David Guetta gears up for another massive summer season by giving us a taster of what we should expect to hear at his legendary F*** Me Iâm Famous parties, with FMIF International Vol 2 released on 4 August 2008 on Ministry of Sound Recordings.
In the past twelve months, David Guetta has established himself firmly in a class of his own, balancing mainstream success with global street credibility. Playing in over 130 countries in just 12 months, his touring regime is tireless. He won a World Music Award (with the live performance beamed to billions across the planet), has been voted the No1 House DJ in the DJ Magazine Top 100 and has taken America by storm. Billboard commented that they havenât seen anything like it in the past decade â and last yearâs UK smash âLove is Goneâ has become something of a phenomenon, still sitting at No1 on Itunes Dance since its debut in March. The video has enjoyed a staggering 17 million hits on Youtube â and is still growing.
David played to 2 million people at this yearâs carnival in Brazil, an experience even heâd never had before. And just this month, he played at Stade De France for 50,000 fans: the biggest ever electronic music event in the nationâs history, promoted by his wife and FMIF partner, Cathy Guetta.
Though Guetta has long been a household name in his native France itâs only in the past couple of years that the rest of the world caught up. He may now be a multi-million selling producer across Europe, chart-topping recording artist and superstar DJ â but it wasnât always this way. F*** Me Iâm Famous evolved because he wanted to grab peopleâs attention with a little - how shall we say? - provocation.
The brand started as an ironic name for a party, based on his observations on celebrity culture. Fast forward a few years and the name âFuck Me Iâm Famousâ has done more than grant David the arena in which to share his talents; itâs almost as globally recognized as he is.
With events now at the Cannes Film Festival, in Shanghai, London and at the Montreal and Monaco Grand Prix, the party, like David, exists in different worlds, somehow transcending the divisions he observed all those years ago.
âThe original idea was to have people who donât normally mix,â says David. âClubbing had become like ghettos again, so when it comes to my own night I try to do something different. At my party the social barriers come down. Itâs about being inclusive and giving everyone something exclusive at the same time.â
Part of the mystique is that A-listers join the pilgrimage to party with hard-core clubbers at the flag-ship event at Pacha Ibiza, fired up by Davidâs skills as an irresistible club DJ. âMy wife brings the glamorous people,â he admits, âand I bring the crazies.â
The occasional parties proved so successful that this season FMIF is weekly on Thursdays â and is stronger than ever. David is reveling in the residency, which has seen Will.I.Am jamming freestyle and impromptu in the booth with David and Tocadisco.
But while FMIF is all about the mix of people who come to get down, it is equally re-knowned for the caliber of DJs who guest with David - 2ManyDJs, Sharam, Bob Sinclar, Martin Solveig, Laidback Luke, Seb Ingrosso and Steve Angello to name a few this season.
What also makes FMIF parties stand-out is the lavish production and the outrageous performers. Simulated sex on the trapeze could sound sleazy, but done Parisian style, itâs definitely more art-house erotic than top-shelf trash.
And then there is the exceptional artwork. Previously Mondino and Terry Richardson have captured the essence of David and quirky elegance of his stunning wife. This seasonâs theme is celebrating David & Cathyâs enduring marriage â 15 years together â and Ellen Von Unworth has captured their passion perfectly in a photo-story (for the CD booklet).