Beats International

Beats International
Beats International, 1990. From L to R: Lester Noel, Norman Cook, Lindy Layton, Andy Boucher
Background information
OriginBrighton, England
GenresElectronic, hip-hop
Years active1989–1992
LabelsElektra Records
Telstar Records
Go! Beat
MembersNorman Cook
Lindy Layton
Lester Noel
David John-Baptiste
MC Wildski
Andy Boucher

Beats International were a British dance music band and hip-hop collective, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook (later in his career known as Fatboy Slim) based in Brighton, East Sussex, England, after his departure from the Housemartins.

A loose confederation of musicians, the line-up also included vocalist Lindy Layton, former North of Cornwallis vocalist Lester Noel, rappers DJ Baptiste (The Crazy MC), MC Wildski and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Unusually, the band's live line-up also incorporated a graffiti artist, REQ, who painted designs on a backdrop while the musicians played.