THE PRODIGY
English electronic dance music band, The Prodigy, were formed in Braintree, Essex, in 1990 by producer, keyboard player and songwriter Liam Howlett. The original line-up also featured dancer and singer Keith Flint and dancer and occasional live keyboard player Leeroy Thornhill, dancer Sharky and MC and vocalist Maxim. The group were pioneers of the breakbeatinfluenced genre big beat, and achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Howlett’s rock-inspired drum rhythms infused with electronic rave music beats/ breaks were combined with Maxim’s omnipresent mystique, Thornhill’s shuffle dancing style and Flint’s later modern punk appearance. The Prodigy describe their style as electronic punk.
The band emerged during the underground rave scene and achieved early success in 1991 with their debut singles Charly and Everybody in the Place, which reached the UK top five. After their debut album Experience (1992), the band moved from their rave roots and incorporated techno, breakbeat and rock influences on their follow-up, the critically acclaimed Music for the Jilted Generation (1994). The band reached their commercial and critical peak with their third studio album The Fat of the Land (1997), which went to No. 1 in 16 countries including the UK and the US, and spawned the UK number one singles Firestarter and Breathe. The album’s third single, Smack My Bitch Up, was a UK top 10 hit and generated considerable controversy over its suggestive lyrics and music video.
The Prodigy remain one of the most successful electronic groups of all time. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, including more than 4.7 million albums in the UK, and have scored seven consecutive UK number one albums. They earned titles like ‘the premiere dance act for the alternative masses’ and ‘the godfathers of rave’. The Prodigy have won numerous awards during their career, including two Brit awards for Best British Dance Act; three MTV Video Music awards; two Kerrang! awards; five MTV Europe music awards, and two Grammy award nominations.
In July 2022, the band completed their first tour since the death of frontman Keith Flint in March 2019.
Information source: Wikipedia Image: Wikimedia Commons, courtesy of Kevin Lakhani