Friends and long-time music industry colleagues have paid tribute to Keith Flint, as The Prodigy’s catalogue returned to the charts in the wake of his sudden death.
Flint’s death at the age of 49 prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and industry figures. In a statement, the remaining band members – Liam Howlett and Keith “Maxim” Palmer – said he had taken his own life.
While Flint initially joined as the band’s dancer, he later emerged as the fearsome face and vocalist of The Prodigy when they hit No.1 with Firestarter in 1996 and topped the US charts with The Fat Of The Land.
Paul Spraggon, partner at SSB, has been the band’s lawyer since 1991 and witnessed at close quarters their rise from the rave underground to festival headliners.
“The incredible energy of their shows captured a rawness not felt since punk rock,” he told Music Week. “I remember Keith wrapped up like an Egyptian Mummy at the Marquee in 1994 on the hottest night of the year with 400 hardcore fans stripped to the waist.”
Within three years, The Prodigy were Glastonbury headliners – then a unique achievement for a dance act.
“However, he never left his Essex roots behind and remained very down to earth,” added Spraggon. “When I found him in his pensive and reflective moments, you saw a great-hearted and generous man.
“There were many flashes of the ‘Ziggy’ that lurks in all great frontmen, but those close to him understood that his intensity came from a place of raw experience. He was another true original.”
In an Instagram post, co-manager Nick Halkes, who signed The Prodigy to XL Recordings, described Flint’s “immense” presence on stage. “Offstage he could be witty, charming, pensive and mercurial,” he said.
Martin Goldschmidt, chairman of Cooking Vinyl, signed the band in 2009.
“I will never forget backstage at Milton Keynes Bowl, Keith offering and making our exhausted promo person a cup of herbal tea – that warm gentle kindness underneath his Firestarter image,” he said.
Unkle’s James Lavelle, who collaborated with Flint, told Music Week: “Keith was a brilliant frontman, he brought excitement visually, energy.
“He was one of the guys kids could identify with and want to be. Also, he was a very gentle, gentle soul. There was a duality to the stage persona and the person.”
The Prodigy’s huge success in the ’90s meant that Flint’s death received blanket media coverage. The tragedy has encouraged fans to rediscover the band’s catalogue on streaming and downloads.
Their Law – The Singles 1990-2005 returned to the charts at No.13, while The Fat Of The Land re-entered at No.26. The 1996 studio album is The Prodigy’s biggest seller, according to the OCC (1,435,703 sales).
There were also re-entries for Music For The Jilted Generation (No.85), Experience (No.96) and Invaders Must Die (No.118). In the singles chart, Firestarter is at No.58 after registering 8,575 sales.
Current album No Tourists (BMG) – their seventh consecutive No.1 – is back in the charts at No.35.
Alistair Norbury, president, repertoire & marketing at BMG UK, said: “In all of his encounters with BMG teams around the world, Keith was never less than a gentleman. The contrast between the explosive stage performer and the courteous, down-to-earth man was striking. We are all devastated.”
Alexi Cory-Smith, who signed The Prodigy to BMG before her exit a year ago, recalled meeting Flint after gigs and bonding over a shared love of horses.
“Not only was Keith a brilliant artist and performer, a legend and a pioneer, he was kind, funny and a complete gentleman,” she said. “He always removed his cap before greeting me with a kiss and a ‘How d’ya do?’. A wonderful person, a terrible loss.”
The Prodigy’s US tour has been cancelled. Emily Eavis revealed they had been booked for Glastonbury.
Sammy Andrews, founder and CEO of Deviate Digital, worked with the band for the last five years.
“I was a fan way before ever working for them, they had a profound effect,” she said. “Keith’s energy was infectious and his rebellion contagious.”
The death of Flint has refocused attention on mental health in the music industry. It follows the suicides of fellow artists including Avicii, Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell and Frightened Rabbit’s Scott Hutchison.
“It’s still hard to take in that he’s gone and whilst I have many conflicting emotions at the moment one thing I know for sure it that we all need to talk more,” said Andrews. “If you’re in the music industry reading this and you feel you are battling demons, please reach out when you need support.”
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