Keith Flint, the iconic, wild-haired frontman of U.K. dance music pioneers The Prodigy, has died. He was 49.
The singer was found dead at his home Monday, with British police saying that the death was “not being treated as suspicious.”
After forming in 1990, The Prodigy would emerge from the U.K. rave scene to become one of the biggest British bands of the 1990s, selling an estimated 30 million records worldwide. Singles such as “Firestarter” and “Breathe” — taken from their third album, 1997’s The Fat of the Land, which hit the top spot in the Billboard 200 — would help push them into the mainstream and give them a huge global audience.
While much of the music was created by The Prodigy co-founder Liam Howlett, it was Flint, with his brightly colored hair, often in a mohawk, and energetic stage presence, who would become the band’s most recognizable face.
Originally a dancer, he then featured as a vocalist on “Firestarter” — which reached number one in the U.K. — and in the song’s video, his demonic image making him a household name. In 1996, The Prodigy would mark their breaking of the U.S. by playing Lollapalooza, while the following year they headlined Glastonbury on the opening night.
The Prodigy and Flint had recently returned to the U.K. from a tour of Australia and were due to start a U.S. tour in May.
Shortly after news of Flint’s death broke, the band issued a statement via their Twitter account.
It is with deepest shock and sadness that we can confirm the death of our brother and best friend Keith Flint. A true pioneer, innovator and legend. He will be forever missed.
We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time. pic.twitter.com/nQ3Ictjj7t— The Prodigy (@the_prodigy) March 4, 2019
