Daily Times

Two months before The Prodigy’s first North American tour in a decade, its lead singer Keith Flint has died.

The colourful, wild-eyed Flint was found dead in his home in Essex, England. He was 49. Liam Howlett, who co-founded the electronic band that emerged in the underground British rave scene in the 1990s, confirmed in an Instagram post that Flint committed suicide.

“The news is true. I can’t believe I’m saying this but our brother Keith took his own life over the weekend. I’m shell shocked, angry, confused and heartbroken,” Howlett said.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Along with singer and rapper Maxim Reality, Howlett and Flint enjoyed worldwide success with The Prodigy, breaking into the US scene with 1996’s platinum-selling single, “Firestarter” and another controversial song.

The group achieved greater acclaim around the world with songs “Everybody in the Place,” “Start the Dance” and their #1 hit, “Breathe.”

In a statement, Howlett and Reality said, “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 February, a Prodigy tour was announced to coincide with the release of their new single, “We Live Forever,” from their seventh studio album, “No Tourists,” which arrived in November.

The band’s tour was scheduled to kick off May 3 in Florida; they had a May 8 date slated at the Tabernacle.

Published in Daily Times, March 5^th 2019.