Keith Flint may not have been the musical brains behind The Prodigy but he was certainly their public face. One of the most memorable and recognisable faces of 90’s music, his move to vocal duties elevated the band from one of the leading lights on the UK dance scene to one of the biggest bands on the planet. A band whose popularity transcended genre boundaries in a way that very few other groups have ever managed. From clubbers to punks to indie kids to metallers, The Prodigy appealed to them all, and were instrumental in the introduction of electronica to rock music as well as adding guitars to electronica.
Flint was the punk heart of the band, a figurehead who terrified parents and thrilled the youth. A genuinely dangerous and unique anti-establishment presence within the generally bland and insipid 90s charts. Whether you liked their music or not, The Prodigy were difficult to ignore and a large part of that was down to Keith Flint’s revere-mohicaned, larger than life public image.
In the modern world, where beats and guitars are commonplace it’s easy to forget how revolutionary the likes of Firestarter and Breathe were. Their (literally) incendiary lyrics and aggressive music opened up a whole new world to rock fans everywhere and their influence and impact can be felt to this day. Keith Flint leaves behind him an unrivalled legacy across a wide spectrum of musical styles and genres, and his death by apparent suicide will affect the broadest cross-section of fans imaginable. The video for Firestarter is one of the most iconic of all time and made Flint the face of a generation. His image will forever be burned into the minds of anyone who remembers the nineties. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered. Rest in peace, Firestarter.
Anything With Guitars 