Ongoing History Daily: No money for Fatboy Slim

“The Rockafeller Skank” is probably Fatboy Slim’s biggest song. It was released in June 1998 and was an important part of the “big beat” sound of the era with its dance beats and samples.

Ah. The samples. The “right about now” bit comes from Lord Finesse and the song “Vinyl Dogs Vibe” by Vinyl Dogs. There are also samples from the Just Brothers, The Bobby Fuller Four, David Bowie, John Barry, Duane Eddy, and Brian Poole and The Tremeloes.

When it came time to clear all the samples, Fatboy Slim found himself against the wall. The only way he could release the song is to pay 100% of the track’s royalties out to the artists he sampled. So he agreed.

Fatboy Slim makes zero money from “The Rockafeller Skank.”