Keith Flint, the iconic spiky-haired and wild-eyed punk-rock vocalist of U.K. EDM pioneers the Prodigy, has passed away. He was 49. The singer was found dead Monday morning at his home in Dunmow, Essex. The group confirmed the news via social media, stating, "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."
In a separate post on the Prodigy Instagram account, bandleader Liam Howlett, who formed the band with Flint in 1990, indicated that the cause of death was suicide: "I can't believe I'm saying this but our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend , I'm shell shocked , fuckin angry , confused and heart broken," he wrote. "r.i.p brother."
Flint brought an incendiary rock & roll attitude to the Prodigy, who were one of the biggest acts to come out the 1990s rave scene and have sold more than 30 million records worldwide. His punk spirit was exemplified by his signature song and the group's first track to feature vocals "Firestarter," off the band's smash 1997 album The Fat of the Land, and by his incendiary live performances. Last year, the Prodigy released their seventh full-length, No Tourists, which features a cameo from punk-rap upstarts and Revolver favorites Ho99o9. They were set to hit the road on their first U.S. tour in 10 years this spring.
