A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used in order to inflict damage or harm to living beings - physical or mental -, artificial structures, or systems. In human society, weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, and war.

Weapons are employed individually or collectively. A weapon can be either expressly designed as such or be an item re-purposed through use (for example, hitting someone with a hammer). Their form can range from simple implements such as clubs to complicated modern implementations such as intercontinental ballistic missiles and biological weapons. Weapon development has progressed from early wood or stone clubs through revolutions in metalworking (swords, maces, etc.) and gunpowder (guns, cannon), electronics and nuclear technology.

In a broader context, weapons may be construed to include anything used to gain a strategic, material or mental advantage over an adversary on land, sea, air, or even outer space or virtual space.

History

Prehistoric

Very simple weapon use has been observed among chimpanzees, leading to speculation that early hominids began their first use of weapons as early as five million years ago. These would have been wooden clubs, spears, and unshaped stones—none of which would leave an unambiguous record.

Some of the earliest unambiguous weapons were throwing sticks and spears dated to more than 300,000 years ago. The Schöninger Speere, eight wooden throwing spears from the Lower Paleolithic era, are thought to be the earliest known example of weapons used by the genus Homo.

Ancient and classical

Ancient weapons were evolutionary improvements of late neolithic implements, but then significant improvements in materials and crafting techniques created a series of revolutions in military technology:

The development of metal tools, beginning with copper during the Copper Age (about 3,300 BC) and followed shortly by bronze led to the Bronze Age sword and similar weapons.

The first defensive structures and fortifications appeared in the Bronze Age, indicating an increased need for security. Weapons designed to breach fortifications followed soon after, for example the battering ram was in use by 2500 BC.

Although early Iron Age swords were not superior to their bronze predecessors, once iron-working developed - around 1200 BC in Sub-Saharan Africa, iron began to be used widely in weapon production because iron ore was much more readily available than the copper and tin required to create bronze.

Domestication of the horse and widespread use of spoked wheels by ca. 2000 BC, led to the light, horse-drawn chariot. The mobility provided by chariots were important during this era. Spoke-wheeled chariot usage peaked around 1300 BC and then declined, ceasing to be militarily relevant by the 4th century BC.

Cavalry developed once horses were bred to support the weight of a man. The horse extended the range and increased the speed of attack, but was not a weapon as much as it provided an enhanced capability.

Ships built as weapons or warships such as the Triremes were in use by the 7th century BC. These ships were eventually replaced by larger ships by the 4th century BC.

Middle Ages

European warfare during the middle ages was dominated by elite groups of knights supported by massed infantry (both in combat and ranged roles). They were involved in mobile combat and sieges which involved various siege weapons and tactics. Knights on horseback developed tactics for charging with lances providing an impact on the enemy formations and then drawing more practical weapons (such as swords) once they entered into the melee. Whereas infantry, in the age before structured formations, relied on cheap, sturdy weapons such as spears and billhooks in close combat and bows from a distance. As armies became more professional their equipment was standardized and infantry transitioned to pikes in conjunction with smaller side-arms (short sword).

In Eastern and Middle Eastern warfare similar tactics were developed independent of European influences.

The introduction of gunpowder from the Far East at the end of this period revolutionized warfare. Formations of musketeers, protected by pikemen came to dominate open battles, and the cannon replaced the trebuchet as the dominant siege weapon.

Early modern

The European Renaissance marked the beginning of the implementation of firearms in western warfare. Guns and rockets were introduced to the battlefield.

Firearms are qualitatively different from earlier weapons because they release energy from combustible propellants such as gunpowder, rather than from a counter-weight or spring. This energy is released very rapidly and can be replicated without much effort by the user. Therefore even early firearms such as the arquebus were much more powerful than human-powered weapons. Firearms became increasingly important and effective during the 16th century to 19th century, with progressive improvements in ignition mechanisms followed by revolutionary changes in ammunition handling and propellant. During the U.S. Civil War various technologies including the machine gun and ironclad warship emerged that would be recognizable and useful military weapons today, particularly in limited conflicts. In the 19th century warship propulsion changed from sail power to fossil fuel-powered steam engines.

The age of edged weapons ended abruptly just before World War I with rifled artillery. Howitzers were able to destroy masonry fortresses and other fortifications. This single invention caused a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) and established tactics and doctrine that are still in use today. ''See Technology during World War I for a detailed discussion.''

An important feature of industrial age warfare was technological escalation - innovations were rapidly matched through replication or countered by yet another innovation. The technological escalation during World War I (WW I) was profound, producing armed aircraft and tanks.

This continued in the inter-war period (between WW I and WW II) with continuous evolution of all weapon systems by all major industrial powers. Many modern military weapons, particularly ground-based ones, are relatively minor improvements of weapon systems developed during World War II. ''See military technology during World War II for a detailed discussion.''

Modern

Since the mid-18th century North American French-Indian war through the beginning of the 20th century, human-powered weapons were reduced from the primary weaponry of the battlefield yielding to gunpowder-based weaponry. Sometimes referred to as the "Age of Rifles", this period was characterized by the development of firearms for infantry and cannons for support, as well as the beginnings of mechanized weapons such as the machine gun, the tank and the wide introduction of aircraft into warfare, including naval warfare with the introduction of the aircraft carriers.

World War I marked the entry of fully industrialized warfare as well as weapons of mass destruction (e.g. chemical and biological), and weapons were developed quickly to meet wartime needs. Above all it promised to the military commanders the independence from the horse and the resurgence in maneuver warfare through extensive use of motor vehicles. The changes that these military technologies underwent before and during the Second World War were evolutionary, but defined the development for the rest of the century.

World War II however, perhaps marked the most frantic period of weapons development in the history of humanity. Massive numbers of new designs and concepts were fielded, and all existing technologies were improved between 1939 and 1945. The most powerful weapon invented during this period was the atomic bomb, however many more weapons influenced the world in different ways.

Nuclear age and beyond

Since the realization of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD), the nuclear option of all-out war is no longer considered a survivable scenario. During the Cold War in the years following World War II, both the United States and the former Soviet Union engaged in a nuclear arms race. Each country and their allied blocks continually attempted to out-develop each other in the field of nuclear armaments. Once the joint technological capabilities reached the point of being able to ensure the destruction of the entire planet (see Mutually Assured Destruction) then a new tactic had to be developed. With this realization, armaments development funding shifted back to primarily sponsoring the development of conventional arms technologies for support of limited wars rather than nuclear war.

Classification

By user

:''- what person or unit uses the weapon''

Personal weapons (or small arms) - designed to be used by a single person.

Hunting weapon - primarily for hunting game animals for food or sport

Infantry support weapons - larger than personal weapons, requiring two or more people to operate correctly.

Fortification weapons - mounted in a permanent installation, or used primarily within a fortification. Usually high caliber.

Mountain weapons - for use by mountain forces or those operating in difficult terrain. This includes modifications of existing weapons for paratroopers.

Vehicle weapons - to be mounted on any type of combat vehicle.

Railway weapons - designed to be mounted on railway cars, including armored trains.

Aircraft weapons - carried on and used by some type of aircraft, helicopter, or other aerial vehicle.

Naval weapons - mounted on ships and submarines.

Space weapons - are designed to be used in or launched from space.

By function

:''- the construction of the weapon and principle of operation''

Antimatter weapons (theoretical) would combine matter and antimatter to cause a powerful explosion.

Archery weapons operate by using a tensioned string and bent solid to launch a projectile.

Artillery are firearms capable of launching heavy projectiles over long distances, which can explode on impact.

Biological weapons spread biological agents, causing disease or infection.

Chemical weapons, poisoning and causing reactions.

Energy weapons rely on concentrating forms of energy to attack, such as lasers or sonic attack.

Explosive weapons use a physical explosion to create blast concussion or spread shrapnel.

Firearms use a chemical charge to launch projectiles.

Improvised weapons are common objects, reused as weapons, such as crowbars and kitchen knives.

Incendiary weapons cause damage by fire.

Non-lethal weapons are designed to subdue without killing.

Magnetic weapons use magnetic fields to propel projectiles, or to focus particle beams.

Mêlée weapons operate as physical extensions of the user's body and directly impact their target.

Missiles are rockets which are guided to their target after launch. (Also a general term for projectile weapons).

Nuclear weapons use radioactive materials to create nuclear fission and/or nuclear fusion detonations.

Primitive weapons make little or no use of technological or industrial elements.

Ranged weapons (unlike Mêlée weapons), target a distant object or person.

Rockets use chemical propellant to accelerate a projectile

Suicide weapons exploit the willingness of their operator to not survive the attack.

Trojan weapons appear on face value to be gifts, though the intent is to in some way harm the recipient.

By target

:''- the type of target the weapon is designed to attack

Anti-aircraft weapons target missiles and aerial vehicles in flight.

Anti-fortification weapons are designed to target enemy installations.

Anti-personnel weapons are designed to attack people, either individually or in numbers.

Anti-radiation weapons target sources of electronic radiation, particularly radar emitters.

Anti-satellite weapons target orbiting satellites.

Anti-ship weapons target ships and vessels on water.

Anti-submarine weapons target submarines and other underwater targets.

Anti-tank weapons are designed to defeat armored targets.

Area denial weapons target territory, making it unsafe or unsuitable for enemy use or travel.

Hunting weapons are civilian weapons used to hunt animals.

Infantry support weapons are designed to attack various threats to infantry units.

Legislation

The production, possession, trade and use of many weapons are controlled. This may be at a local or central government level and in some cases is governed by international treaty.

Examples of such controls include:

The right of self-defense

Knife legislation

Air gun laws

Gun law

Arms trafficking laws

Arms control treaties

Space Preservation Treaty

See also

Arms industry

List of martial arts weapons

List of practice weapons

Lists of weapons

Riot control

Toy weapon

Weapon mount

References

Further reading

U.S.Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, ''Improving the prospects for future international peace operations: workshop proceedings'', OTA-BP-ISS-167, Washington DC, US Government Printing Office, September 1995

Hind, Edward, ''My Magazine: Being a Series of Poems, Tales, Sketches, Essays, Orations, Etc.,: The Present Age - An oration'' J. and H. Clarke, London, 1860

External links

Higgins Armory Museum

Modern Firearms Encyclopedia

Society of the Military Horse

Pentagon plans cyber-insect army

Weapon Systems

Antique firearms

Gladius Scholarly journal on Ancient and Medieval Weapons

Modern Military Weapons

Arms Weapons

Category:Military equipment Category:Security *

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name	Fatboy Slim
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
birth name	Quentin Leo Cook
alias	Fatboy Slim, and others. See pseudonym section
birth date	July 31, 1963
origin	Reigate, Surrey, England
spouse	Zoe Ball (1999–present)
genre	Big beat, Funky Breaks, Trip Hop, Rave
occupation	DJ, musician, record producer
instrument	Turntables, keyboard, bass guitar, guitar, drums
years active	1979–present
label	Skint, Astralwerks, Southern Fried
associated acts	The Housemartins, Beats International, Freak Power, Pizzaman, The Brighton Port Authority, David Byrne
website	}}

Norman Quentin Cook (born Quentin Leo Cook on 31 July 1963 in Bromley, England) also known by his stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Cook has achieved considerable success in the UK charts, performing as Fatboy Slim and with The Housemartins, Beats International, and Freak Power. As Fatboy Slim, he has won ten MTV Video Music Awards and two Brit Awards, and his most notable tracks include "Weapon of Choice", "Praise You", "The Rockafeller Skank" and "Right Here Right Now". He currently performs as the Brighton Port Authority.

History

Quentin Leo Cook was raised in Reigate, Surrey, England, and was educated at Reigate Grammar School. He played drums in Disque Attack (a British new wave-influenced rock band). When frontman Charlie Alcock was told by his parents that he had to give up the band to concentrate on his O levels, Cook took over as lead vocalist. At Reigate College he also met Paul Heaton with whom he formed the Stomping Pondfrogs. At 18, he went to the Brighton Polytechnic to study a BA in English, politics, and sociology. Although he had begun DJing some years before, it was at this time that he began to develop his skills on the thriving Brighton club scene.

Known as DJ Quentox (The OX that Rocks), Cook and DJ Baptiste started putting on youth club hip hop jams in Brighton, sowing the seeds of the city's flourishing hip hop scene today. These primitive 1980s block parties are recalled in the music documentary ''South Coast'', which documents Brighton's cult hip hop scene from its grass roots to the present day.

In 1985, Cook's friend Paul Heaton had formed a guitar band called The Housemartins. Their bassist quit on the eve of their first national tour, so Cook agreed to move to Hull to join them. The band soon had a hit single with "Happy Hour". They also reached number one just before Christmas 1986 with a version of "Caravan of Love", originally a hit the year before for Isley-Jasper-Isley. However, by 1988 they had split up. Heaton and the band's drummer Dave Hemingway went on to form The Beautiful South, while Cook moved back to Brighton to pursue his interest in the style of music he preferred. It was at this time that he first started working with young studio engineer Simon Thornton, with whom he continues to make records. All of Cook's records released from that point onwards have involved both of them to varying degrees (Thornton is credited in 2004 as "Executive Producer", for example).

Cook achieved his first solo hit in 1989, featuring his future Beats International member MC Wildski, called "Blame It on the Bassline". Credited to "Norman Cook feat. MC Wildski", the song followed the basic template of what was to come in the style of the music of Beats International. It became a modest hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching number 29.

Cook formed Beats International, a loose confederation of studio musicians including vocalists Lindy Layton, Lester Noel, D.J. Baptiste, rapper MC Wildski, and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Their first album, ''Let Them Eat Bingo'', included the number one single "Dub Be Good to Me", which caused a legal dispute revolving around allegations of infringement of copyright through the liberal use of unauthorised samples: the bassline was a note-for-note lift from "The Guns of Brixton" by The Clash and the lyrics borrowed heavily from "Just Be Good to Me" by The S.O.S. Band. The 1991 follow-up album ''Excursion on the Version'', an exploration of dub and reggae music, failed to repeat the success of its predecessor, as it did not chart.

Cook then formed Freak Power with horn player Ashley Slater and singer Jesse Graham. They released their debut album ''Drive Thru Booty'' in 1994, which contained the single "Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out". The cut was picked up by the Levi's company for use in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign. In 1996, Cook re-joined Freak Power for their second album, ''More of Everything for Everybody''.

Cook enlisted help from producer friends Tim Jeffery and JC Reid to create a house music album under the name Pizzaman. The 1995 ''Pizzamania'' album spawned three UK Top 40 hits: "Trippin' on Sunshine", "Sex on the Streets", and "Happiness". "Happiness" was picked up by the Del Monte Foods corporation for use in a UK fruit juice ad. The music videos for the three singles were all directed by Michael Dominic.

Cook also formed the group The Mighty Dub Katz along with Gareth Hansome (aka GMoney), Cook's former flatmate. Together they started the ''Boutique'' Nightclub in Brighton, formerly known as the ''Big Beat Boutique''. Their biggest song together was "Magic Carpet Ride".

Fatboy Slim, 1997–

Cook adopted the new pseudonym Fatboy Slim in 1996. The Fatboy Slim album and Cook's second solo album ''Better Living Through Chemistry'' (released through Skint Records) contained the Top 40 UK hit, "Everybody Needs a 303".

Fatboy Slim's next work was the single "The Rockafeller Skank", released prior to the album ''You've Come a Long Way, Baby'', both of which were released in 1998. "Praise You", also from this album, was Cook's first UK solo number one. Its music video, starring Spike Jonze, won numerous awards. On 9 September 1999, he performed "Praise You" at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City, and won three awards, including the award for Breakthrough Video.

In 2000, Fatboy Slim released his third studio album, ''Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars'', and featured two collaborations with Macy Gray and "Weapon of Choice", which also was made into an award-winning video starring Christopher Walken. At the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, Fatboy Slim won 6 awards for "Weapon of Choice", the most awards at the ceremony.

In 2003, he produced Crazy Beat and Gene by Gene from the Blur album ''Think Tank'', and in 2004, ''Palookaville'' was Cook's first studio album for four years.

Fatboy Slim's greatest hits album ''Why Try Harder'' was released on 19 June 2006. It comprises eighteen tracks, including ten Top 40 singles, a couple of Number Ones and two exclusive new tracks – "Champion Sound" and "That Old Pair of Jeans". Most of the songs were shortened and heavily edited, resulting in almost fifteen minutes of unused space on the compact disc release.

In 2006, Cook travelled to Cuba, and wrote and produced two original Cuban crossover tracks for the album ''The Revolution Presents: Revolution'', which was released by Studio !K7 and Rapster Records in 2009. The tracks were called "Shelter" (which featured long term collaborator Lateef); and "Siente Mi Ritmo", featuring Cuba's top female vocal group Sexto Sentido. The recordings took place in Cuba's legendary EGREM Studios, home of the Buena Vista Social Club, and featured a band made up of Cuba's top young musicians, including Harold Lopez Nussa. Another track recorded during these sessions entitled "Guaguanco" was released separately under the Mighty Dub Katz moniker in 2006.

Cook has also been responsible for successful remixes for Cornershop, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, and Wildchild. In 2008, he did a remix of the track "Amazonas" for the charity Bottletop.

Cook released a mix album in 2010 titled ''The Legend Returns'' as a covermount album in the June 2010 issue of Mixmag.

Cook returned as Fatboy Slim when performing at Ultra Music Festival in Miami in March 2012.

The Brighton Port Authority

The Brighton Port Authority debuted in 2008 with a collaboration with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal titled "Toe Jam", along with a music video featuring nude dancers with censor bars on them, making pictures and words with them.

The soundtrack album for the TV series ''Heroes'' also includes the BPA's track "He's Frank (Slight Return)" (a cover of a song by The Monochrome Set), with Iggy Pop as vocalist. The video for this track features a near life size puppet of Iggy Pop. An alternative club version was released under the "He's Frank (Washing Up)" title with the video featuring some footage of Iggy Pop acting and saying lyrics.

The band's first album, ''I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat'', is the first to be co-produced by Cook's longtime engineer Simon Thornton, who also sings on one track. The album was released 6 January 2009 exclusively at Amazon.com on CD, with downloadable format and other stores scheduled for a month later on 3 February.

Performances

On 13 July 2002, Fatboy Slim performed the second of his free, open air concerts on Brighton Beach. Although organisers expected a crowd of around 60,000 people, the event instead attracted an estimated 250,000 who crammed the promenade and beach between Brighton's piers. Local police forced the event to end early amid safety concerns, overcrowding, and one death. After the music had finished and the crowd began to dissipate, traffic ensued throughout the Brighton area with many caught in traffic jams until the morning.

In June 2005, Fatboy Slim filled the Friday night headline slot on the "Other Stage" at the Glastonbury Festival. In 2006, Fatboy Slim filled the Saturday headline slot at the Global Gathering festival, Long Marston Airfield in the English Midlands. He played a two hour set, appearing in front of a visual stage set comprising video screens and 3D lighting. A firework display rounded off the show. Having being banned by police from playing in Brighton since 2002, Fatboy Slim was given permission in 2006 to play again in his home town. On 1 January 2007, he played to an audience of more than 20,000 fans along Brighton's seafront. Tickets to the event, titled "Fatboy Slim's Big Beach Boutique 3", were made available only to Brighton residents. The concert was deemed a stunning success by Sussex Police, Fatboy Slim, and the crowd. The Cuban Brothers and David Guetta opened the concert. The next similar event, 'Big Beach Boutique 4', was held on 27 September 2008.

In 2008, Fatboy Slim played at the Glastonbury Festival again, and headlined the O2 Wireless Festival and Rockness Festival. According to an ''NME'' interview, this may have been one of the last times he performed as Fatboy Slim, as he may now focus on his new album, ''The Brighton Port Authority (BPA)''. Also in 2008, Fatboy Slim closed out the famed "Sahara" tent on Friday of the legendary Coachella Valley Music Festival. His introduction included a ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' opening, that has been called by many one of the most memorable Sahara performances ever.

In 2009, he toured Australia in the ''Good Vibrations'' festival. Also in 2009, he played in Marlay Park, Dublin alongside David Guetta, Dizzee Rascal, and Calvin Harris, as well as one huge performance at the Sziget Festival in Budapest. He also performed at V Festival 2009.

At Glastonbury 2009, he played an unadvertised concert in the "pinball-machine" stage at trash city.

In 2010, Fatboy Slim headlined the east dance at Glastonbury Festival. On 18 June 2010, he performed in Cape Town, South Africa as part of the Cool Britannia FIFA World Cup music festival at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. He also performed in Napoli on 15 July, at Neapolis Festival. On 30 May 2011, he performed as the headliner for Detroit's Electronic Music Festival in Detroit, Michigan, USA. 25 September 2011, Fatboy Slim headlined the Terrace at Ibiza's famed Space nightclub's We Love Sundays closing party. On 29 October 2011, Fatboy Slim opened at the San Francisco Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, following up on the 30th, closing out the Red Bulletin/Le PLUR Stage at the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. On Saturday, 24 March 2012, Fatboy Slim performed a live DJ set on the main stage at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, Florida.

Since March 2012, Cook hosts a one hour radio programme titled ''On The Road To Big Beach Bootique 5'' on XFM. It will consist of 10 shows.

Personal life

Cook was awarded a star on the city of Brighton's Walk of Fame, next to that of Winston Churchill.

He married TV personality Zoë Ball in 1999 at Babington House in Somerset; in January 2003, Cook broke up with Ball but three months later, they reconciled. They have a son named Woody Fred Cook (born 15 December 2000) and a daughter named Nelly May Lois (born 14 January 2010). Cook is a 12% shareholder of Brighton & Hove Albion, the football club he has supported since moving to Brighton in the late 1980s.

''Q'' magazine named Fatboy Slim in their ''50 Bands to See Before You Die'' list.

On 4 March 2009, Cook checked into a rehabilitation centre in Bournemouth to fight a "booze addiction" that he has been battling "for some time".

Because of an extended stay in rehab, his performance at Snowbombing, a week-long winter sports and music festival held in the Austrian ski resort of Mayrhofen, was cancelled – with the slot being filled by 2ManyDJs. Cook then left the clinic at the end of March.

Cook completed the inaugural Brighton Marathon on 18 April 2010 in a time of 4:53:10.

Awards

In 1999, the video to "Praise You" won three MTV awards: for best direction (Spike Jonze), best choreography (Jones as "Richard Koufey"), and best breakthrough video. Fatboy Slim's single "The Rockafeller Skank" topped the ''Village Voice'' 1999 Pazz & Jop singles poll. In September 2001, Fatboy Slim's video for "Weapon of Choice", also directed by Spike Jonze, received six prizes at the MTV Video Awards, the most given to a single winner that year. In May 2007, Cook received an Ivor Novello Award for his "outstanding contribution to British music". Cook was also a judge for the 6th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers. He has won two Brit Awards, in 1999 and 2001, both for British Dance Act.

Gear

For live shows and performances Fatboy Slim uses Rane TTM 57SL mixer with Serato Scratch Live and Serato Video.

Bands and pseudonyms

Norman Cook, now his real name

Beats International

Brighton Port Authority

Cheeky Boy

Chemistry

DJ Delite – used in DJ Tools (e.g. acapellas) for Fatboy Slim singles

Fatboy Slim

Freak Power

Fried Funk Food

Mighty Dub Katz ("Magic Carpet Ride" dance song, 1996)

Pizzaman

Rockaway 3

Sensataria

Son of a Cheeky Boy

Son of Wilmot

Sunny Side Up

The Feelgood Factor

The Housemartins, the indie rock band for which Cook was the bassist for from 1985 to 1988.

Yum Yum Head Food

Discography

; Studio albums

''Better Living Through Chemistry'' (1996)

''You've Come a Long Way, Baby'' (1998)

''Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars'' (2000)

''Palookaville'' (2004)

''Here Lies Love'' (with David Byrne) (2010)

See also

The Chemical Brothers

The Prodigy

The Crystal Method

Notes

External links

Category:Astralwerks artists Category:Electronica musicians Category:English electronic musicians Category:Music in Brighton and Hove Category:English football chairmen and investors Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Reigate Grammar School Category:Alumni of the University of Brighton Category:Breakbeat musicians Category:Brit Award winners Category:Ivor Novello Award winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:The Housemartins members Category:Remixers Category:People from Hove Category:Big beat musicians Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics

bn:ফ্যাটবয় স্লিম bg:Фатбой Слим ca:Fatboy Slim cs:Fatboy Slim da:Fatboy Slim de:Fatboy Slim et:Fatboy Slim es:Fatboy Slim fa:نورمن کوک fr:Fatboy Slim ko:팻보이 슬림 is:Fatboy Slim it:Fatboy Slim he:פאטבוי סלים ka:ფეტბოი სლიმი lv:Fatboy Slim lt:Fatboy Slim nl:Norman Cook ja:ファットボーイ・スリム no:Fatboy Slim pl:Fatboy Slim pt:Fatboy Slim ru:Fatboy Slim sk:Norman Cook fi:Fatboy Slim sv:Fatboy Slim th:นอร์แมน คุก tr:Fatboy Slim uk:Фетбой Слім

Name	Fred Hammond
Background	solo_singer
Born	December 29, 1961
Resides	Dallas, TexasUnited States
Origin	Detroit, MichiganUSA
Genre	Gospel, contemporary Christian, inspirational / worship
Instrument	Vocals, bass guitar
Occupation	Musician, producer
Years active	1985–present
Label	Verity
Website	}}

Fred Hammond (born December 29, 1961]]. in Detroit, Michigan) is a gospel singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.

Musical career

Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist (currently for Verity Records). He is a multiple Grammy-, Dove-, Stellar- award winner and nominee as a performer, producer and writer.

Hammond first gained recognition while playing bass guitar for the gospel group The Winans. By 1985 he was one of the six original members of the group Commissioned, participating in 10 of the group's 12 albums.

After his stint with Commissioned ended, he regained fame in the gospel community after selling millions of albums with his musical group Radical For Christ.

In 2002 Hammond returned to the group Commissioned (now with members Keith Staten, Marvin Sapp, Mitchell Jones, Karl Reid, Michael Williams, and Marcus Cole) to produce the ''Commissioned Reunion Live'' album.

Hammond produced ''Make Me Like The Moon'', a stirring gospel ballad co-written by Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore for their 2006 double-CD of gospel and R&B; love songs entitled ''Uncovered/Covered'' (released October 10, 2006 by LaFace/Verity/Zomba Music Group). He also performs with Sean Combs on the album ''Thank You''.

Discography

Albums

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		Notable singles

Release date	Song	Album	Note
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Billboard chart history

Albums

Year	Album	Chart	Peak
	align="left"|''Matters of the Heart'' - (Commissioned)

Awards

Award wins

Dove Awards Dove Awards Dove Awards Dove AwardsStellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Dove Awards Stellar AwardsGrammy Awards

Year !! Award-giving body !! Award category !! Song /Album title
1992	Dove Awards	Inspirational Album
1992	|	Contemporary Gospel Album	'' Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration'' (with Mervyn Warren, George Duke, David Pack, Patti Austin, Take 6, Gary Hines, Robert Sadin, Richard Smallwood, and The Yellowjackets)
1998	|	Contemporary Gospel Song	''Let the Praise Begin'' (with Radical for Christ)
1999	|	Contemporary Gospel Song	''Power'' (with Radical For Christ)
2000	|	Contemporary Gospel Album	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical for Christ)
2001	|	Male Vocalist of the Year	''Purpose by Design''
2001	|	Producer of the Year	''Purpose by Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Urban Album	''Just Remember Christmas''
2005	|	Producer of the Year	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2008	|	Best Contemporary R&B; Gospel Album	''Free To Worship''

Award nominations

Grammy Awards Dove Awards Dove Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Dove Awards Dove Awards Dove AwardsSoul Train Awards Grammy Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Dove Awards Stellar Awards Grammy Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Grammy Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Stellar Awards Grammy Awards

Year !! Award-giving body !! Award category !! Song /Album title
1989	Grammy Awards	Best Soul Gospel Performance - Duo, Group, Choir or Chorus
1991	|	Best Pop Gospel Album	''Shakin' the House...Live - Carman & Commissioned (& the Christ Church Choir)'' (Commissioned)
1992	|	Inspirational Album (Winner)	''Generation to Generation'' (with Larnelle Harris, Matthew Ward, Glad, 4Him, Dallas Holm, Kelly Nelon Thompson, Billy & Sarah Gaines, and Dana Key)
1992	|	Contemporary Gospel Album (Winner)	'' Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration'' (with Mervyn Warren, George Duke, David Pack, Patti Austin, Take 6, Gary Hines, Robert Sadin, Richard Smallwood, and The Yellowjackets,)
1994	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Matters of the Heart'' (Commissioned)
1996	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Shakin' the House'' (with Hezekiah Walker and Yolanda Adams)
1998	|	Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Pages of Life: Chapters 1 and 2'' (with Radical for Christ)
1998	|	Contemporary Gospel Song (Winner)	''Let the Praise Begin'' (with Radical for Christ)
1999	|	Contemporary Gospel Song (Winner)	''Power'' (with Radical For Christ)
2000	|	Contemporary Gospel Album (Winner)	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical for Christ)
2000	|	Best Gospel Album	''Pages of Life Chapter 1 and 2''
2001	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''In Case You Missed It...And Then Some''
2001	|	Male Vocalist of the Year (Winner)	''Purpose by Design''
2001	|	Choir of the Year	''Purpose by Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Producer of the Year (Winner)	''Purpose by Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Producer of the Year	Jimmy Jam & Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis>Terry Lewis, Jarren Campbell, Richard Smallwood and Kevin Bond)
2001	|	Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	CD of the Year	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year (Winner)	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Contemporary Choir of the Year	''Purpose By Design'' (with Radical For Christ)
2001	|	Urban Album (Winner)	''Just Remember...Christmas''
2002	|	Song of the Year	''King of Glory''
2002	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3''
2002	|	Producer of the Year	''Commissioned Reunion Live''
2002	|	Group/Duo of the Year	''Commissioned Reunion Live'' (Commissioned)
2002	|	Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year	''Commissioned Reunion Live'' (Commissioned)
2002	|	Contemporary CD of the Year	''Commissioned Reunion Live'' (Commissioned)
2002	|	Special Event CD of the Year	''Commissioned Reunion Live'' (Commissioned)
2002	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Commissioned Reunion Live'' (Commissioned)
2002	|	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	''Fred Hammond Christmas...Just Remember''
2003	|	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	''Speak Those Things: POL Chapter 3''
2004	|	Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year	'' Somethin' Bout Love''
2004	|	Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year	''Celebrate (He Lives)'' (with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon)
2004	|	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	''Somethin' 'bout Love''
2004	|	Best Gospel Performance	''Celebrate (He Lives)''
2005	|	Artist of the Year	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2005	|	Song of the Year	''Celebrate (He Lives)'' (with Noel Hall and Darryl Dixon)
2005	|	Producer of the Year (Winner)	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2005	|	CD of the Year	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2005	|	Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2005	|	Contemporary CD of the Year	''Somethin' 'Bout Love''
2007	|	Producer of the Year	''Better Than That'' (The Singletons)
2008	|	Best Contemporary R&B; Gospel Album (Winner)	'' Free To Worship''

Personal life

Fred Hammond has two children that have appeared on his 2009 album, ''Love Unstoppable''. Hammond was divorced from his wife of 17 years in 2004, and he currently resides in Cedar Hill, Texas.

Hammond revealed on the Donnie McClurkin Show that his mother confessed to him three months before she died that she had attempted to have him aborted. The procedure--done in 1961 before abortions were legal-- failed. Hammond's mother returned for a second attempt but decided against the procedure ; Hammond was later born in December 1961.

References

External links

www.fhammondfamilyent.com - The Official Fred Hammond Website

Category:Living people Category:African American musicians Category:American gospel singers Category:Urban contemporary gospel musicians Category:Gospel artists from Detroit, Michigan Category:1960 births

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