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No connection: the Spotify player needs the internet. You can find the album on the services below.
The third album came out on 30 June 1997 and went straight to number one in the UK and the US. Firestarter, Breathe and Smack My Bitch Up took rave to stadiums.
By day you can move the stickers. At night the spotlights come on and the four take the stage.
Tap a track — the record spins and the needle drops onto its groove.
Spotify player: once it’s on, Spotify gets your IP address and sets its own cookies.
No connection: the Spotify player needs the internet. You can find the album on the services below.
The cover. A moon crab, Gecarcinus lateralis, shot on Playa Las Gemelas in Costa Rica by Konrad Wothe.
The title. From the old phrase “living off the fat of the land” — living well.
sampled voice: Kool Keith; female vocal: Shahin Badar
The female vocal began as a Sheila Chandra sample; it wasn’t cleared, so Shahin Badar re-sang it. The BBC banned the song — Radio 1 only played the instrumental.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 110 of 114 shows
What’s this track loaded with? Scratch to see where the samples come from
Keith and Maxim; guitar: Jim Davies
The second single and a second UK number one in a row — plus number one across Europe.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 112 of 114 shows
What’s this track loaded with? Scratch to see where the samples come from
rap: Kool Keith
Kool Keith is the same rapper whose sampled Ultramagnetic MCs voice opens the album on Smack My Bitch Up.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 28 of 114 shows
co-written by the Beastie Boys
All three Beastie Boys — Mike D, Ad-Rock and Adam Yauch — share the writing credit. A year later the Beastie Boys would ask the band not to play Smack My Bitch Up at Reading.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 108 of 114 shows
vocals: Keith
One of four songs on the album sung by Keith — along with Breathe, Firestarter and Fuel My Fire.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 69 of 114 shows
vocals: Maxim
Two years later it landed on the soundtrack of The Matrix (1999).
On the 1996–1998 tour: 107 of 114 shows
vocals: Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker); drums: Matt Cameron (Soundgarden)
The longest track on the album — over nine minutes.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 43 of 114 shows
vocals: Keith; guitar: Jim Davies
The first single of the era and the band’s first UK number one — three weeks at the top. In the US: number 30 on the Hot 100.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 111 of 114 shows
What’s this track loaded with? Scratch to see where the samples come from
instrumental
The only track on the album with no voice at all.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 51 of 114 shows
vocals: Keith; backing vocals: Saffron (Republica); guitar: Gizz Butt
A cover of the Californian band L7 — the album ends on punk.
On the 1996–1998 tour: 75 of 114 shows
Tracks from the album: pick the stronger one. The ranking uses Elo is a rating system from chess. Every track starts at 1500 points. The track you pick takes points from its rival: beating a strong track earns a lot, beating a weak one earns little, and an upset earns the most. The more votes, the more accurate the ranking. “Your ranking” uses your votes, “Overall ranking” uses every fan’s votes..
Slide a tape into the VCR.
Keith thrashes through the tunnel straight into the lens — after this, the whole country knew the horns and the stare.
Scandal. After Top of the Pops, parents complained it frightened children. The BBC reportedly stopped showing it.
Outcome. Single: UK number one for three weeks.
Watch on YouTube ↗Keith and Maxim haunt the flat; Liam and Leeroy are trapped in it. An alligator crawls the floor, crickets swarm the walls — every shot is someone’s phobia. Leeroy’s last video with the band.
Outcome. MTV VMA 1997: Viewer’s Choice; MTV Europe: International Viewer’s Choice.
Watch on YouTube ↗The whole clip is first-person: bars, fights, a wild night. At the end the hero looks in a mirror — and she’s a woman.
Scandal. MTV only aired it late: a midnight premiere on 120 Minutes on 7 December 1997, pulled from rotation on 22 December.
Outcome. MTV VMA 1998: Best Dance Video and Breakthrough Video, from four nominations.
Find it on YouTube ↗18+ video: YouTube will ask you to sign in.
Drag the slider or press “Play tour” — shows light up date by date. Tap a dot to see its setlist.
Tap a dot on the map.
Out of 114 full setlists. Tap a song to see where it was played.
Flip a card.
5 questions on the era. Get 4 right and the secret “Archaeologist” stamp is yours.
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Tallinn · Linnahall · 14.02.1998. The earliest Baltic show we have found.
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