Today it was announced that Keith Flint, legendary lead singer of Prodigy, had passed away at his home, aged 49-years.
Now, before we begin hearing various theories of suspicious circumstances surrounding his passing, as now seems customary with every celebrity death, I would like to pay tribute to the man who catapulted Rave music into the mainstream.
Born in 1969, Keith hailed from Redbridge, London. After being excluded from school at the age of 15, Keith found a career as a roofer. Evidently, Keith was destined to get much higher than this and these certainly weren't the roofs which he was born to raise...
Passionately enthusiastic about Acid House, a music genre which swept the UK in the 80's, Keith began his journey to stardom after meeting up with a DJ named Liam Howlett. Of course, this meeting of great-minds happened whilst both of them were attending a rave club in Braintree and Keith expressed his appreciation for Liam's taste in music.
After encouraging Liam to take his musical talents further, Keith set himself up, alongside his other friend Leeroy Thornhill, as dancers who would compliment Liam's music. This all helped gather momentum, until in 1996 when Keith Flint stepped up and took the microphone to become the lead singer of a band they named Prodigy...
And this was their monumental first hit...
Not only did this song cement my own passion for the rave scene, it was also part of one of the greatest albums ever made. And if setting the rave scene alight wasn't enough this album also had one of the most iconic music videos ever made. The video I'm referring to belonged to a track named "Smack my bitch up" and not only did this get the clubs bouncing, it also got some fingers wagging with disapproval(So much so, that I can't even find a full length version of this terrific music video!)
As with any iconic song/band/video, annoying the majority is a must if you want to make it to the halls of fame. It's what NWA did, it's what Ozzy Osbourne did, and it will continue to be done by any band or artist wanting to add their names to this prestigious list.
There are many songs that bring back days of my misspent youth but put on any track by the Prodigy and I instantly transform into a white-gloved raving lunatic, just minus the amphetamines thank goodness.
I thank Keith from the bottom of my heart for filling my best years with music that would give your mum a migraine and I will end this tribute with one of my all-time favourite tracks from their album "Fat of the land"...
"Breathe"
Rave in peace Mr. Flint
