The Prodigy

The Prodigy

The Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group from Braintree, United Kingdom, active from 1990 and led by Liam Howlett. Their core line-up includes Howlett, MC and vocalist Maxim, dancer and occasional keyboardist Leeroy Thornhill, and dancer and occasional vocalist Keith Flint. The group emerges from the UK rave scene and is associated with alternative dance, big beat, breakbeat, breakbeat hardcore, techno and electronic music, with Howlett describing their approach as electronic punk.

Formation and early releases

Howlett returns to Braintree after working as a DJ with the hip-hop group Cut 2 Kill, and begins producing music influenced by hip-hop, house and the emerging rave scene. He takes the name Prodigy from the Moog Prodigy synthesiser. He meets Flint and Thornhill at a nightclub performance, and the trio begins performing together, later joined briefly by Sheila Burke, also known as Sharky. The group’s first live show takes place in London in 1991, organised by Ziggy Ziad Sabir Chowdry. Maxim joins after improvising vocals at an early performance. After early resistance from labels, the group signs to XL Recordings, which releases the EP What Evil Lurks in 1991.

The group first breaks through with “Charly”, which samples material from the Charley Says public information films and reaches number three in the UK. “Everybody in the Place (Fairground Edit)” follows and reaches number two in the UK. The debut album Experience appears in 1992, is recorded mainly by Howlett, reaches number 12 in the UK and later gains platinum certification. It is built around extensive sampling and becomes influential in electronic music.

Development and major releases

Music for the Jilted Generation follows in 1994 and marks a harder, more structured shift towards breakbeat and techno influences. It is partly written in response to the UK Criminal Justice Act, enters the UK Albums Chart at number one, and includes “Their Law”, a collaboration with Pop Will Eat Itself. The group’s live line-up expands around this period with guitarists including Jim Davies and later Gizz Butt of Janus Stark.

In 1996, “Firestarter” is the first Prodigy single to feature Keith Flint as lead vocalist and becomes their first UK number one single. It establishes Flint’s punk-influenced image. “Breathe” also reaches number one in the UK. Both singles contribute to the group’s wider international profile. The Fat of the Land appears in 1997, becomes their most commercially successful album, reaches number one in both the UK and US, and sells over 10 million copies worldwide. At the time, it is the fastest-selling dance album in UK chart history. The album includes “Firestarter”, “Breathe” and “Smack My Bitch Up”, the last of which draws criticism for its lyrics and video and is sampled from Ultramagnetic MCs’ “Give the Drummer Some”. The band tours extensively, including headline appearances at Glastonbury and Lollapalooza.

Later work and lineup changes

Howlett releases the DJ mix album The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One in 1999, based on a BBC Radio 1 set. Thornhill leaves the group in 2000 because of creative differences and dissatisfaction with live performances. The band returns in 2002 with “Baby’s Got a Temper”, which again provokes controversy for lyrical references to Rohypnol.

Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned is released in 2004 and reaches number one in the UK Albums Chart. It includes “Girls” and the limited-release “Memphis Bells”, which appears in multiple user-configurable digital versions. The compilation Their Law: The Singles 1990–2005 follows, with remixes by Audio Bullys and Pendulum. Reissues of Experience and Music for the Jilted Generation appear in 2008 with remastered audio and bonus material.

Invaders Must Die is released in 2009 on the band’s own label, with contributions from Dave Grohl and co-production from James Rushent. It reaches number one in the UK and includes “Omen”, “Warrior’s Dance” and “Take Me to the Hospital”. Howlett later co-produces “Immunize” for Pendulum’s Immersion. The band releases its first live album and concert film, World’s on Fire, in 2011, documenting a 2010 performance in Milton Keynes.

The Day Is My Enemy appears in 2015 after an extended production period and has a darker, more aggressive sound. Singles include “Nasty”, “The Day Is My Enemy” and “Wild Frontier”. No Tourists follows in 2018 under BMG Rights Management. Keith Flint dies in 2019, after which the group continues under Howlett’s direction.

Recognition and activity

The Prodigy are credited as pioneers of breakbeat-driven forms such as breakbeat hardcore and big beat, and are described by AllMusic as “the premiere dance act for the alternative masses” and “the Godfathers of Rave”. They have sold an estimated 25 million records worldwide, including over 4.7 million albums in the UK, and achieve seven consecutive UK number one albums. Their awards include Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards and Grammy nominations.

After Flint’s death, the group continues to perform and record under Howlett’s leadership. They return to live shows in 2022 with UK dates marking the anniversary of The Fat of the Land, and later resume international touring. New material is in development, with plans for further live activity and a new album.