Fatboy praises foul weather fans
Fatboy Slim on stage Let it pour…Fatboy Slim said the gig was cold, wet and dangerous. Fatboy Slim has praised the 20,000 fans who braved torrential rain to party on Brighton seafront on New Year’s Day.
He took the stage at Big Beach Boutique 3 after sets from warm-up acts Naboo, The Cuban Brothers and David Guetta. “I love the people of Brighton – they stood there and took everything the elements could chuck at them and still partied on,” said the DJ.
Sussex Police said there were five arrests for minor offences and 20 casualties treated at the scene. More than 130 police officers paid for by the organisers were on duty at the event, in an enclosed area adjacent to the beach. Stewards on foot and a coastguard boat patrolled the beach. There was also a field hospital on site and two heated “warm-up” tents.
The DJ, real name Norman Cook, received several electric shocks from his equipment during the evening and said afterwards it was “cold, wet, dangerous but it went really well”.
Fatboy fans Fans partied despite the weather and only five arrests were made.
A similar event run by the performer in July 2002 ended in chaos when 250,000 people turned up instead of the expected 60,000.
Monday’s event was for ticket-holders only, with the 20,000 allocation being sold only to Brighton residents with a BN postcode. Police said its success was due to meticulous planning over the last six months by the organisers, Brighton and Hove City Council and the emergency services.
“I am delighted that the city hosted such a successful and safe event and that everyone had a great time in spite of the weather,” said council leader Simon Burgess.
The audience included Cook’s wife, Zoe Ball, and her father Johnny, both TV presenters.
source: BBC News
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