The Prodigy Legend Keith Flint Dies Aged 49

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The Prodigy’s Keith Flint has died at the age of 49, according to authorities.

The singer, synonymous with the band’s nineties anthem of anarchy Firestarter and widely credited as one of the godfathers of electro, was found dead at his home today (March 4).

Police are still on the scene at his home in Essex, after being called over concerns for his welfare, but authorities have confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious.

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Police said they were ‘called to concerns for the welfare of a man’ just after 8am this morning, adding, ‘Sadly, a 49-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene’.

As per the BBC, they said:

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Flint was the widely recognisable face of The Prodigy, who performed vocals for their stand-out tracks, alongside Maxim Reality, an MC, beatboxer and vocalist.

The London-born dancer’s unique blend of anarchic vocal and energetic movement earned Flint a deserved place in pop culture history.

His iconic aesthetic and sound is just as beloved by tweenie ravers today as it was by the hardcore set in the nineties, proving the power of his universal appeal among those who defy the mainstream.

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The English electronic music group from Braintree, Essex, formed in 1990 under keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett, and are credited with global recognition for their influential part to play in the big beat genre.

The three-piece emerged in the underground rave scene early in the decade and have since achieved popularity and worldwide recognition, remaining one of the most successful electronic acts of all time.

The Prodigy have sold an estimated 30 million records worldwide, and won numerous music awards during their career, including two Brit Awards for Best British Dance Act, three MTV Video Music Awards, two Kerrang! Awards, five MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations.

Tributes have already flooded Twitter:

While the band never formally split – they released their ninth studio album, No Tourists, last year – Flint had recently embarked on an altogether different venture into sub-culture.

He achieved success as a motorcycle racing team owner and manager with his Team Traction Control, won three Isle of Man TT races in 2015 and competed in the British Supersport Championship running Yamaha YZF-R6 motorcycles.

Flint is said to have enjoyed riding the open road with Lee Thompson of Madness.

Your fluorescent hair and incendiary energy on stage will never, ever be forgotten.

RIP to one of the founding godfathers of rave culture.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.

Francesca Donovan

A former emo kid who talks too much about 8Chan meme culture, the Kardashian Klan, and how her smartphone is probably killing her. Francesca is a Cardiff University Journalism Masters grad who has done words for BBC, ELLE, The Debrief, DAZED, an art magazine you’ve never heard of and a feminist zine which never went to print.