arlier this week, the world awoke to news about the loss of yet another incredibly influential figure in the electronic music industry.

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Keith Flint, vocalist and front-man for UK collective The Prodigy was found dead at his home on Monday March 4th, and it has since been confirmed that he sadly took his own life.

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An incredible figure in the electronic music scene, Flint was not only an idol to his fans, but an icon and inspiration to some of the most well-known names in today’s industry.

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Hugely influential and a truly unique figure, we want to look back on the life lived by Keith Flint, and remember him for the incredible legacy he’s left behind.

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The Prodigy

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An English electronic group formed in 1990, The Prodigy have been globally recognised for their huge impact on the evolution of electronic music, widely credited as pioneering the ‘big-beat’ genre, which gained huge mainstream popularity in the 90’s.

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An extremely popular group, their early work helped push electronic music towards audiences on a global scale, with their 1997 tracks ‘Firestarter’ and ‘Breathe’ being credited as two of the most impactful songs in EDM’s history.

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In their 29-year existence The Prodigy have sold an estimated 30 million records worldwide, been awarded numerous music awards, and had seven #1 albums in the UK, with their most recent one ‘No Tourists’ having been released last year.

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Keith Flint - The Beginning

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Flints journey into his Prodigy career began with him meeting Liam Howlett, keyboardist and songwriter, at an underground rave in 1989.

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After collaborating for a time, Flint and fellow keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill suggested the three started a group together.

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Before long they were joined by vocalist Maxim and a dancer known as ‘Sharky’, and together they formed the first lineup for the Prodigy.

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From here began Flints journey towards becoming one of the most iconic, influential and terrifying figures in electronic music.

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His Character

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The Prodigy utilised Flints uniquely dark vocal ability, relaying it over distorted basslines to develop a unique style for the world to know them by.

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Flint wasn’t afraid to push boundaries, priding himself on his dark presentation and his twisted lyrics, describing himself and the band as “dangerous and exciting”.

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His dark figure and twisted sense of reality meant he was vilified by parents and TV stations alike, whilst idolised by thousands for his ‘I-don’t-give-a-fuck’ attitude.

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Wearing dark makeup and hair in the shape of a devil's horns, Flint presented a terrifying character, and broadcasters even had to stop showing the music video for ‘Firestarter’ - featuring manic scenes of Flint dancing and gurning - because it was scaring children.

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The World's Loss

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Flints impact on electronic music, and music in general, cannot be overlooked.

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His determination to stand out and to push past the boundaries of what was ‘right’ made him an incredibly impactful figure.

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He was an incredible force, with his impact on The Prodigy’s music leading to the development of some of the most revolutionary songs in EDM history, and his influence will always be remembered.

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Since his passing, tributes have flown in from artists all over the world. Skrillex, Chase & Status, The Foo Fighters, Shockone and many others- all have expressed their grief over the loss of a truly outstanding character.

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Coming off the back of an Australian tour, those who were lucky enough to catch Flints final run of shows will remember him for the outstanding performer he was.

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We hope this won’t be the end, and that The Prodigy will continue to carry on his legacy with their music.

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Keith Flint, you will be missed.

Final Note

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We at PinkMilk urge you to remember, help is always there for those who need it.

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If you find yourself struggling with depression, or battling suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone.

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Help is always out there, and we urge you to contact any of the following organisations if you feel it necessary.

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Please, look after yourselves.

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Lifeline Australia (24/7) - 13 11 14

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Beyond Blue (24/7) - 1300 224 636

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Samaritans (Based in WA) - 135 247

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SuicideLine (Based in VIC) - 1300 651 251

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