September 8, 2000 18:08

FATBOY BOOTLEGGED

You can hear [b]'Sunset (Bird Of Prey)'[/b] a month ahead of release...

Fatboy Slim's new single 'SUNSET (BIRD OF PREY)' has already become available for download via the controversial and legally embattled Napster software provider.

The track, which was premiered on Pete Tong's Radio 1 show in the UK and on K Roc, was available on Napster and similar sites mere hours after its radio debut. Madonna's 'Music' single was beset with similar problems a couple of months back, appearing on the site before it even been finished.

However, whereas many high-profile stars have registered outrage at the presence of new material becoming available on the site, Skint boss Damian Harris was philosophical. "Running a label, DJing, journalism, working in record shops are all just ways of saying, 'have a listen to this record, it's fucking ace,' he said. "Napster just seems to be a continuation of this."

He added: "The amount of time companies spend stressing about getting a record on radio, you would think that the idea of some big, global listening post would make perfect sense. And while enough people enjoy the social interaction of going into a record shop and buying something to keep and cherish, I don't see why we can't all live in one big happy music-sharing world."

'Sunset (Bird Of Prey)' is released on October 16th. The album, 'Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars', follows on November 6th.