Today was not a very good day for people who lived and breathed through the 1990s as two notable figures of the decade sadly passed away. It was first announced early this morning that Keith Flint, the leader singer of the electronic group The Prodigy, was found dead due to what's believed to be a suicide. He was 49 years old.
Though they had several hit singles in the UK at the start of the 90s, it took awhile for The Prodigy to find international appeal. Their first big attempt to cross over into the U.S. was being heavily featured on the soundtrack of the future cult classic Hackers, most notably the song "Voodoo People".
However, it was one daring music video that truly made The Prodigy world famous. "Firestarter" was the first single off of their third album Fat of the Land and it immediately struck a cord thanks to its abrasive beats and dark melody. The song was made even more startling thanks to its music video directed by Walter Stern. Set amid an abandoned tunnel and shot entirely in black and white, the video featured Flint sporting a reverse mohawk and dressed up in an American long sleeved t-shirt dancing like a mad man and constantly banging his head in front of the camera. Dubbed instantly by MTV as a "buzz hit", the video received heavy rotation and the group became instant stars across the Atlantic.
Further provocative songs and music videos soon followed. "Breathe" featured Flint facing off against band member Maxim in competing dilapidated apartments. But the group hit the mother load of controversy with their third single "Smack My Bitch Up". A throbbing adrenaline shot to the senses, the nearly instrumental tune (save for a sample from Ultramagnetic MCs that gives the song its name) drew the ire of many critics who deemed the song misogynistic. Its music video added fuel to the fire: Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the video followed one debaucherous and destructive night entirely from the first person perspective. It ends with the major plot twist that the central character was actually a woman. MTV briefly showed an edited version during his late night shows such as 120 Minutes before giving it a soft ban.
After four years of striking up global controversy, Flint and the band took a long sabbatical starting in 1999. They would reunite back in 2002 and continued making albums and doing extensive tours up to this very day. Though the group never regained the momentum they once had, they did come back into the spotlight for a bit with their 2008 album Invaders Must Die and their intense dedication to their craft and touring has kept their fanbase satiated.
I like many others would not have gotten into The Prodigy were it not for Flint. "Firestarter" did prick up my ears whenever I heard it but it was Flint's intense energy in the song's music video that cemented him as one of the biggest stars of the alternative rock scene.
He will sorely be missed.
