the spirit of the late 1990s dance scene.
However, the track was never officially released due to disputes over sample clearance. Despite numerous attempts to secure permission from The Rolling Stones, Cook was repeatedly rebuffed by their management team, who refused to even entertain negotiations. "We got a call from Mick Jagger and he said he liked the mix," Cook recalled in an interview with the BBC. "But his management was like 'No, not even negotiable'. We asked four times, and I wouldn't have dared ask again."
Fast-forward 25 years, and The Rolling Stones finally relented, allowing Cook to recreate the track from scratch using original stems of "Satisfaction". This time around, however, there were no issues over clearance. Instead, the band gave their full blessing for the release, which will be accompanied by a music video directed by Tom Furse, a member of goth band The Horrors.
The decision to approve the sample echoes a similar process that played out with The Verve's hit "Bitter Sweet Symphony" in 2019. In that case, The Rolling Stones relinquished their rights over the song after an out-of-court settlement granted Mick Jagger and Keith Richards control of royalties. The Stones' latest move is seen as a kind gesture from the band, which has largely kept a low profile since the release of their comeback album "Hackney Diamonds" in 2023.
Fatboy Slim remains active and creative, hosting his All Back to Minehead festival and planning outdoor concerts on Brighton beach later this year. Despite his success over the years, Cook is still driven by a passion for music and entertainment. As he wrote in his recent book, "It Ain't Over 'Til the Fatboy Sings", he's just getting started.
it's a testament to how music can bring people together and make magic happen, even when there were some bumps along the way. Norman Cook's dedication to his craft is truly admirable, and I love that he's still going strong in the music scene 
its crazy how long it took but i guess 25 yrs is a loooong time 
. its awesome that fatboy slim got the green light after all those yrs of trying to get clearance from the rolling stones. i mean, can u imagine having a track that iconic without being able to officially release it? 
but seriously, its great that they're making an effort to work with artists who want to pay homage to their music.
The track has been a classic bootleg for ages and I'm loving the idea of it being released officially now 
It's amazing how Keith Richards and Mick Jagger have finally relented on sample clearance - that must be a huge weight off Norman Cook's shoulders 
I mean, who doesn't love a good 'skank' party? 
I'm not sure I buy this story, you know? 25 years waiting for The Rolling Stones to give their approval? That sounds like a pretty convenient excuse to me. 
What if they were just trying to make headlines or something? And now that it's finally happening, it feels like they're just cashing in on Fatboy Slim's nostalgia. I mean, what's the real reason behind this decision? Is it really just about giving Cook permission to release his track, or is there more to it? 
I'm not convinced. 
. 25 years is a long time to wait, especially considering it's just a sample from another song 
, maybe it's time for them to chill out 
. But hey, at least Fatboy Slim is still bringing the noise 
, even if The Rolling Stones aren't 
. Can we get a new track next? Maybe one that doesn't involve so much drama and politics 
. It's all about the music, and if it brings joy to people's lives, that's what matters 
. Fatboy Slim's got some serious skills, mashing up that "Rockafeller Skank" with "Satisfaction" was pure genius 
. Now, we can all enjoy this banger without any clearance issues 
. Can't wait to see the new vid and get my Satisfaction Skank on 
. What's next, will they start demanding royalties on every DJ set that samples them? 
Fatboy Slim was lucky to get the green light, and now he has to give up control over his own track 
. This is all about The Rolling Stones protecting their brand and legacy 
. I'm just waiting for the labels and promoters to start cashing in on this deal 
. Fatboy Slim always brings the energy with his festivals, and I'm loving the idea of outdoor concerts on Brighton beach later this year 
.
It's good that The Rolling Stones are being decent about it too, giving their blessing and whatnot. You gotta respect a band willing to let go of their ego (or in this case, their royalties) for the sake of art 
. Now we can all enjoy "Satisfaction Skank" for what it is - a dope old track that'll probably still get people moving on the dance floor 
I'm loving this turn of events! 25 years waiting for this classic track to get official release is insane 
. I can only imagine how frustrating it must've been for Fatboy Slim, trying to clear samples with The Rolling Stones' team all these years. But hey, music should be all about collaboration and creativity 
.
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cant wait to hear the music vid directed by tom furse 