The Prodigy

The Prodigy are an electronic music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990, in Braintree, Essex, United Kingdom. They have sold over 20 million records worldwide, which is virtually unequaled in dance music history.

Their music consists of various styles ranging from rave and breakbeat hardcore in the early 90s to alternative rock and big beat with punk vocal elements in later times. The current band members include Liam Howlett (composer/keyboards), Keith Flint (dancer/vocalist), Maxim (MC/vocalist) and live guitarist Rob Holliday (Marilyn Manson, Gary Numan, Curve, Sulpher).

LEEROY THORNHILL (dancer/occasional live keyboards) was a member of the band from 1990 to 2000, as well was a female dancer/vocalist called Sharky who left the band during their early period. Other notable former live members include guitarist Gizz Butt (EnglishDogs, Janus Stark, Sabbat) who toured with the band for three years throughout the late '90s, Kieron Pepper (RealTV, Happy Gilmore) who drummed for the group from 1997 to 2007 (also contributing to the solo projects of Maxim and Keith Flint's band Flint), as well as guitarist Jim Davies (Pitchshifter) who also performed in Flint.

The Prodigy first emerged on the underground rave scene in the early 1990, releasing their debut LP Experience in 1992 and have since then achieved immense popularity and worldwide renown. Some of their most popular songs include "Charly", "Out Of Space", "No Good (Start The Dance)", "Voodoo People", "Firestarter", "Breathe" and "Smack My Bitch Up".

The name displayed on album covers changed from "The Prodigy" to "Prodigy" between Music For The Jilted Generation and The Fat of the Land in 1997 and back again with the release of Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned in 2004. However, Howlett has stated that the title has always been "The Prodigy". The change was made only to fit within the displayed logo, according to Howlett.

Maxim originally began as an MC for the band before doing vocals on "Poison", a track on their second album Music For The Jilted Generation and then several others on The Fat of the Land. He remains a member as an MC at the live shows.

Keith Flint began as a dancer for the band before moving on to become a vocalist initially on the track "Firestarter" but then for several others on the third album The Fat of the Land. Flint is probably the most visually recognisable member of the band and considered by many to be the frontman though he has very little input to writing the songs. He still sings with the live show but has virtually no input on the albums however, he did write the single "Baby's Got a Temper".

Following the relative commercial and critical failure of 2004's Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned the band released a greatest hits Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005 before 2009's return to form Invaders Must Die.

After the release and success of "Fat of the Land", Liam Howlett was feeling down as he could not produce any songs up to standard up until one of his friends showed him the program Reason from Propellerhead Software. This program inspired Liam who instantly went to the studio and started producing tracks using it; he decided he did not want to use it for basslines though, as he prefers the analogue sound.

http://www.theprodigy.com

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